COMMUNITY BASED FOOD SYSTEM Innovative Demonstration
COMMUNITY BASED FOOD SYSTEM Innovative Demonstration Projects 1) Major Composting Efforts In 2013, the Greenbelt Department of Public Works started a composting pilot program for food scraps. Since then, staff has participated in composting coffee grinds, lunch leftovers, and paper towels in compost bins on-site at Public Works. An estimated 0.62 tons of compostable materials have been diverted from the landfill annually through the successful efforts of this composting program. The purpose is to reduce food waste, while improving the nutrient content of soil at the same time. In addition, an outreach campaign was started to encourage yard waste diversion. The City provides spaces for composting demonstration projects and has held workshops to teach people about backyard composting and vermiculture on March 3, 2016, November 5, 2016, and March 18, 2017. The Green Team’s Zero Waste Circle has actively engaged and educated community members on composting options at 22 festivals and community events since 2014. Volunteers and Zero Waste Circle members create and monitor Zero Waste stations with equal access for patrons to recycle and compost their waste. Community members are educated about composting and over 2,409 pounds of organic waste has been collected and composted from these festivals. Additionally, the Green Team’s Zero Waste Circle, with a City of Greenbelt liaison, has created an Organics Task Force which is researching City-wide compost options and the respective pricing. Proof 1.1: Compost Workshop posted as an event on City website
http://www.greenbeltmd.gov/calendar.aspx?eid=2069
Proof 1.2: September 8, 2016 News Review Public Works Has Zero Waste Week September 1 to 7, 2016; Katelyn the Green Acrobat Introduces Zero-waste Week
http://www.greenbeltnewsreview.com/issues/GNR20160908.pdf
2) Greenbelt Food Forest Since 2012, the Greenbelt Food Forest (GFF) has brought together Greenbelt neighbors, community organizations, and public agencies to benefit the Greenbelt area with a focus on improving water quality in the local watershed. This intentionally designed space is used as an outdoors classroom for permaculture design courses, environmental stewardship volunteer opportunities, and for gathering. GFF has three inter-related goals: 1)To expand tree canopy cover by engaging local residents and students to attend community design sessions and plant native edible trees/shrubs, herbaceous perennials, and ground cover that feature permaculture design principles. The tree plantings will reduce rapid runoff and erosion, and will provide food sources. 2) To assess and improve the water quality of Indian Creek, using both expert consultation and students’ observations and data collection. Experts will provide the initial assessment and will work with students in collecting and analyzing data. 3) To facilitate multi-generational social and regenerative educational opportunities through collaboration with schools, after-school programs, city government, and other volunteer-based groups. The Greenbelt Food Forest is a collaborative effort of the following agencies and community organizations: •Chesapeake Education, Arts, and Research Society (CHEARS) •Greenbelt Department of Public Works •Camp Fire USA •Citizens to Conserve and Restore Indian Creek (CCRIC) •Greenbelt Advisory Committee on Environmental Sustainability (Green ACES) •Ancestral Knowledge •Forested and •TapRoots. The City provided the land for the Food Forest as well as technical assistance from the City’s Horticultural department, and helps with the maintenance of the site.
Proof 2.1: Greenbelt Food Forest Phase I Photo Journal http://www.slideshare.net/chearsdotorg/greenbelt-food-forest-phase-i-photo-journal
Proof 2.2: Greenbelt Food Forest Phase II Photo Journal http://www.slideshare.net/chearsdotorg/greenbelt-food-forest-phase-ii-photo-journal
Proof 2.3: Greenbelt City Roundup Volunteers Come Out For City Environmental Events
http://www.greenbeltmd.gov/Blog.aspx?IID=20
3) Three Sisters Demonstration Gardens In 2010, the Chesapeake Education, Arts and Research Society (CHEARS) received a $1,500 grant from the Greenbelt Community Foundation to establish demonstration gardens in each of the three major geographic areas of Greenbelt (Greenbelt East, Greenbelt West and Greenbelt town center). The grant was matched by CHEARS funds. The goal of the Three Sisters Demonstration Gardens project is also to illustrate a sustainable food-growing system in which diverse crops mutually support each other’s wellbeing. Its focus is on educating the public about healthy food options, sustainable growing practices, and water quality through experiential learning, demonstrations and workshops. CHEARS has established outdoor classroom gardens that are multi-generational and accessible to all. The gardens provide an opportunity for combining gardening with artistic expression and co-learning about sustainable landscaping. Residents in the different areas of Greenbelt work together, and assist each other in the development and implementation of the garden activities. In 2017, CHEARS, with support of the Greenbelt Community Foundation, launched two new citizen science co-learning and community building projects centered on learning how to build soil though composting and also to learn about what plants are the best to plant given climate change. The CHEARS Earth Squad, a group of elementary school children who are engaged with scientific and environmental learning, work in the Three Sisters Gardens and are active in the projects to collect and measure compostable materials in each of the Three Sisters Demonstrations Gardens. Additionally, the Earth Squad is engaged in measuring of plant growth of Northern and Southern varieties of grapes, blueberries, and strawberries to identify the effect of climate change on local plants. The City provided the land for the demonstration gardens as well as technical assistance and maintenance.
