Growing Gardens PortlandIan Zehler
Garden Benefits
Community Organizing
• Community gardens increase a sense of community ownership and stewardship.
• Community gardens foster the development of a community identity and spirit.
• Community gardens bring people together from a wide variety of backgrounds (age, race, culture, social class).
Garden
Community gardens build community leaders.
Community gardens offer a focal point for community organizing
Can lead to community-based efforts to deal with other social concerns.
Crime Prevention
• Community gardens provide opportunities to meet neighbors.
• Community gardens build block clubs (neighborhood associations).
• Community gardens increase eyes on the street.
• Community gardening is recognized by the many police departments as an effective community crime prevention strategy.
Cultural Opportunities
Community gardens offer unique opportunities for new immigrants (who tend to be concentrated in low-income urban communities)
Produce traditional crops otherwise unavailable locally
Community gardens offer neighborhoods an access point to non-English speaking communities.
Community gardens allow people from diverse backgrounds to work side-by-side on common goals without speaking the same language
Youth
• Where food comes from
• Practical math skills
• Basic business principles
• The importance of community and stewardship
• Issues of environmental sustainability
• Job and life skills
Other Benefits
Food Production
Health alternatives
Green Space
Recycling and Compost
Increased property values
Strategy Diagnostic
Coordinate a community garden
Scout out new locations for gardens
Support garden/community organizer
Use truck to transport large items
Create online forum
Feedback from Strategy
High crime in scouting areas
Application that need processed
Scout locations
Help with school Q&A
School Q&A
Forum Feedback
Loved the idea
Great for ideas
Communicate with Community
Events Plans
FAQs page
Forum
https://muut.com/growinggardenspdx/
Simple Code that came be embedded anywhere on website
Forum
Benefits of Online Communities
Communities can draw revenues from transactions and advertising
Reduce customer service
Improved Brand Image
Instant Gratification from Customers
Improved customer satisfaction
https://hbr.org/1996/05/the-real-value-of-on-line-communities
Current Website
Final Recommendations
Place online forum on website
Online request applications
Ads to increase volunteers
Feedback
Loved the online applications
Not very tech savvy
No time for ads
Can’t keep up with social media
Wanting to stay more organized
What I learned
• There is more than meets the eye
• It can be difficult to provide feedback
What I Learned Cont.
Certain processes are there for a reason
Safety is always number one
It takes a village
Great Experience
I will continue to help
Learned a lot of about it takes to run a non-profit
Long hours with little pay
Rely heavily on support from community and volunteers