PowerPoint Presentation

"A garden for every child, every child in a garden." 6.5 million American children live in a food desert (USDA)Urban Gardens for Children and Families Experiencing Homelessness

6About the Homeless Childrens Education Fund (HCEF)Pittsburgh, PA, est. 1999

Mission: To advance the education of children and youth experiencing homelessness in Allegheny County by: Providing educational programs and services Serving as a trusted advocate Sharing expertise Facilitating collaborative relationships that maximize the collective impact among community partners [Homeless Education Network (HEN)]

27 partnering homeless housing providers who serve families with children

HCEF ServicesAfterschool and summer programs

Enrichment workshops

Backpacks and school supplies

Educational projects and field trips

Scholarships

Professional development for homeless housing provider staff

Homeless Education Network (HEN)

Youth Homelessness in Allegheny County, PennsylvaniaOver 1,700 school-aged children experiencing homelessnessUnder-identified groups include: 0-5, recent graduates, dropouts, unaccompanied youth, and any child whose family has not identified themselves to the school staff

Issues to AddressChildren experiencing homelessness versus stably housed peers

Health4 times as likely to get sick

Nutrition2 times more likely to go hungryHave high rates of obesity due to nutritional deficiencies

Mental Health4 times as likely to have delayed development3 times as likely to have emotional or behavioral problems

Family Bonding

Project GoalsEquip participants with practical gardening skills (Nutrition)

Encourage family activities (Mental Health, Family Bonding)

Increase interest in healthy eating and meal preparation (Health, Nutrition)

Encourage physical activity outdoors (Health, Mental Health)

Decrease stress and anxiety (Mental Health)

Enrichment, Education, Fun

Urban Gardening BenchmarksProject Homeless Connect (San Francisco): Created a community garden for both homeless and housed San Franciscans

Green Millennium Childrens Garden (Pittsburgh): Transformed a vacant lot into a fruit, vegetable, and flower garden for children in foster care

Homeless Garden Project (Santa Cruz): Three-acre farm at homeless provider agency

Edible Schoolyard (Berkeley): "Alice Waters and the Edible Schoolyard" Video

PartnersWomens Center and Shelter of Greater PittsburghTo end intimate partner violence in the lives of women and their children

Healthy Start House Transitional LivingTo provide a safe environment and supportive services to homeless women and their infants and children to help them prepare for independent living

PartnersGrow PittsburghTo demonstrate, teach and promote responsible urban food production Grow Pittsburgh Organization Video Plant to Plate, University of PittsburghTeach students how to grow their own food, take them into the kitchen to learn how to cook it, and then let them give back to the community by teaching others

Project ImplementationJanuary: Focus group with interested homeless providers

March: Evaluation of potential garden sites

March: Gardening training for homeless provider staff at pilot agencies

May: Volunteers help prep raised beds

April-August: On-site workshops

August: Field trip to conservatory and botanical gardens

August: Staff/parent/student surveys

April: Newspaper Pot Making and Seed Starting

Supplies and BudgetGrow LightPot MakersSeedsPotting MixWatering CanSeedling TrayWorkshop Fee

$300

Raised beds were built using previous Mini-Grant funding from HCEFMay: Transplanting

Supplies and Budget(Several Visits)SeedsCompostTop SoilPotting MixWooden Plant LabelsLumberBracketWorkshop Fee$470

June: Composting

Supplies and BudgetMulchGravelGarden ForkCompostGarden ClawSign WoodWorkshop Fee

Compost bins$200

$155July/August: Harvest Celebration

Supplies and BudgetFall CropsCover CropsGarden Art SuppliesRaspberriesPizza IngredientsWorkshop Fee$280

Additional ActivitiesAdditional Grow Pittsburgh visitsMore soil and transplantingTrellising and planting carrotsPlanting raspberries in edible landscapeFall planting planPest managementPlant to PlateBugsFruit vs. VegetableWaterUnexpected OutcomesField trip to urban farm during summer camp programNew projects with edible landscapes and therapeutic gardening

Project Evaluation An estimated 50 children and 30 moms participated in the program

Homeless provider staff, moms, and children were surveyed after the last gardening workshop

25Recap: Issues and GoalsIssues to Address:

Children experiencing homelessness versus stably housed peers

Health4 times as likely to get sick

Nutrition2 times more likely to go hungry

Mental Health4 times as likely to have delayed development3 times as likely to have anxiety or depression

Family Bonding

Project Goals:

Equip participants with practical gardening skills (Nutrition)

Encourage family bonding (Mental Health, Family Bonding)

Increase interest in healthy eating and meal preparation (Health, Nutrition)

Encourage physical activity outdoors (Health, Mental Health)

Decrease stress and anxiety (Mental Health)

Enrichment, Education, Fun

Outcomes: Mental HealthGoal: Encourage family bondingGoal: Decrease stress and anxietyOutcomes: Mental Health and HealthGoal: Encourage physical activity outdoors

Outcomes: Nutrition and HealthGoal: Increase interest in healthy eating and meal preparationOutcomes: Nutrition and HealthGoal: Increase interest in healthy eating and meal preparation (cont.)Outcomes: Nutrition and HealthGoal: Equip participants with practical gardening skillsOutcomes: HighlightsI found it a great experience. I see how the children enjoy learning about planting and see them enjoy the fruits of labor by eating and enjoying what they planted and cared for. Staff

I like gardening with my son. Its a bonding experience. Parent

It reminds me of my mom. Parent

I like to eat what we have grown. Child

I love the smell of basil. -Child

Outcomes: ChallengesGetting them to water! - Staff

Keeping the garden protected from destruction when the parents are not supervising children. Staff

Worms; dirt. - Parent

Waiting for it to grow to eat it, lol. Parent

When plants get hurt. - ChildLessons Learned / Next StepsProject ChallengesScope of project vs. capacityOutdoor space limitationsPredicting costsUniversity internship schedulesHigh turnover of participantsSometimes low number of participants

Plans for 2014Same workshop format at different homeless housing provider organizationsCheck-ins and assistance for 2013 gardensProject intern

Can I replicate this project at my organization?Questions to Consider

What are my top priorities and desired outcomes? (e.g. food production, skill building, nutrition, family bonding)

Who will be the participants? (e.g. parents, children, shelter staff)

Will participants be coming and going or does the facility provide long-term housing?

Who will my partners be? (e.g. shelters, non-profit organizations, community gardening groups, university students)

Is there space available for a garden or container garden? Is there a nearby community garden to link up with?

Are shelter staff committed to caring for the garden and keeping the project going?

Questions?Carrie Pavlik, Education Services Manager, HCEFcpavlik@homelessfund.org, 412-562-0154 x200

Bill Wolfe, Executive Director, HCEFwwolfe@homelessfund.org, 412-562-0154 x203References and More Information

United States School Gardenshttp://libguides.lib.msu.edu/content.php?pid=46894&sid=345414

USDA Food Desert Studyhttp://apps.ams.usda.gov/fooddeserts/FAQ.aspx Physical and Mental Effects of Homelessnesshttp://www.familyhomelessness.org/children.php?p=ts

Project Homeless Connectwww.projecthomelessconnect.com/

Green Millennium Childrens Garden http://old.post-gazette.com/garden/20020706backyard3.asp

Homeless Garden Projecthttp://www.homelessgardenproject.org/

"Alice Waters and the Edible Schoolyard" Videohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVrnqZsghHk

Grow Pittsburgh Organization Videohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=to3sptah2Bo