The Peoples Garden Initiative Aimee Omohundro Housing Technician

The People’s Garden Initiative Aimee Omohundro Housing Technician USDA Rural Development

What is the People’s Garden Initiative? The People’s Garden Initiative is an effort by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) which challenges its employees to establish People’s Gardens at USDA facilities worldwide or help communities create gardens. People’s Gardens vary in size and type, but all have a common purpose – to help the community they’re within and the environment.

People’s Garden Criteria 1. Benefits the Community Gardens can benefit communities in many different ways, such as: • Creating spaces for leisure or recreation • Fostering pride through beautification • Providing a harvest to a local food bank, • Providing food or shelter for wildlife • Serving as a demonstration site to educate the public and raise awareness of issues such as: natural resource conservation, nutrition, healthy eating, sustainable agriculture, forestry, etc.

People’s Garden Criteria 2. Is a Collaborative Effort: The garden was created and/or is maintained by a partnership of individuals, groups, organizations, state or federal agencies.

People’s Garden Criteria 3. Incorporates Sustainable Practices • Utilizing rain barrels for irrigation, or • Using water efficient irrigation systems • Xeriscaping • Composting, mulching, or use of cover crops • Planting native species • Encouraging beneficial insects • Erosion control • Storm water management

Note: Gardens located at private residences are NOT eligible to become People’s Gardens.

Kirkendall Heights in Ellsworth, Kansas developed new whiskey barrel gardens. Residents Betty Jo and Eric are proud to show off their new gardens.

O’Loughlin Village Garden. Soxx John Harsch and Barb Simpson of Sustainable Environmental Consultants have offered to donate, install, and educate managers and tenants on the maintenance of Garden. Soxx for three Multi. Family Housing complexes in Kansas. The Garden. Soxx are environmentally friendly, weed free planting “soxx” that may be placed anywhere and moved as necessary. These convenient products will allow the projects to join the People’s Garden initiative by growing the plants of their choice without the hassle and worry of digging a traditional garden.

Lakin Garden. Soxx

Liberal Garden. Soxx

Trinity Place Senior Residence These raised-bed gardens are located at Trinity Place Senior Residence in Atchison, Kan. , which is managed by Homestead Affordable Housing shared their success of implementing raised-bed gardens at their housing projects during the 2011 Rural Rental Housing Association of Kansas Conference in Great Bend.

Getting Involved • Start a People’s Garden at School! • Help a USDA Rural Development complex build and/or maintain a garden! • Donate plants, supplies, or time! • Call Aimee Omohundro at USDA Rural Development for more information about getting involved! (785) 271 -2726

Kerri Ebert serves as the Kansas Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE) Coordinator. Ebert stated that SARE offers youth grants for demonstration projects that provide hands-on experience in exploring sustainable agricultural issues and practices. Multifamily housing complexes looking to create raised beds, or developing other innovative gardening techniques, could contact possible youth partners like: FFA, 4 -H, Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts for possible gardening projects. Youth groups that partner with complexes could be eligible for a youth grant for up to $400 through SARE. Applications are due in January 2012, and if you have questions about SARE contact Ebert at: 785 -532 -2976.

People’s Garden Website http: //www. usda. gov/wps/portal/usdahome? navid=PEOPLES_GARDEN

Registering YOUR People’s Garden Online 1 http: //www. pubinfo. usda. gov/garden

Registering YOUR People’s Garden Online 2

Registering YOUR People’s Garden Online 3

Start a People’s Garden Today! People’s Garden Contacts: Aimee Omohundro Debra Staab Tom Bishop David Coltrain Shari Wilson USDA Rural Development RRHAK/Project Manager Homestead Affordable Housing KState Extension KACEE 785 -271 -2726 785 -628 -2660 785 -364 -0110 785 -325 -2121 913 -287 -6879 aimee. omohundro@ks. usda. gov haysplaza@eaglecom. net tom@homesteadks. org coltrain@ksu. edu swilson@kacee. org