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01/20/2009, SS1 - STUDY SESSION: COMMUNITY GARDEN PROGRAM
j agenda RepoRt "�ss CITY OF SAN LU I S O B I S P O FROM: Betsy Kiser, Director Parks and Recreation Prepared By: Linda Fitzgerald, Recreation Manager Christine Wallace, Recreation Supervisor SUBJECT: STUDY SESSION: COMMUNITY GARDEN PROGRAM RECOMMENDATION 1. Receive a report on the City's Community Garden Program, including ideas for expanding the program and adjusting rental fees. 2. Receive a presentation by Kathy Kelly on the non-profit organization Urban Farming. 3. Consider the information shared during the Study Session as part of the goal-setting and budget process for the 2009-11 Financial Plan. REPORT-IN-BRIEF This report will provide an update and future options for the growth of the City's Community Garden Program. A presentation will also be made during the study session by Kathy Kelly on Urban Farming, a non-profit organization started in Detroit in 2005, with the mission to eradicate hunger while increasing diversity, motivating youth and seniors and optimizing the production of unused land for food and alternative energy. The timing of this report allows Council members to consider the information prior to the goal setting session on January 31, 2009. Should Council direct further work to expand or alter our program, including modifying plot sizes and fees, staff will develop a proposed work program that includes consultation with the Parks and Recreation Commission prior to final action by the Council. If Council takes no further action to expand the program, staff will still return with a recommendation on plot size and fees, since availability can be improved even in our existing program. In summary, the San Luis Obispo Community Garden program has been in existence since 1975. There are currently 3 locations: Emerson Park, on Broad Street near the Highway 101 southbound on-ramp, and adjacent to Fire Station #2 on Laurel Lane. All available plots have been rented and a large waiting list exists. Fees are currently $24/year for a garden plot, regardless of the size of the plot. A best practice study on community gardens was undertaken by Parks and Recreation staff in December 2008. Contacts were made with eight agencies to discern best practices in terms of garden fees, plot sizes and program management. SSS-� 1 Community Gardens Report Page 2 Staff found that plot sizes within the City could be more uniform and is therefore proposing to reduce the size of some of the larger plots. In addition, a more equitable means of leasing plot space is explored that would base fees on square footage. Due to the extensive waiting list for garden plots (119), staff conducted an evaluation of City parks, open spaces and City-owned parcels for possible expansion of the community garden program. The Matthews Open Space, located on south Higuera Street, Rodriguez Adobe Park, Meadow Park — Linear Park 1 & 2, and Emerson Park appear to be the best immediately available properties to enhance the existing program. Costs to convert each property may include water service, plot development and soil amendments. An evaluation of the Calle Joaquin Open Space by the Natural Resource Manager has determined that the site, used solely as a community garden site, would be not feasible at this time due to the high cost of adding utilities and its remote location. DISCUSSION On December 2, 2008, staff was directed to return to Council by its second meeting in January (in order to have information prior to the January 31 goal-setting session) with a report on the City's Community Garden Program. The report was to include a best practice analysis of the existing program, use fees and an investigation of possible locations within the City for additional garden space. History of the City's Community Gardens Program The Community Gardens program began in 1975 as a senior project by Cal Poly ornamental horticulture student Don Shealy. Shealy drafted a design for the gardens which involved layout and programming, including gardening demonstrations, classes and workshops, harvest festivals and produce exchanges. The first of the three gardens was located on Broad Street, with 10 plots established. A 27-plot garden was created at the same time on the corner of Madonna Road and Los Osos Valley Road; however it was removed in 1978 with the construction of Fire Station 4. A third garden was placed on Laurel Lane next to Fire Station 2 where it continues to thrive today. The Emerson Garden, located on the corner of Pismo and Nipomo Streets, was created around 1997 after the Parks and Recreation Department administrative offices were built. The Emerson Garden became a work site for several Eagle Scout and other volunteer projects to develop the vacant lot into garden plots. There are currently 65 garden plots in the three community gardens: Emerson Garden has 34 plots, Laurel Lane Garden has 13 plots and the Broad Street Garden has 18 plots. The plot sizes vary at each garden, the smallest being 4'x 6', the largest being 26'x 30' (Attachments la, lb, lc). There is approximately 19,000 square feet available in the community for public gardening. Benefits of Community Gardens Community gardens add to the quality of life in San Luis Obispo. They generally are attractive public areas, can aid in reducing crime as gardeners become the "eyes and ears" for possible park SS I - 9--- Community Gardens Report Page 3 issues, promote health and wellness, provide opportunities for education and social development, and anyone, regardless of age and ability, can become a community gardener. Community gardens increase a sense of community ownership and stewardship and allow families and individuals without land of their own the opportunity to produce food. The gardens also provide access to nutritionally rich foods that may otherwise be unavailable to low-income families and individuals. Community gardens can also provide an accessible location for scientific research. Emerson Community Garden was chosen as a location to count the native bee population in 2007 by Dr. Gordon Frankie, professor and research entomologist in the Division of Insect Biology, College of Natural Resources, University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Frankie and his graduate student research assistants frequent the garden on weekends to sit and count the bee population and continue to track the habits of the urban bees. Dr. Frankie and his urban bee lab have traveled the coastal communities of California in search of gardens that host a wide variety of bee species for his research "The Urban Bee Project" which is documenting bee diversity and bee frequencies on wild California plants (Attachment 2). The San Luis Obispo Community Garden Program The three San Luis Obispo community gardens attract gardeners from neighborhoods that surround the gardens and community members at-large who have no garden space of their own at home. The gardens provide plots for seniors from Judson Terrace Homes, the Village at Sydney Creek, and Options Family Services, a nonprofit organization that assists adults with disabilities in learning life skills. Most gardeners are in the boomer and senior age groups on a fixed income and many of the gardeners are planting fruits and vegetables to ease the cost of grocery bills. A few young professionals rent plots in the gardens and young families are using the gardens as a teaching tool for organic gardening. The Parks and Recreation Department's costs for maintaining the community garden program are minimal. Staff time invested in the program is the greatest expense with one Program Specialist focusing on the gardens approximately 400 hours per year. Gardeners, volunteers from community groups and court-ordered community service workers help keep the common areas and paths of the gardens maintained while the Park Rangers assist seasonally with weed abatement when needed. Over 400 volunteer hours have been provided to the gardens in 2008. San Luis Garbage provides two green waste bins at the Emerson Garden location at no cost. Laurel Lane and Broad Street Gardens do not have green waste service and because of this, the gardeners have become educated composters. In 2007, one of the Emerson gardeners solicited donations from Farm Supply, Haywood Lumber, Cuesta Equipment, Garden Escapes and ECOSLO to build sequential compost bins at the Emerson Park Garden. Cal Poly Compost has donated and delivered compost directly to all garden locations for the past four years. The community gardens have hose bibs with potable water that are scattered throughout each garden. There is approximately one hose bib for every two and a half plots in all three gardens. The cost for water usage for each garden is monitored each year for amount of use. X51 - 3 Community Gardens Report Page 4 Fees for a garden plot are collected with the intent to recover the cost of water used. The original fee for leasing a plot was $6 for the first six months and $3 for renewing for another six months. The fees were increased to $6 per quarter ($24 per year) around 1996 and have remained the same since. Billing takes place on a quarterly basis, though most gardeners pay for the full year. Currently, all gardens plots lease at the same rate regardless of size. At the end of December 2008, 119 people were on the waiting list for a garden plot. This number increased substantially since The Tribune's November 30 article on community gardens (from 80 to 119). Traditionally, it has taken 