Project Green Space

Project Green Space has been rehabilitating an empty lot on Weston to build a community garden. we will continue to work with many different organizations to tackle quality of life issues in Niagara Falls. we hope to challenge ourselves and push even harder to start our very own tool library given us the essential tools that we need to address over grown vacant lots and delinquent properties throughout our city.  we have continued project green space for the last 3 years revitalizing a vacant lot and turn it into a beautiful community garden. Now we are attempting to spread our resources out into the neighborhood. we look to work alongside our city's department of public works and creating our own budget to revitalize our neighborhoods streets , sidewalks and over grown trees. 
Project Green Space will not only bring food to our community, it will build community relations and self-sufficiency. Over the past summer, our program has also built in a crucial component of workforce development for youth. since 2017 we have been able to higher 10 youth from Niagara County's youth employment training program.
these teens are paid an hourly New York state minimum wage($11.10)  earning 29 hours per week. The 10 youth during the summer months job description is to plan deisgn, build, plant, landscape, and decorate the lot on Weston. 
The Summer Youth Employment Program is funded by NYS Temporary Assistance to Needy Families grant.
Our aim now is to keep this program going each summer  cycle and extend it through the neighborhoods of the 14305 district.      We are open to where more of this work takes us and want to be able to tell these youth that the sky is the limit for what they can create in this space! 

Steps Taken:

1) Continue upkeep work on the current lot until weather no longer allows.

2) Take a 50/50 split between educational and funfield trips 

3)Host series of workshops partnership with Field & Fork Network and Cornell Cooperative, ect.
4) purchase equipment such as three weed wackers ,3 hedge trimmers , 2 leaf blowers, gardening mulch, flowers, LED security lights

5) Prepare the garden for the next growing season in spring 2020

6) Continue evolving and planning new garden ideas as we go!

Project Green Space addresses both issues of blight in the built environment and food access issues. We will do this by rebuilding and beautifying a vacant space, creating our own tool library and by providing and educating people about healthy food and neighborhoods We also hope to empower youth by helping them develop and hone their skills & abilities through hands-on and engaging community work.