Proof 3.1: http://greenbeltfoundation.net/3-sisters-garden/
Proof 3.2: http://www.slideshare.net/chearsdotorg/greenbeltthreesistersupdateaugust2011
Proof 3.3: CHEARS e-Newsletter with upcoming planting and co-learning meet-ups
http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Spring-Opportunities-to-Stand-together-to-Resist-and-SupportEachother.html?soid=1101229599450&aid=7arbYZ8bSdc
Proof 3.4: CHEARS Three Sisters Demonstration Gardens website
http://chears.org/gardens/
http://www.greenbeltmd.gov/calendar.aspx?eid=2069
Proof 1.2: September 8, 2016 News Review Public Works Has Zero Waste Week September 1 to 7, 2016; Katelyn the Green Acrobat Introduces Zero-waste Week
http://www.greenbeltnewsreview.com/issues/GNR20160908.pdf
2) Greenbelt Food Forest Since 2012, the Greenbelt Food Forest (GFF) has brought together Greenbelt neighbors, community organizations, and public agencies to benefit the Greenbelt area with a focus on improving water quality in the local watershed. This intentionally designed space is used as an outdoors classroom for permaculture design courses, environmental stewardship volunteer opportunities, and for gathering. GFF has three inter-related goals: 1)To expand tree canopy cover by engaging local residents and students to attend community design sessions and plant native edible trees/shrubs, herbaceous perennials, and ground cover that feature permaculture design principles. The tree plantings will reduce rapid runoff and erosion, and will provide food sources. 2) To assess and improve the water quality of Indian Creek, using both expert consultation and students’ observations and data collection. Experts will provide the initial assessment and will work with students in collecting and analyzing data. 3) To facilitate multi-generational social and regenerative educational opportunities through collaboration with schools, after-school programs, city government, and other volunteer-based groups. The Greenbelt Food Forest is a collaborative effort of the following agencies and community organizations: •Chesapeake Education, Arts, and Research Society (CHEARS) •Greenbelt Department of Public Works •Camp Fire USA •Citizens to Conserve and Restore Indian Creek (CCRIC) •Greenbelt Advisory Committee on Environmental Sustainability (Green ACES) •Ancestral Knowledge •Forested and •TapRoots. The City provided the land for the Food Forest as well as technical assistance from the City’s Horticultural department, and helps with the maintenance of the site.
Proof 2.1: Greenbelt Food Forest Phase I Photo Journal http://www.slideshare.net/chearsdotorg/greenbelt-food-forest-phase-i-photo-journal
Proof 2.2: Greenbelt Food Forest Phase II Photo Journal http://www.slideshare.net/chearsdotorg/greenbelt-food-forest-phase-ii-photo-journal
Proof 2.3: Greenbelt City Roundup Volunteers Come Out For City Environmental Events
http://www.greenbeltmd.gov/Blog.aspx?IID=20
3) Three Sisters Demonstration Gardens In 2010, the Chesapeake Education, Arts and Research Society (CHEARS) received a $1,500 grant from the Greenbelt Community Foundation to establish demonstration gardens in each of the three major geographic areas of Greenbelt (Greenbelt East, Greenbelt West and Greenbelt town center). The grant was matched by CHEARS funds. The goal of the Three Sisters Demonstration Gardens project is also to illustrate a sustainable food-growing system in which diverse crops mutually support each other’s wellbeing. Its focus is on educating the public about healthy food options, sustainable growing practices, and water quality through experiential learning, demonstrations and workshops. CHEARS has established outdoor classroom gardens that are multi-generational and accessible to all. The gardens provide an opportunity for combining gardening with artistic expression and co-learning about sustainable landscaping. Residents in the different areas of Greenbelt work together, and assist each other in the development and implementation of the garden activities. In 2017, CHEARS, with support of the Greenbelt Community Foundation, launched two new citizen science co-learning and community building projects centered on learning how to build soil though composting and also to learn about what plants are the best to plant given climate change. The CHEARS Earth Squad, a group of elementary school children who are engaged with scientific and environmental learning, work in the Three Sisters Gardens and are active in the projects to collect and measure compostable materials in each of the Three Sisters Demonstrations Gardens. Additionally, the Earth Squad is engaged in measuring of plant growth of Northern and Southern varieties of grapes, blueberries, and strawberries to identify the effect of climate change on local plants. The City provided the land for the demonstration gardens as well as technical assistance and maintenance.
Proof 3.1: http://greenbeltfoundation.net/3-sisters-garden/
Proof 3.2: http://www.slideshare.net/chearsdotorg/greenbeltthreesistersupdateaugust2011
Proof 3.3: CHEARS e-Newsletter with upcoming planting and co-learning meet-ups
http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Spring-Opportunities-to-Stand-together-to-Resist-and-SupportEachother.html?soid=1101229599450&aid=7arbYZ8bSdc
Proof 3.4: CHEARS Three Sisters Demonstration Gardens website
http://chears.org/gardens/