12-18 months before a person is given a garden plot off of the waiting list, but with the increased demand, that waiting period most likely will be extended indefinitely without an expansion to the program. Best Practice In an effort to recognize the best practices of maintaining a community garden program, staff interviewed seven cities and a parks and recreation district in California who offer a similar program. A request for information was distributed through the California Parks and Recreation Society Administrators' list-serve asking agencies who maintain a community garden program to provide a direct contact from their organization. Staff received twenty-two contacts for garden coordinators within California. Interviews were conducted the week of December 15, 2008. Agencies responding to the survey include: Costa Mesa, Culver City, Davis, Healdsburg, Isla Vista, Mountain View, Ventura and Walnut Creek(Attachment 3). Plot Size Of the eight responding cities, six garden programs have uniform plot sizes. Having similar plot sizing is beneficial as a larger number of participants can utilize the same area of land. Larger plots are not as efficiently planted as the smaller plots. Large, sprawling plants, such as squash, giant sunflowers and rows of tomatoes, tend to be placed in the larger plots. The smaller plot gardeners are able to grow what they need without excess or waste of the produce. With more gardeners involved in the program, a greater number of community members are devoted to maintaining the overall garden and become vested in the community. Based on the information gathered, staff would recommend reducing some of the larger plots to allow for more gardeners in the program. Large plots that have the potential to be divided into smaller plots could be divided at the next opportunity between renters. Once all large plots are divided, the community gardens could provide an additional 18 plots for the residents of San Luis Obispo. The large plots that are currently rented most likely would be grandfathered into the division process to avoid disrupting the current plantings in.the plot. Rental Fee San Luis Obispo has the lowest rental fee for a gardening plot of those surveyed. San Luis Obispo residents pay $24 annually for a garden plot that can be as small as 4'x6' up to 26'x30' area. As established by City Council, the community garden program is currently a low cost recovery program which requires 0-30% of direct costs to be recovered. (The assumption for low sSr -� Community Gardens Report Page 5 cost recovery is that the Community Gardens have great community benefit and the users consist mostly of seniors and those with limited incomes.) Costs for maintaining the garden program are for the water, trash, and supplies at a total annual cost of $5,200, not including staff time of approximately 400 hours/year to administer the community garden program (approximately $8,000). Revenues for the community gardens were. $1,300 in FY 2007-08 for a cost recovery rate of 9.8%. Seven of the eight responding programs currently have waiting lists for their garden plots. This is consistent across all programs even with variations in fee schedule or plot size. San Luis Obispo has one of the longest waiting lists at 119 gardeners however, is not the largest program. The only city without a waiting list for the gardens is Ventura, which currently rents only 70 of the 146 plots available. Ventura has the highest annual fee for plot rental at $140 with an additional $50 mandatory cleaning deposit; this high use fee most likely contributes to the availability of plots. Ventura's fees are established to cover all costs of water and garbage, according to their city garden coordinator. Isla Vista Recreation and Park District is charging $.03 per square foot per quarter for varying plot sizes in order to recover all costs for their garden program. San Luis Obispo could assume a similar fee structure with a $24 minimum per plot, which would make costs more equitable for gardeners and could generate some additional revenue. Based upon the research, staff believes that the rate currently charged for garden plot rental is low and needs further evaluation. Staff will return at a later date with a recommendation for community garden plot rental fees that recover more of the costs to operate the program. Program Management As part of the best practices review, comparable cities were asked how the program coordinator manages plots, gardeners and general maintenance of the facility. All cities were consistent in the operations of their community garden program. City employees supervise the garden programs by renting out garden plots,keeping record of payments, ensuring the garden plots and paths between plots are maintained by the gardeners, and reassigning plots to new gardeners when necessary. A Program Specialist with the Parks and Recreation Department acts as the "program coordinator" for the San Luis Obispo community gardens program. San Luis Obispo's Standard Operating Procedure for the garden coordinator position is currently in line with these practices mentioned by the surveyed cities. San Luis Obispo currently bills some gardeners on a quarterly basis for plot rental, although most renters pay for their plot once a year. With a new fee structure, staff would propose converting all renters to an annual billing schedule. Potential New Community Garden Locations To identify potential new Community Garden locations to meet the needs of those on the waiting list, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) provided a point density calculation to represent housing density by zone in the City. Higher density areas would most benefit from a fourth 5s1 -5 I l Community Gardens Report Page 6 garden location within the City due to lack of yard space for residents' own gardens. The population density of the city for this map was determined by parcels zoned Residential 2, Residential 3, and Residential 4. Mixed use developments were included as well due to the limited green space that would typically surround the housing units in commercial areas. Parks, open space and city owned properties were highlighted and staff identified potential garden locations from this map (Attachment 4). Further analysis of each parcel allowed staff to narrow the options available for new gardens based on specific criteria identified for successful garden locations. Criteria: 1. Nearby population density 2. Access to potable City water 3. Parking 4. Visibility (for safety and security) 5. Parcel size of 7000 square feet or larger 6. Soil condition 7. Flat Terrain Potential sites identified were various City parks and the Bianchi, Calle Joaquin, and Matthews Open Space. An analysis of each site follows: City Parks Meadow Park: The section of turf between the condominiums and softball field, known as Linear Park 1 & 2, has potential for garden space. The land is approximately 20,000 square feet and flat with plentiful sunlight. Because Meadow Park is scheduled to receive recycled water in the near future, a potable water line would need to be installed at a cost of $25,000 (meter, valves, lines, spigots, etc.); Meadow Park does have a small parking lot and is in close proximity to housing areas so potential gardeners could walk or ride bicycles. The area is also easily viewed from the street. Amendments would be needed to prepare the soil for gardening. Emerson Park: Expansion of the existing Emerson Garden is a viable option. The area adjacent to the garden currently utilized as the outdoor fitness area would be the most logical location for additional plots, which encompasses approximately 6000 square feet. To accomplish expansion at that site would require relocation of the fitness equipment, demolition of the blacktop, soil amendments and site preparation. The current master plan calls for another basketball court and a sand volleyball court, but even so there would still be adequate park space to construct the additional amenities, relocate the fitness equipment and expand the gardens. The existing gardens already have a potable water supply so only additional lines and spigots would need to be addressed. Relocation of the equipment could cost at least $30,000 and does not take into consideration other factors needed to expand the gardens. Rodriguez. Adobe: This park, located on Purple Sage Drive, houses the Rodriguez Adobe, a historical building. The area has been landscaped and turf has been planted. Approximately 6000-8000 square feet is flat and could be used as a community garden. Although the park is scheduled for reclaimed water, there is potable water on site. There is ample street parking Sal- 6 Community Gardens Report Page 7 available alongside the park. A community garden could be a nice fit, with lot sizes relatively small in the neighborhood. The neighborhood would need to be included in any discussions as converting this parcel could bring additional vehicles into the area. French Park: This area is comprised of rolling hills and the only level ground is the existing softball field, which is heavily used by the community and youth sports organizations. Placing a community garden at this location would not be feasible. Santa Rosa Park: This facility is highly used by the community and some of the grass area will be removed with expansion of the skate park and multi-use court/roller hockey rink. There is no area available for a community garden. Sinsheimer Park: There are some large areas at Sinsheimer Park; however the disc golf course traverses through most of the available flat locations and the remainder of the park is hilly. A change to the Park Master Plan would have to occur if a community garden were to be placed at this location and existing amenities removed. Laguna Lake Park: Laguna Lake Park also has a disc golf course that traverses available flat land. Due to the nature of the sport, this activity would interfere with gardening. Additionally, the ground squirrel population at Laguna Lake Park would need to be addressed as their presence would be problematic for gardening. The high clay content of the soil at Laguna Lake Park would require a great deal of soil amendment for productive growing to occur. Laguna Lake Park is also scheduled to receive reclaimed water, which is not permissible for growing vegetables without the each gardener receiving specially mandated training. Islay Hill Park: This park does have flat, accessible turf; the park is well used and any available space is already utilized for existing facilities or designated for possible expansion of the tennis court. Johnson Park: The flat portion of Johnson Park is in use as the barbecue area and playground. The rest of the turf area of the park is fairly sloped. Creating a garden at this park may be difficult due to the slope. Additionally, the existing turf is used by the YMCA for its summer recreation programs and active use may not be compatible with gardening activity. Mitchell Park: The Mitchell Park Master Plan was recently amended to permit the construction of a parking lot in the area previously designated for a specialty garden. Most of the remaining available flat area in the park would not be suitable for a garden due to 1) the large shade trees, which would limit what types of plants and vegetables could be grown and 2) the intensity of active use that occurs in the main section of the park on a daily basis. It may be possible to create a small specialty garden in the area adjacent to the playground, but this would require an amendment to the Master Plan and additional research. Open Spaces Matthews Open Soace: Located on South Higuera, this open space has excellent potential for a community garden site. The property is approximately 40,000 square feet and flat with abundant _SS ) I i Community Gardens Report Page 8 sunlight. There was water access at one point, although it would require a new meter installation and water lines to be installed at a cost of approximately $25,000 (meter, valves, lines, spigots, etc.) There is no established parking; however, as the site is close to downtown, it could serve downtown residents that could access the area by bicycle or by walking. It might also serve a new, and possibly lower income population in the S. Higuera area. Soil amendments would most likely be required to get the area into good growing condition. The future widening of Higuera Street could affect this site; Council will be addressing the future of this project at a later date. If it is determined that the widening project is more than 10 years out, it could be feasible to convert the Matthews Open Space into another community garden location. Bianchi Open Space: This area, also located in the S. Higuera area is small, does not have water access and has very limited visibility from any major roadway. Currently, the transient population tends to migrate through Bianchi because of the lack of visibility. The Higuera Street widening project will also affect this area. Railroad Open Space: The open space is near Florence and San Carlos Streets. Much of the open space area is hilly and not conducive to a community garden; there are several old concrete foundations on one flat section which would require removal and three palm trees may obstruct the sun. One parcel at the end of Florence is designated as City right-of-way; it is flat but is only about 2400 square feet, which could only accommodate 10-12 garden plots if developed. Two residences are on either side of the parcel with one home sitting uphill from the site. Another triangular parcel, located at the end of San Carlos and at the entry to the Railroad Recreational Trail is privately-owned; the City's portion adjacent to the lot is small and sloped. Calle Joaquin Open Space: (Analysis of this parcel was prepared by Neil Havlik, Natural Resource Manager) This property, also referred to as the Gearhart or McBride property, is a 13 acre T-shaped property deeded to the City as part of the auto dealership site development on North Calle Joaquin, approved by the City Council in 2005. Of the 13 acres,about 8 or 9 acres are farmable. City staff have attempted to undertake a simple farming program there mainly as a "holding action" pending acquisition of additional lands nearby. This was accomplished by entering into a one-year letter of permission with a local agriculturalist, William Ostrander; for hay production. Mr. Ostrander also entered into a similar agreement with the Madonna family to maintain the adjacent 15 acres of farming land on the east side of Perfumo Creek. Thus, in 2007- 2008, about 23 acres was being farmed at that location. After a year of successfully farming the property, Mr. Ostrander requested a five year lease for the site, in order to justify spending his own money on certain irrigation improvements. This appeared desirable to staff, thus a lease form was agreed to and consideration of a five year lease was scheduled for the City Council on November 18, 2008. However, at the November 18 meeting, the Council tabled consideration of the lease, and instead requested that staff evaluate the potential of this and other properties for their suitability as community garden sites. Researching this site along with the others, the Calle Joaquin site presents several drawbacks as a community garden at this time, including: Community Gardens Report Page 9 1. Utilities do not presently serve the site, and they would be quite expensive to connect to and install. This cost would be in addition to the cost of internal water distribution facilities. Off street parking would also be needed. 2. The site is remote from population, and realistically only accessible by private automobile. 3. There are no other attractions or community destinations nearby, thus discouraging grouping of family or individual activities reachable from each other by walking such as is the case at the Emerson Park garden. In fact, eventually there will be a number of auto dealerships as neighbors to the site, which will have their own traffic and other demands during the day which may render the two neighboring uses somewhat incompatible. 4. It is expected that as much as 65-70 more acres of land in the immediate area will ultimately be dedicated to the City. Given the cost of installing infrastructure, it is not certain that this would be the best site for such a feature once the additional land in the area, with access from other points and directions, is secured. 5. Because of the heavy clay soils, the site would require extensive use of soil amendments to make the garden soils suitable for small-scale fanning using hand tools. It would also require extensive use of gravel for pathways and parking to allow wet-weather visitation. As described above, the Calle Joaquin Open Space has several serious disadvantages as a community garden site; however, it has one major advantage—it is large enough to accommodate the full unmet demand for community garden space in the City, with allowance for growth of that demand. Staff looked at the possibility and concluded that, if Council wished to pursue such an arrangement, a two to two and a half acre site would be sufficient to accommodate all existing unmet demand plus an increase in such demand of about 20-25% in the next few years. To do so, however, would most likely require at least a gravel off-street.parking area sufficient for 15- 20 vehicles, at least portable restrooms, provision of potable water, and extensive site preparation. This would be expensive,but it could be done. Other City-Owned Locations On January 6, Council directed staff to evaluate other parcels that may have potential as community garden sites; particularly those locations close to the downtown area and 4500 square feet or more in area, which is the amount of green space being converted to parking in Mitchell Park. With assistance from GIS, a map of City-owned property in the downtown region was developed. (Attachment 5) The majority of parcels owned by the City on the map are buildings, parking lots, existing parks and two wide areas along the Railroad Safety Trail near Boulevard Del Campo. Staff also took a look at the Leff Street parcel, which is owned by Southern Pacific Railroad. The parcel is very hilly and would not be conducive for a community garden. Staff had very little time to investigate these more discreet parcels. Given direction by Council, staff will continue a more intensive review of possible downtown locations. . 51-1 Community Gardens Report Page 10 CONCURRENCES The Natural Resource Manager has reviewed and concurs with the findings in this report. A report of this nature would normally be reviewed by the Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC) prior to coming before the Council. However, because the report was fast-tracked, there was insufficient time to present the findings to the PRC at its January 7 meeting. Commissioners were informed of the report being presented to the Council and invited to attend the meeting on January 20. If expansion of the community garden program surfaces in the goal-setting or budget process, the PRC will be directly involved in the development of any recommendations for future growth. While fees are typically not acted on by advisory bodies, in this case the fees are also tied to the potential for enhancing program availability, therefore staff will consult with the PRC regarding fees, too. Prior to a recommendation for any fee structure adjustment, staff will conduct appropriate public outreach to seek input from the gardening community. FISCAL IMPACT There is no direct fiscal impact associated with the study session report. If in the future Council directs staff to explore expansion of the Community Garden Program, costs will be incurred to convert existing space to usable garden plots. The specific costs would be developed once a site is determined. The best practice study indicated that the rate currently charged for garden plot rental is low and needs further evaluation. Increased revenue from the Community Garden Program, along with parity in user fees would be the most likely recommendations of that evaluation. ATTACHMENTS 1. Community Garden Plot Maps a. Emerson Park b. Laurel Lane c. Broad Street 2. Information on Urban Bee Gardens from UC Berkeley website 3. Best Practice Information 4. Density Map—Garden Locations 5. Map—City-owned Property near Downtown 777 T:Parks and Recreation/Community Gardens Report/CAR-Community Gardens SSI �b ATTACHMENT Emerson Park Community Garden Legend GardenWater COMPOST BINS 1 s 2 9A 0 10 20 40 Feet 9B 9C 13 17 21A 21B 25 3A 3B 4 10 14 18A 18B 22A 22B 26 .a 5A 5B 11 15A 1-5B 19A 19B 23A 23B 27A 27 B s 6 12 Common 28 Common Area Area Pismo ss� -I/ ,TTACHMENT ` �>f Laurel Lane Community Garden 3 9B 2 - 9A 8A 66 (i3 J L 8B J 5A 5B 1 8A 4 7 Legend s 1 �E GardenWater 0 10 20 40 reef' SSI - 1a- .4 ACHMENT_ h Broad Street Community Garden E 2 1 6 5 Ramp 4 8 7 10 9 C-12 11 0 14 13 M 15 16 1 17 F Legend s Water Bib • Trash 0 10 20 40 Feet SSt�l3 Guide To Bee-Friendly Gardens - "XXXXXXX ATTACHMENT— �L .— Page 1 of 2 Ujban Bee Garde sees Y�Carden rh .see Gaffe Rememrle seg-ley Gardm a;W A Brief History Of The Urban Emerson Park Garden: Community Garden to Bee Prgject Pollinator Garden Common S.F. by Jaime Pawelek Bay Area Bee Groups When looking for a diverse garden to sample in San Luis Obispo, CA, in addition to the Cal Poly Arboretum, we stumbled on the Emerson Park Community Garden. Emerson_Park_ While it was mostly a vegetable/herb garden we saw that there was great potential Garden'NiR for diversifying it to encourage pollinators, especially native bees. This garden is different from the others we sample because it didn't initially start off with a lot of School Outreach bee attracting plants. Part of our research is to see if it's possible to encourage bees Work New, by planting the right plants, and we decided this community vegetable garden would be a great place to see if this could happen.We met an enthusiastic gardener there, Barb Smith,who when approached,was immediately on board and happy to California help. Barb is now the caretaker of bee plants in Emerson Garden and with her Statewide Survey cooperation we were able to start adding bee attractive plants in 2007. The garden is on property owned by the city Bee Monitoring and managed by the Parks and Recreation Protocol Dept. of SLO. The garden was started in February of 1996 and is located on the corner Bees Vs. Wasps of Nipomo and Pismo Streets in an urban residential neighborhood. The roughly 13,000 Ell sq. ft. garden houses 29 garden plots that are ]maintained by members of the community who have been growing mostly vegetables, but also flowers, like cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus), lavender (Lavandula spp.), yarrow (Achilles millefolium), sunflowers (Helianthus annuus), and salvias (Salvia spp.). The gardeners with larger plots have welcomed the addition of bee plants, as well as a few gardeners with smaller FAQ plots, and 19 plots to date have added plants that we brought them. Some of the additions we made include gaillardia (Gaillardia x grand flora), monch (Aster Researcher frikartii), Salvia `Indigo Spires',toadflax (Linaria purpurea), gumplant (Grindelia Biographies stricta), and tansy leaf phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia). The plots that once had bare patches are now filled with bee (and people) attracting flowers.There are also References large areas around the garden that have been filled with mostly native plants like goldenrod (Solidago californica), Brandegees sage (Salvia brandegei), CA poppies (Eschscholzia californica), as well as bog sage (Salvia uliginosa), which encourage the bees to come in and have a look around. http-.//nature.berkeley.edu/urbanbeegardens/research_emersonpark.html 12/19/2008 Guide To Bee-Friendly Gardens - "XXXXXXX A IACHIMENT 'L' — Page 2 of 2 The- response from the community has been very encouraging and nearby neighbors want to know how the garden improved so fast! Even people that have lived in the area for 20 years have said that the garden has never looked so good. Barb has even witnessed people swerving off the road, parking, and running over to the garden exclaiming, "What is this place!" Most of the community gardeners are happy to help out with the project and have been thrilled with the results,even in just one year. Most gardeners have even noticed an increase in their fruit and veggie production because of the increased activity of bees. Barb does a great job informing the other gardeners about native bees and they are excited to be part of our project. Most of the gardeners try to grow organically,and Barb discourages the use of pesticides, telling them that they will hurt their native bee populations. She is quick to tell them about natural homemade remedies that can be used to deter pests like snails. This cooperation has led this garden to be a productive site for bees and our research and we plan to continue monitoring here well into the future. In addition to Barb Smith and the other gardeners at Emerson, we are fortunate to have a trained local bee observer and recorder with Maggie Przybylski. She is pictured in the photo monitoring flowers in the Emerson Park garden. Maggie's professional work is for ,- the State Dept. of Parks and Recreation lons, monitoring sensitive bird species in nearby Maggie eem"=CXSmM wild areas, but on many of her free days she gathers valuable data in the garden and other areas of SLO. When we visit the garden to sample and observe the bees we often meet the gardeners themselves and they all want to know what we are finding and how else they can help. We have also given informal talks to the gardeners to give them more background info J on bees and their ecology. When we're lucky (From kft to 6SW Maggie rrzybylsld„"`me we are even invited to sample the vegetable vaweiek,Barb=Tb,Gordan Ftwflw,and Sara P g win at Emanon Garden. bounty the garden provides! Our preliminary findings are very encouraging and we can see the increase in abundance and diversity of bees even in just the first year. 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N &% �- /� Density of Prop e rtty Community Ga-.,den Prospects ft Mixed-Use Pro (higher density is darker) • Existing Community — Gardens _ ATTACHMENT Proposed Locations ( Emerson Park �I ( French Park I 29 l (3)Laguna Lake Park } !_ —_—°P OR?H PERIIC� O 4 Las Paderas Park ! l ��II s I�1`�,t50U'Fti-P T C O5 Meadow Park ©Priolo-Martin Park10 tio�� F 0!L Santa Rosa Park — ®Sinsheimer Park i - �, '" O9 Stoneridge Park ��--------_-- O , OThroop Park i �; ,r9 I• 11 Vista Lago Park �p 1© Bianchi Open Space ,, o s 13 Calle Joaquin Open Space ! mos v v2 II C1 14 Matthews Open Space = o� 90 �i, 14 12 11 }I 9 RCUTT p4 �1 le P RA DG \. 13 ' . 10 ------- `fir li TAN K FARM li O city of san Utli OBIiPO LSO ;- - ATTACHMENT 5 z low Nks 04 ` ���� �. rtn.♦. ,^,fir �L,�L �`w <�. �Tr�. ` _. .y�. � . .�3Y.,�' 51 r . < r •' _ to + �'r•. n " •/ � , .�� \N \ .� i i. 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It is thriving in perfect rows, a mission to end hunger in our generation, Urban Farming is fresh-faced alongside the modest original Steinbeck home now an international organization,with gardens growing from _---1 :._ L_if _1.1 .L:- :_ -._. .____:__ ._ n._--,._._, --............_........ . HOME STYLE Steinbeck Vineyards&Winery is the first vineyard anywhere To the creative and passionate individuals behind Vineyards to participate,donating one acre(nestled among thousands of Growing Veggies"this garden will literally feed the hungry,and acres of vines)that will generate approximately six to seven tons literally and metaphorically bring people back to earth,back to of fresh local produce annually—all of which will be distributed the soil that sustains them,and give them a reason to appreciate to individuals and families in need.In San Luis Obispo County, it intrinsically—the unmistakable taste of a ripe tomato just off there are an estimated 35,000 people who are considered"food the vine.White grew up in the area and gets her green thumb insecure"—meaning theylive theirdailylives in fearofhunger or handed down from many generations of home gardeners.Both starvation.That is 15 percent of the population,and the national Steinbeck-Newkirk and Blankenship are daughters of farmers— average.Carl Hansen of the Paso Robles chapter of the Food Bank Steinbeck-Newkirk's fanning roots go back sixgenerations in Paso Coalition of San Luis Obispo County estimates that two or three Robles,and Blankenship grandparents were migrant farmers at of these one-acre gardens could serve the entire population of a time when the land that is now the Paso Robles Fairgrounds "food insecure"residents in this county. was a family farm.They speak with the confidence of women who could feed their families through hunting and farming If The intention of the pilot program is to use this model to expand the need arose.For them,this program is also an opportunity the Vineyards Growing Veggies"initiative worldwide,planting to impart some of that wisdom with the hopes that the art of and harvestingsmall plots offallowvineyardland usingdonated living sustainably is riot lost. resources and volunteer labor.It is impossible not to liken the scenario to the organic lifecycle of a garden:a seed is planted, Kelly also grew up in a rural setting in a small East Coast town it bears fruit,from that fruit seeds are collected and distributed, about the size of Templeton.She ran through acres of cornfields and the cycle begins again in another garden. and even grew her own vegetable garden every summer.After 30 years of living in concrete jungles from Adana to L.A.,getting back The seed was planted last summer at die final competition of to the earth Inas given her a renewed appreciation for the area. the Winery Music Awards at River Oaks Hot Springs and Spa. With 29,000 acres of vineyards in the county,and 35,000 hungry To the creative and passionate individuals behind Vineyards Growing Veggies,'" this garden will iicerally feed the hungry, and literally and metaphorically bring people back to eardi, back to the soil iha- sustains them, and give them a reason to appreciate it intrinsically Kathy Kelly(founder and producer of the Winery Music Awards) people,she saw the need and the ability to fill it.It is her hope was introduced to Taja Sevelle(founder of Urban Farming) that the pilot program will run seamlessly,making it easier for when the two collaborated on how they could work together. other vineyards to say"yes."It seems to be going that way.The That collaboration resulted in two initiatives:the Vineyards garden was planted on May 31 with volunteer labor.As of early Growing Veggies"Pilot Program,and Cal Poly's involvement September,over 2,760 pounds of fresh,locally-grown veggies with Urban Farming's"Food Chain'""edible wall project in Los have been harvested and given to the Food Bank for families in Angeles.While Urban Farming is focused on growing produce need all around the county. in low-income,inner-city neighborhoods, it seemed natural, given the surroundings,to expand into a rural setting and make During WWII,Americans planted 20 million victory gardens use of the rich,fertile resources for which the Central Coast is producing millions of tons of produce so that commercially known.From there,Kelly approached Cindy Steinbeck-Newkirk, farmed goods could be saved for our troops.At the hands of directorof marketing for Steinbeck Vineyards&Winery,and she an experienced gardener,a patch of dirt,a handful of seeds, readily agreed to participate. water,and sun can change people's lives.vineyards Growing Veggies"plans on proving that—one vineyard and one acre at The program evolved to include Melanie Blankenship(owner of a time. Nature's Touch Nursery in Templeton)as"Master Gardener."Amy White of Backyard Harvest for distribution;and Carl Hansen.The For more information aboutvineyards Growing Veggies:please contact irrigation s1'stem,seeds and seedlings,compost,tools,and labor Kathy Kelly at(805)434-5100 or(310)717-8750.To find out more about were generously donated by Farm Supply Company,Greenheart those involved in the program,please see the following: Farms,Botanical Interests Seed Packets,Hometown Nurserv, Urban Farming: Home Depot,Green Acres lavender Farm,Community Recycling, i wvw.urbanfarutmg.org Premier Ag,and Trader Joe's.Local photographer Richard Baker donated his services to document the project. Steinbeck Winery&Vineyards: brip://steiiibeck%vities.com/ t JOAS I:.iA"GOO `y1 •.;may 1 ry�.•• i' l ^f�'is " �r,� �'�;t ..r '� ., � � _ qp� S �- i .y c - ate. .. I �• .t '•• i maw.• i r �':" S !�1 _ �''.�' ��f.i. - �( •�it` r.. - '' ,�lid; it � ��iS aA..•�'�1 !� M '� ^ '- '»•-- - Cindy Sieinl ec h1'BY�hl'k r�,.t'. ' .r t r M . Lrw s + � a I F700 �'�`��: �� 4�� "�+, Psis ih. .�•�i.'�. _- - • a s� } i r • � r ,} Kf ¢♦y!1 mow: v - •,, �. fi • Lp x -4 tip. w.• e3 'yY ..+n. � ytii ��� �� J�w. :�•• '��i.. sa »G�•y MF y y'yti •.r e T Ul Of ;Y iJ J.� + \* �i4 bis � � � '�� 'j ,•,��"'�.F` ut'+. ^� i ,pt 14 ON ATM Kathy Kelly h p r '` .' - ' ' 4 "'`"�• ""�l sev.the Seeds or e av Vineyard t17j ,r r r m w .�, — ' MAE Ile- 7 r'"p� 1 1 - — if f Veg&s �a Feed Hungry O aso Robles Cahf.—A local vineyard is teaming with the in- ternational Urban Farttting organization to create Vineyards 1 Growing Veggies. !' The net\- program is taking root in a I-acre plot at SteinheckI� 1 Vinevards & Winer%. , Ott ala}' +f,about +t)volunteers be, plantutg u.uh god seed- lin eed_ - iings donated ht local nurseries and farin supplier, l first harvest ? l' It1� (gip oforgantcall% ro%%n ptoiiuce atas cspur within t%vo months, a2� l' ltLl Lltl accordin5 to Cind% StLinheck Newkirk, %those fancily has farmed t Q a U S 7 R g E S the land since 194;. Newkirk had bt•en gardening the plot herself ' and donating tIMuch of the produ.e, but she said sonic fond wentA" to waste. Now, With Volunteers to rend and distribute the crops, .✓ and cooperation from 10001 nonprofits,all the food will go to feed s 1 r s i hungry mouths. J l Stembeck Vineyards is donating irrigation t " 1 water and lending necinvolved farming imple- i ea.chk c 1 � men%.Newkirk got involved sty months ago, sr cnw,w,>• Q _ e, .inspired be Kathy Kelly. Kelly, who produces '--- i:; t I the Winer• Music Awards, had met Urban harming founder Taja 1 Sevellr last summer, and started brainstorming on wars to cal- laborate. Since then, the project has grown to include Backyard i harvest. which harvests and distributes local(} grown food, and 1 `4 of I. the San Luis Obispo Count%' Food Bank, which will deliver to 4 (h!✓A i(L�}l i those in need. } , Kelh reported that the plot at Stembeck will yield h-?tons of food % per season: about .1 pound of fresh, organic product. for each of { to j 12,000 people.Paso's climate pet mits three crop rotations ever'%car. r j{. . Once the first planringsare finished ben ring after 10 to I2%eecks,fall v u 11V.J tUJ��ll crops will go in:during the winter,potatoes will b grown. � ©` "Volunteers get as much food as they can use," Newkirk said. "The remaining produce is delivered to shelters." Kelly and Ne%v- kirk are hopeful that Vineyards Growing Veggies at Steinbeck will i J be the first of similar efforts throughout the world."We want it to $ t Noun a Na go internarional,' Newkirk said. For more information,e-mail Kel- h at karhyC'%winerVnuisial%wards.�om or Visit urbanfarnting.org. g;email: kovnie8k'5pokanaindustries coin -latae Firsten/e(d July 21,2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Hunter Francis 805-756-5086; wfrancis@calpoly.edu Or Joyce Lapinsky Lewis 323-610-0798; Jlapinsky@urbanfarming.org URBAN FARMING FOOD CHAINTM CREATES `EDIBLE' GREEN WALLS IN SKID ROW Cal Poly Students Grow Vertical Gardens of Food for Congested Urban Areas in Los Angeles SAN LUIS OBISPO — URBAN FARMING, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to end hunger in our generation, will establish four `edible' green walls in Los Angeles' Downtown and Central City East area, enabling residents to grow and harvest their own fresh produce. The four walls that make up the Food Chain will be as links in a chain, connected to each other by intention and design, and provide a model that Urban Farming will replicate across the country and abroad for growing food in urban neighborhoods. Thanks to the efforts and expertise of students and faculty at Cal Poly's Sustainable Agriculture Resource Consortium and the Horticulture & Crop Science Department, 4,000 fruit and vegetable plants have been cultivated organically in 180 garden panels that will soon be transported to Los Angeles and mounted onto the walls of four buildings in Los Angeles' inner city. Hunter Francis, Program Associate for Cal Poly's Sustainable Agriculture Resource Consortium, has been working a group of students led by Jennifer Webster and Efrain Wong, growing and monitoring the plants that include bell peppers, hot peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, tomatillos, strawberries. spinach, parsley, leeks, edible lavender and a variety of herbs. This Urban Farming pilot project is partially funded by grants received from The Annenberg Foundation and from the Los Angeles Office of Community Beautification. The San Luis Obispo and the neighboring areas have been extremely supportive of the Food Chain project, with local resident Kathy Kelly of the Winery Music Awards connecting Urban Farming to Cal Poly, Green Acres Lavender Farm and many other community members. Other major sponsors include Greenheart Farms of Arroyo Grande who donated thousands of starter plants and Meyer Trucking who is donating semi-trucks to transport the panels to Los Angeles. URBAN FARMING FOOD CHAINfm LINKS`EDIBLE' GREEN WALLS IN SKID ROW PAGE TWO OF TWO On Sunday July 27 at 11:30 AM press and media are invited to Cal Poly to witness the first phase of the project's launch and "send-off' along with guest speakers. Students from Cal Poly's Construction Management Department will be loading the panels onto the trucks from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The Urban Farming Food Chain walls will be installed at their final destinations in Los Angeles each day from July 29th through Aug V, with a launch event on Friday, August 1". The Urban Farming Food Chain will offer immediate access to fresh healthy produce in a time of great need, while creating opportunities for team building, skills training and community involvement. Engineered by Green Living Technologies and design by Elmslie Osler Architect, these innovative food-producing vertical gardens will beautify the downtown core and help to lower heat index in the fight against global warming. For more information on the Urban Farming Food.Chain Project, visit http://Urbaizfarming.org/f`oodchain.htnL Contact: Hunter Francis 805-756-5086 ,A,francis@calpolv.edu or Contact: Joyce Lapinsky 323-610-0798 ilapinskv@urbanfarmine.or¢ TM URBAN / .Jy f� � FARMING i Vineyards Growing VeggieSTM at Stainbeck Vineyards&Winery Urban Farming NEWS RELEASE 19785 W. 12 Mile Road Contact: Joyce Lapinsky Southfield, MI 48076 (323) 610-0798 cell (248) 388-4749 Detroit jlapinsky@urbanfarming.org (631) 905-4805 New York Contact: Kathy Kelly (323) 877-2697 Los Angeles (805) 434-5100 local Urbanfarming.org (310) 717-8750 cell kathy@winerymusicawards.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE International Organization Teams Up With Paso Robles Winery To End Hunger. Urban Farming And Steinbeck Vineyards & Winery To Launch Vineyards Growing VeggiesTM Pilot Program For Vineyards. Paso Robles, CA— May 28, 2008 — On Saturday, May 31 , 2008 from 9am to 12 noon dozens of volunteers from the local community will pitch in to help plant approximately one acre of vegetables on donated, fertile growing land at Steinbeck Vineyards & Winery located on Union Road in Paso Robles as part of a new Vineyards Growing VeggiesTM initiative expanding Urban Farming's mission to end hunger. Steinbeck Vineyards will be the first vineyard in the US to launch the Vineyards Growing VeggiesTm pilot program and act as the model to encourage other vineyards to participate in the Urban Farming program across the country and worldwide. Vineyards Growing Veggies TM is an expansion of the Urban Farming campaign, INCLUDE FOOD!Tm when planting and landscaping. Using and teaching organic growing methods, the fresh-farmed, locally grown vegetables will be given away to local area food banks, volunteers tending the garden and families in need living in the surrounding community. "My family is thrilled to be part of such a great cause during a very difficult time in our economy," said Cindy Newkirk of Steinbeck Vineyards & Winery. "With skyrocketing gas and food prices and the threat of food shortages from the use of food for fuel, we are happy to help our neighbors in this community. In addition, growing organic food through a community effort not only nourishes our bodies, but it fosters a sense of belonging and builds friendships," she added. Also contributing to the Vineyards Growing Veggies'"'program is the Farm Supply Company who is generously donating all of the irrigation system design plans, hardware and installation; Hometown Nursery is contributing vegetable seedlings along with numerous bags of grow mulch and Meyer Trucking will be involved in trucking over 4000 seedlings from Cal Poly to Los Angeles as part of the "Urban Farming Food Chain TM program, another Urban Farming initiative that will take place in downtown Los Angeles this summer. Urban Farming was first introduced to the Paso Robles Wine Region through the Winery Music Awards, a summer long music competition among unsigned artists that took place last year in Paso Robles. Taja Sevelle, Founder of Urban Farming was introduced to Kathy Kelly, Founder/Producer of the Winery Music Awards at the final competition last year at River Oaks Hot Springs and Spa. When the two met they brainstormed ideas on how the two organizations could collaborate. The result of that collaboration began two new Urban Farming initiatives, the Vineyards Growing Veggies TM program and a blossoming relationship with Cal Poly's Agricultural School. The Ag school is participating in the Urban Farming Food Chain TM program by germinating over 4000 seedlings for four 'edible wall' systems that will be installed in and serving areas in need around downtown Los Angeles. For more information, contact Joyce Lapinsky, Program Director at Urban Farming at (323) 610-0798 or Kathy Kelly, Vineyards Growing VeggiesT11 Program at (805) 434-5100 or (310) 717-8750. NOTE TO EDITOR: About Urban Farming Urban Farming is an international 501c3 organization headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, that plants food on unused land and space to give it to those in need. Their mission is to end hunger in our generation. Food gardens are planted on unused land in cities, on rooftops, on walls, in planters, in malls and within landscaping. They also develop Green Science Gardens on school campuses, K-College. The guiding principle of Urban Farming is to form win-win partnerships with local, national and international businesses, government agencies, non-profits as well as community members and leaders, faith-based organizations and youth and senior groups. They facilitate mentoring youth and adult entrepreneurship and teach about agriculture, alternative flues, math, science, life skills and healthy eating. Stills from Saturdays planting will be available on the Urban Farming website at: UrbanFarming.oro ,Wv{�, eR�®QTSt G UR F ■V IY L s Vineyards Growing VeggiesTM at Steinbeck Vineyards & winery Urban Farming NEWS RELEASE 19785 W. 12 Mile Road Contact: Kathy Kelly Southfield, MI 48076 (805) 434-5100 local (248) 388-4749 Detroit (310) 717-8750 cell (631) 905-4805 New York Kathy@winerymusicawards.com (323) 877-2697 Los Angeles Contact: Cindy Newkirk Urbanfarming.org (805) 238-1854 (805) 674- 1909 cell Cindyn @steinbeckwines.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE A Harvest of a Different Kind:_ Vegetables Paso Robles Vineyard prows and donates 3 tons of vegetable crops to Food Banks for the hungry Paso Robles, CA— October 1, 2008—Over 70 attendees gathered on a warm, early autumn evening for a harvest blessing and potluck dinner at Steinbeck Vineyards &Winery in Paso Robles, CA. The fete was a grateful celebration of the first and bountiful harvest of the pilot community garden program called Vineyards Growing VeggiesTM, a new initiative and an extension of the Detroit, MI-based, Urban Farming's Include Food TM when planting and landscaping. With a mission to end hunger in our generation, Urban Framing is now an international organization, with gardens feeding those in need from Jamaica to England. In the midst of harvesting the usual varietals on their 500+ acre ranch, where over a dozen premium wine varietals from Sauvignon Blanc to Syrah vines thrive, the Steinbeck family, along with a dedicated group of volunteers, local sponsors, the county food bank executive director and a community Pastor got together to celebrate and bless the bountiful first harvest of a different kind: vegetables. Varieties in this vineyard garden include Corn (White & Yellow), Tomatoes (Roma, Cherry, Vine Ripe) , Peppers (Green, Hot), Cucumbers (Regular, Lemon, Armenian), Squash (Acorn, Summer) Zucchini, Eggplant, Sunflowers, Parsley (Italian) and Basil (Regular, Lemon & Purple). The festive event began with garden tours for the attendees, followed by garden and harvest announcements from those leading the initiative, including Cindy Newkirk, Marketing Director and owner of Steinbeck Vineyards & Winery of Paso Robles, Melanie Blankenship, owner of Nature's Touch Nursery & Harvest and Kathy Kelly, producer &founder of the Winery Music Awards, both of Templeton. Before enjoying dozens of delicious homemade dishes prepared from the bounty picked by the garden volunteers, Pastor Daniel Rowe of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Paso Robles gave a heartfelt blessing of the harvest and program. Also attending the celebration and a major recipient of the garden's vegetables was, Carl Hansen, Executive Director of the Food Bank Coalition of San Luis Obispo County. Mr. Hansen expressed his grateful thanks for the new program and hard work of the volunteers for providing the volume and quality of the healthy vegetal, at a time of such great need. He ads 1, "One of the other great things about this produce is that it doesn't require shipping from far away, whrun means it's fresher, lasts longer, and is healthier for our clients. And, it certainly helps keep our costs down by not having to pay freight. And think how much local farms, such as this one, can help our environment by not using fossil fuels to pay freight for heavy loads from far away places. Everybody wins." Using organic and sustainable growing practices, the Vineyards Growing VeggiesTM garden was planted over two weekends in late May and early June by thirty volunteers who joined together at the Steinbeck Vineyards & Winery to plant a full array of summer vegetables on an acre of donated, fertile land for the sole purpose of giving it to local food banks and organizations for those in need. In just under three months, over 6000 pounds (3 tons) of vegetables have been harvested from the prolific, vineyard vegetable garden, with an estimated 2000+ more pounds to be harvested by the end of the current growing season. It is estimated that this one-acre garden will yield somewhere between six to seven tons of foods annually. The success of the garden at Steinbeck Vineyards &Winery will be used as a model to expand the Vineyards Growing VeggiesTM initiative to other vineyards in wine regions worldwide. For more information about Vineyards Growing VeggiesTM please contact Kathy Kelly at (805) 434-5100 or (310) 717-8750. For more information on any of the mentioned organizations, please follow the links to each organization's home page for contacts: Ubran Farming: www.urbanfarming.org Steinbeck Winery& Vineyards: www.steinbeckwines.com Nature's Touch: naturestouch@sbcdlobal.net or 805-434-3062 Food Bank Coalition of San Luis Obispo County: www.slofoodbank.org Winery Music Awards: www.winerymusicawards.com About Urban Farming Urban Farming is an international 501(c)3 organization headquartered in Detroit, Michigan,that plants food on unused land and space to give it to those in need. Their mission is to end hunger in our generation. Food gardens are planted on unused land in cities, on rooftops, on walls, in planters,in malls and within landscaping. They also develop Green Science Gardens on school campuses, K-College. The guiding principle of Urban Farming is to form win-win partnerships with local, national and international businesses,government agencies, non-profits as well as community members and leaders, faith-based organizations and youth and senior groups. They facilitate mentoring youth and adult entrepreneurship and teach about agriculture, alternative flues, math,science, life skills and healthy eating. 1 k Y ; Cindy Newkirk&Kathy Kelly speak about the VGV program to the celebrating attendees 'tic ' N tT S f `r y • t•y� k p 4 �; i�y* 1�Y����� I1 �ti ( fJ y Pastor Daniel Rowe gives a blessing Carl Hansen, Exec. Dir.,Food Bank Coalition for the bountiful first harvest of SLO County expresses his gratitude for the community garden and its volunteers. 410 1 ,1Y� Lilly Erickson& Elise Maclntyre carry the melons they picked from the garden NOTE to EDITOR: High-resolution photos are available for publication. - PACI FICQK�2�) COAST - o_ JUNGB-12.2008 PRDODLT SERVVra SANTA 9AROUldi VENTLRA AND SAN Luis OatBPO CouNL.TIES $1.50 VO9,NO.l3 �l Ai Valuntoers gathered to grow not grape,but vegetables at Stoinbee.k Vineyards in Paso Roblu-3 ort rLay 31 The crops will bo donated ; to local foodbanlcs and nonprofits. Sl SLO winery ���duces crops �- the ��i I BY EMILY RANCER an acre ill land Salurct:t\. \.Iav '11. for ozliurail% iomi, nit IT .Staff Writer on::purpose: io end hunger in S;,n Llli� f:e lduai'.. Before the morning fog had aces (bide\Count). t1.i\in n' roes ted. ^lest..' a. untangled itself from the row; of Vinevards Gro\\u:- V"I'Ll . li.r crm pmeram that brnn�'hl al IIIc toluol.t:r,. t!.. _„rd.:nn.._.:�:\.u.d t,tc b:_L..r[.... grapevines t Paso Robles, nearly two together—is the first of III, kmd in the :!;al :he chtn�hc, or .chn„i.ard,don: dozen volunteers dug through dirt and bons Golfed States, \\ith "e '.:r, sule amop;c I\ ;,,I,. •s.,thi,unts , ,t dp punched holes through slow-drip irriga- of land”across Paco Robles' vineyards. t,::I larmar fanning la\ai. b'e'll h;:Ibi•` tion hoses. program director ell Mostlylocals, the volunteers sifted fp KathyS 5—also the to n:r,\ more food and gl\r i[ lu Inotc founder and nthlt:er of Paso Robles' and seeded their way through neatly Winery Music award, — said the area rr Y88NEAY n pa,ee.;tS; I U1tlannually from 500acNs(,I and.andaclt, N,o Rbhl chapter and the til O R"I our Iocs.And even,.,Ianwlble famnnt- tlS1N�I(l Y d S'/ E I( 99 percent of its prupes to 10 area 1,owr- Coalition haw E'loncol up with the pilo: hes b:enapartofour Ikcsl'ormxiimera- Cominncdimalpage3A I.,_including 1.Lahr and F.iberle. pnigmnt,an ofl,hool of I!rh:ur Faruinp 1nm,amt 111.1 we is realitute ts'+c lust It keeps the other I percent to make Crops now'in the govt nd include,quash. used to tali,about il." peuple in need:' :boat 1,000 cases of its oma Stainbeck pepern. rggpl:uu, mc!ons. tnijakwl,. L'efow Vineyards C3mww� Vc:;gms Vineyards and Winery ,vine, which it earrou rudtshe:,onions.cwt:ane n:ar- ran,•t^tin..all other tact ar.6:br In: Urban Forming program de,xlop -b 6 1 ,µat begun selling for the lino time Ia.>i :arum. rovum:ncV +hear. Kcliv anu Ln nr mcnt detector idea last year r and Kdlc - F I i p mmrth. "'rhe:parr n; ter,than;iu:,;�onc up .4.v w.uu',:h.ennmr out eii th--Io'i;t brought [he idea last year Kelly then -, t brought up the concept of vinryvnh Ona wnrrl xprmd chum the Viur aua people well I16e able W a;inr,i Iw1h dcLuis. ,arJ,urowtng\',"Pi"progln6 Jnu.r produa;::' :.aid t,dcnteer halt tia,n u.. "'rhe,.rah' not m^raol,•:11,11. growing vcgutables with Cindy Ncwkck. P p ; <o-owner of Stembeck fineeards, and not,quickly hegan pouring I,from ill she 1a 1!,a htca6 from pkanbne pepper. :ng o.orn out:he mr,"Ic'I'or+.le- the concept Irak oft o,er tIle cuuntn. "li,hig"in here idpinp i"- hac6 told one,ne eel Ihat madul sa we'll:; "1'm thinking. welt. I In an acre H,annw.d lnterc,ta in Cd:araJo Jona' All I lh,crop.will he�rov.n u•.:n:.ar ;and tr ether,.ncvanG.'KrIP ,,iJ ed thousand:of seed'.a:.dial Greruhc:I: o'111111`11:uelh1JS.which coin;else.,;:t &.I!;: ::!:.+ hs, wily mu nmWtci,r to putting ,onvinecd r',J�:i:rn.. of land right by m, hpuee.g but a vinit's rr arct Farm. in Arrnyn ti Cttldr: ('irccu ,\1111 how ::111hti\V1:tevIlla,crtn,•:,.:v a 90a K(:,It Jin: 6j,cr<um m ,. J. ! . there."Newkirk said.-And when lKeatl Lavender Tann in �lnscnUnv donated f•r:mc,. Us,p•. n imo4rJ w nb Cd,ac 1 arr•. mentioned this.there iswater e,ailable mam Inc'nder seadling,:and Pennon "Ph iv4.nnha,L+con iUnuiu�:is LutJ :nye,h,1 Ch.in linwrini right there.1 almady grow a garden,my aitl Rcc.rling dunwed 25 trot.,„f.oto m-, it and w.: Face h".:, in 15no k, d.,<,c w[hc e�nndlmc uun,tr: franih and hospitality gu hand in hand. . Robles as tanners srnec Ine.1; Vn, 1;111 arc ,crmmauno ..0im ,r_dh9,t .c would he a perfect fit for this.- Tnr:oalar the prow Ing Cri and ui id, surd. -Here :dwav, Grow nn : , t:.,d that , 0 be alu:aed •crnc:db or f.- Sminhttk harvests nbnw 2,0(111 Gape, distribute ncrnhrng w Iuw-income it- for onr,elvn - lar%a:tm+dn anplca.m, %1,111,11 a low ine.nne ares nl 1..1 Au I'r di,'idval>uvtr time.Hsekyard Hnrc::yr, homemade hrtnd-Utinp>that arc Ixm Ill m.lame 1hi'lett �R Thadam J�3,2= c n eir 'r as .4` 54�ia � _. y�YC4�$'�l w"j. t r 71,�- e`4 x e'TY'xYy,>��t�•Y n �+v �_ T 'b ,,,.Arlt.^ <�, J't .� + '�"s .... ... ,• � �.. F° `'s '4�-8t'-F •'��,li�L�' ya'r• 'i+� � �s ,'` r .. A 4 n t �xr^ �3 r� s�--y a>:� ^�g•• /'_"rte 1-.. r.� :S t. � .:� t' •it ✓ "'��`°' _� �„ ofi� :�, t1 t- ''5 y.i - �i<K:.� .�..'S.ry ryytw ..j.% {r'✓n- G,+r .'t 1' r• y l Q- t �••` rn 'h� Yt,� � .. ilk"`-s.✓�. r +` �. �_?. .,q�"f Cr� ",Ftp. v- *✓, � :^ rF 4 t 1 L •'' v 7y 1 ..�.�'.� v �kl �e..'-u6�:41iSr�.`Ja'� t '.;"r'.•'r.'^ � �, �• ., p �-yF Mfi'^z.�,t� .mss..++� ��v r i Jf ql Zi :.µ°/ ,�r, ti � ts' �+y�dF°L.`n 4�t, �i ice, c{. � ' �g<,. _K{�`��„✓r�a^.✓=... -•'` r r r`+•�•li° n .rib}a .Y` � d ,p "'�-- � may, a ✓ z^., 7 ji. '1{- -'�tli "X r r i rti.•na t� }..r 4 �9'"V, o �leS 1 "r ,a,n, ,+ ! `i/Sryr�<, ��..uu �+' . :L.f'�"/>'��a,}>�.,♦ S 'Twt W` -•.iyR't{,, ✓<MI ,a. `4YN" S �'-lVM •.L'M1µ'� • 4._.Y YV _).> b } "I- �✓ lWi• "t J .K3 •.�� t-` � T v r..1e L"T w rt" x � - Fy2 r�W � 4�� i 47 r.^,.>4 .Jir• d 71 ..�a .: Ph,rabn hdru kl..u' peso Rabies'restdants and 6-year-old twhts Joely and Jett Rush work to plant vegetables at Steinbeek Vineyards and Winery I SafYNey.,Along with their parents.Ulna and Al,the twins were among volunteers that helped to tum a donated acre Into the i that Central Coast location for the Vineyards Growing Vaggles program. { i lutea Btu, their own – produce. on walls, in Planters in malls,and side- ' sr"—�W`n-ER The effort is pan of Urban Farm's walks cafes and has Green Science teinbeck Mney'ards and new initiative. .'incy'n.ds Growing Gardens on school cantpuscs in as cttbn Winery of Paso Robles has Veggies. Urban Farming. headquartered to combat hunger on a large scale. - partnered with Kathy Kelly of in Detroit. Mich.. is an international The: organization. founded by 'I'aja I the Winery Music Awards and nonprofit organization that plants fixmd Sevelie in 2005, is based around i the nonprofit organization on'unused land and space to feed the revised model of the "victory gardettc' Urban Farming to combat the Browing hungry. According to its Web site, that sprung up all over the country dur- isstfe of hunger in San Luis Obispo www.urb:mfarming,org. the organiza- ing the time of the World War Ti, said County by growing a little something of tion plants produce gardens on rooftops, See FARM. A3 e •..: _+� " ' '- .. Twerp',J,mea:MM News G4y1�v • -,t Ebro E..r � _ e •� �-.. d ,� - �„'�+. _z�.fa.�r.. ltl�.-..0 8• e S. y �' r st I �"t-_ ' v r x"' a ,-. > m 1?'py,Yr�S� rr i> .. k...�,.-,'✓ �•t.- r , -nit ,.s r.,t�5• . � +�.,� „ '�r v r , < :; ` ' �.,tC e'Ts» �.v�s;.a'•a'�l. r.- r' a' tr .' ,•;. �� It- x 4,1 b ^+yea - �. M 'l fru � . r if zwd : •Ft• l '/,lj/4'lili er •ft"'- .lr ky,al' y c a ",r'rr a •�.: a � �. ,r- 73 �F'{ 'pa *^f��� ,,�.�>�1i.��Y��/�{�,y,,, ,,,z _N tr k•`� z<.r'�-�2�,'�,r, t'1lx1`I`- f° *'-„`M.. X ti ., R y�'it �{ �✓'Vt :far t �, R"�G+'� 114 1 �V JOYce tA*-kY.I-M arrd Cli Pdde Plant a d.notOd pallor.of post.... �� bore ewl)thing th:u ilmv need;':.hc said. go.•9s pro?�.n'ic.s to the pvaja.,aclu:l. . "7Lap teill lypi::dlc ll.we ester:•,I:u:u.,md in; til: urm;u:a: s+Cera ;le,n:n plans. CandhmOd from Al it maN nol IN, rigl,:or gl-o iv"'Cesar;fos hu Ill."I :uI.i iudt(laiiurl C,1eentman program develupmr_u. ennsulunt Joyrs limit wnc:;,rd m p',:, the grapes. 'Del, 1'a:m,d,an;n::rr,m:test,SUn,..¢duns:e Lupiraky. flava land.Ncy h„nrc o"LP,imid.::nd lhcy tic u,,;, Com:mmity "During World War IL 20n:illiun pep- ila•:c :atev: v, !irunn!; 111-!! , c,111,p- uihmn' ' iol, r. :.Mil.11I, ,,h::h '.n• pie planted gardens in their heroes and :neut nut iseoph:" sprcaC c.c 111, a<Ie nl.0 i-; ..-lumen. they Erev AO-3 cal of Anicricnls m- C-ndy Ncwkile "d ke,hv,bu...C1im. froPlc nne .i . t N¢e;'she ,aid. "Nie .,.ant to bring till a; numrr of lhr Nadir ui:a:ncd rvine:':..,aid 4i tela IGe to-;,:giro: _uJ:r. „ lute'. � bad.' they west eager In Ir the iir:l zineynd in Jo,•n, a hill ;;dl_ pt,Gmzc ,avdrl Wbw started out as just a handful of t!le Umgd lt,lilwlal tFn \nkyanl «um+ nl 1..r d. of gnrrkm in Detroit has developed into a Grou•utc legc2e.I late.-; utr I tJ Iain l:!.uls arur f network of nape[bull 5tw produce gaokll, "\I, Iaml;:11.1,,[,pm at t^.;„, i.,, ,i, the comp; i,:a rc;e n;•;stun:n,oc pr..e;. in a number of mate.,:r,,m:d the cuuntry }onrntti,m:; --_ bons girl.,. my num will no era:,,,rt,::lira,, ❑I,.•t.nr,?!Id wtd even.brtcW-;III as part of the uRa- indid-:rod iu.m the idea Ilzu This eau,.- anlhh:.,.r,lir:prra.h neaJad w aipp!:. I:i=on's gnai m aadwate Ilnnucr:vidlal manily ha`nulppoucd as lin;o x;auy cin: r,cu!1:1r;hJ.,:..:a i,ural panraa,eau hill the current yrorxlaliun. and pow un e.nl 9,,{n 1'ui bind to r.:n'is Irv:d vers irc;m.m:n,. Locally. Soinbeck Vineyards purl iusi Fantastic fill u,: Scald'!.said. Para f:r;tias ;a::J..n •.n;c 4'h0.. Winery has become.". now modern day The::cru of hand that was doneted to director ,, itic peso Rork, diaper „i model-fur how m combat hunger a'itMn the note.[is normally r•.uu;cd dui:dra+c [3:Ickpard f?::r:ca.t, 4,are of hop , the community and tin-¢mull:Strinheck lith v.cc,L du,iut, In, .ntmr-1 month,, nnlcb h..:.a b,o.l Panurc, au in teed of Vineyards and Winer', I,icatcd at 54 lit Newlin,said While the plot of hod i::a nun'icn;-deme. from: fmil, and .ez,ies. i Univ¢load in Past,Reb:ci,has,dnnaled hit too(stile 1111 en„riug ¢tape. ._ th,e 6a.kpurd H::r+c,t ua gra.s;cot,.rumi<a an acre of unused and tur a cotmnunity vines dt,liuuci„$cn[lie,Itniggle- it i, don Out'uordir:,acs e'orlon::m ens imo. produce gardrn,the proceed,of which will perfect for planting produce,she said, mrvmk et douaiors 1'ur that be donated to local area read scr•ico pro- V7or<rh:m+n:nlunsr:.urncd up:11 distt!hulc lwwiL Garkyud 11.111C.11ulu;o- j ¢ants to be tedistribetell to those familia, Swinln•ck Vinrvank and Winery on tech wiil 1c lending,_Icu.f to ensues tSe acid individuals at risk of coin_hungry Saturday mutninp In wl lay the gmuud" garden" -Rte project was the product of a for dw.gulden.Th,r>c vnlwllc.n planted '•1 aa,ncalk ex,i!cdl.dam,.tips('Wh.te chance meeting bmn= Kelly. founder rucloeS.--urn,elicutrivi,zuc:lanl6,torrla- ':dill.'Thi$Ip::el`]a:,•::,I,g[:d;IL•:Riff and pnxh=ofthe Winery\dusie.1warL. lac, peppers, marioneu, nnlous, coma; of fm,h pnlduc::u::l C1;.-!1 dgra-.Ono- and Smr8c at dee nem held m-the Rvvc and chives. ml:ni'v huildiv-nl. t i ,am•dun.* Gales HotSamF,Sp.maoha:ol 2007. 'W,unmrtlyd•hn : annlua"i The two negan W bninatorm how t(icv think ere irrve it b.ul,but thcre lire other Thr butte is rtl;S;anixak V'7rcya:i: cuuld.collabor_te W bring Urban Fanning people dial an:realty,rrallr.ttuggling and and Vvmttie.:moi iu•the titre to plant t!•: projects to the Central Coast.That collate so that,,,c aro ls,ing ill help the mmnuni- wcdlmdu�n a mmmcut!hat will spry oration has resr«led In not only the q' i.+jna huge to Inc:'said P:ao Robles to odmr Pas:Robles a-.a wineries,Will! Vineyard.:Growing Vieg;;ics progrlat.but rsil.cm Dina Rv--h,v.ho carne out It,vol- it,soon„h:i I:tiwI or iarnc:;and mor=e.^ also a newly forced relationship mil Cal umcer with het hwlmad.Al.and Ihcii f•- in:,pirit,N'.wl I6;id that P:uo Robles is Poly's Agricultural School.St.dellb at We year-old nem..Joc!, dad Jell."It is just tile.Ivriv:l place P.!imi av,emenl to tali university are how germn:aGne else thin nee to Ste.;o Relay people Come IUgtrller. !IDI:.and cro•.v. 4.000 seedlings a,pad Of a venical farm. and the kids-it is just uncles,the ic.,.0 nls 'fire prr„_rim i,!n aced nl\,uhinlects to mg pmjw dubbed the"edible wall”sys- that they arc!caming:tcachine them about hrJp in Cite up k ep of 131:gurdcn.c.<sctal- Iem.The food grrnn:on:.be site will be gi,ing and whit:is realist•inyr.:Gant" Iv m the picLng;Cason.Lapilnk,',auc she transported to residcnte of downwn%n LA. Tim ct,nimunil,ha;literally mslmd to is apps:imr 1t, :dl raiih-ba,ed i,rgalkr- Tlre Vineyards Chv wing Veggies prof, be of aid to the prnjv�i and its mission of lion<,vmr.'n rluh,,coglnrauots and euro ect is pe-tea:hatch for the Central Coust ,uppinmmntine tool nantrws hroughota uev,es to_r in,-ke i ir.the fight agnin+t and its burgeoning wine industry.L.apin;ky the nisi„n with 1'r,h ptod.cc. \,,rki,k hunt=er m:'noir conmunl:y. said I said Form Srppty C:cmlpany of Paso Fur 11ore iafonnauun:,r to vuhnitcm -Vinccyams aro perfcel because they Roble, donated aver `:LOPtI onru, ill' contact Sc,ckirk a,.67:_Inpr, Page 1 of 2 _ �s7 cop• _� �/a-i� COLINCIL r 2C-AC0ryAGS GrCDDDIR e LL FIN DIR _9-A TORNEY- - CI�FIRE CHIEF EJ CLERK/OR10 —LVPW DIR _� From: Hampian, Ken ❑ DEPTH �pOLICE CHF Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2009 10:25 PM C� PlB EAb3 DREG DIR /, ryt gkN'v ruTIL DIR To: Ashbaugh, JohnHR Dir,- Cc: IRCc: Hooper, Audrey; Chippendale, Sue; Kiser, Betsy; Havlik, Neil; Fitzgerald, Linda; Wallace, Christine Subject. RE; Community Garden report rltduc�C�li er,+'y M Caz Thank you, John. And by copy of this reply, I am asking the City Clerk's Office to Red File your thoughts to.the rest of the Council. __-- -------------- _.._.__.._.______-- r1D-Ft — From: Ashbaugh, John MEETING AGENDA Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2009 5:13 PM To: Hampian, Ken; Kiser, Betsy; Havlik, Neil; Fitzgerald, Linda; Wallace, Christine PATE 4 dT ITEI: SS Subject: Community Garden report Nice job on the Community Gardens report-I wish I were going.to be there next week when it will be presented. (Really, I do..:) I see that among the items for which you are seeking direction is a policy on uniform plot size, and possibly a reduction in "oversized" garden plots in the 3 community gardens we operate now... I'm seeing this as one area that might be controversial on Tuesday evening. I'm wondering if we've given any specific notice about this report or its presentation on January 20 to the current garden plot tenants, or to the people on the waiting list? Obviously, some in the group of current gardeners would be likely to oppose such a proposal, while the people on the waiting list should be more favorable to it. Since I won't be around to"face the music" on this issue Tuesday evening, here's a"sneak preview" of my own, still-evolving views on the issue of plot size: I would favor a proposal to establish a uniform size and ultimately to reduce the sizes of larger plots in the current gardens. However, it seems to me that we should consider permitting any tenant who has rented an over-sized plot for more than, say 3 years a reasonable transition period, say to the end of the 2009 harvest at least. We should give even more time, if we're able to supply enough new garden plots that the waiting list is absorbed during that transition period. These long-term gardeners have likely invested a fair amount of"sweat and compost" into the soil profile for their plot, and they shouldn't be displaced without"due process." Finally, once the waiting list is absorbed, we should permit gardeners to obtain a second, third, or even larger plots if they can make productive use of them. We should also consider whether we would allow some system of trading (formally or informally) so that community gardeners can "consolidate" larger plots- but again, only if they can make good use of them, and only where they are not extending anyone else on the waiting list On another vein, too, I'd suggest that staff attempt to enter the home addresses of those who are on the waiting list into a Google-map (or our own GIS)display, in order to get some idea as to where these 120+ people are concentrated. It might shape our decision as to which site(s)would be highest priority for the next Community Garden. Finally, we got an e-mail today from Eric Michelssen at Clark Valley Organic Farm in which he seems to be proposing an effort by the Central Coast Ag Coop to initiate a management program for the 13-acre Calle Joaquin site. He mentions a possibility of USDA funding. He also seems to be under the impression that our Thursday evening Goal-Setting workshop is an "open space planning" meeting: This impression might be the result of a mass e-mailing to someone's list-sery that has generated several e-mails repeating the same language about this site. We might want to consider pro-actively replying to these people with a recommendation that they plan to attend the January 20 meeting, where there would be more time to consider that site and the overall Community Garden program in its proper context. If I may make one further suggestion, Mayor Romero might also consider announcing to those attendees at Thursday's evening meeting that we will hold a separate discussion on the Community Gardens issue on Tuesday-that way, they mi ht abbreviate their remarks a little 1/15/2009 Page 2 of 2 z — _ on Thursday, saving their"heavy fire"for Tuesday (when I will, conveniently, be out of town!) (no connection, of course) All for now- John B. Ashbaugh San Luis Obispo City Council 1/15/2009