Decent food for all - Gardens Project
Introduction
The project is part of the Decent Food For All Programme led by Dungannon & South Tyrone Borough Council. It is a partnership initiative to support the development of community/school led, organic vegetable and fruit gardens in the South Tyrone area. It was designed as a two-year scheme to offer full support to participating groups from the planning stage through to a stage where the group can manage their project themselves. The first year focuses upon setting up the gardens and skills development of participants, whilst the second year aims to establish a growing routine and introduce the concept of seed saving to achieve project sustainability. The project is not solely aimed at young people, but in practice, the majority of participating sites are schools and colleges.
Objectives and Purpose of Project
What is the general aim of the project?
To support the establishment of six community/school led environmentally friendly gardens in the South Tyrone area thereby encourage sustainable consumption of locally grown produce and contribute to the development of the social economy.
What are the key objectives / expected outcomes the project is intended to achieve?
The objectives of the programme as a whole are to:
- Improve people’s access to fresh and healthy food by growing it locally, based on environmentally (organic) principles
- Increase levels of physical activity among participating organisations
- Introduce local communities and schools to the idea of growing food for themselves and to become involved in innovative practical projects
- Empower people to improve their quality of life, enhance their environments and regenerate their local communities
- Encourage and facilitate healthy lifestyle changes
- Facilitate skills development in organic vegetable and fruit production which is still seen by some as an "elite" food
- Raise awareness of issues with regard to sustainable consumerism
- Provide practical environmental education for people of all ages
- Foster and promote intergenerational dialogue by involving people of all ages
- Work to tackle economic, environmental, health and community concerns on a partnership basis
It acts as a supporting project for the Armagh & Dungannon Health Action Zone’s ‘Decent Food for All’(DFfA) programme. Other supporting projects for DFfA include the Fresh fruit in Schools Pilot & RI:SE & Shine Breakfast Clubs initiative. (All other HAZ Partnership initiatives)
All of the supporting projects help to deliver on the 10 planned key outcomes for DFfA.
Organisations Involved
What is the status of your organisation?
Government organisation – funded by DHSSPS
List any other organisations that are involved in the project and indicate the nature of their input.
The project is led by Dungannon & South Tyrone Borough Council in partnership with Armagh & Dungannon HAZ, & is funded by South Tyrone Area Partnership.
Target Group
What is the particular age range and background of those at which the project is targeted?
The project is aimed primarily at community (all ages) and school groups (nursery upwards) within the most deprived wards in the local borough.
How many people from the target group have participated in the project to date?
150 young people.
Have the numbers participating matched, or been above, or below the figure expected/targeted?
Matched.
Methodology
What was the main prompt for the initiative / where did the idea come from?
The initiative was proposed by the Borough Council and Health Action Zone to address some of the issues associated with local food poverty.
How was the project researched?
A proposal for the scheme was produced outlining the aims, benefits, selection criteria and timetable.
How long did the development / planning process take?
Approximately 6 months. Preparation, including agreement of programme development and identifying location for garden projects started in April 2002. The garden projects started in Autumn 2002.
Funding
What is the main source of funding for the project?
Project is funded by South Tyrone Area Partnership (Dungannon’s Local Strategic Partnership).
What, if any, are the other sources of funding (e.g. sponsorship for specific aspects)?
None
Is the current funding continuous and sustainable or guaranteed only for a limited period of time?
Guaranteed only for a 2-year period.
Which funding sources would you pursue, or recommend for future funding?
Would approach existing source (i.e. STAP) again for further funding.
Recruitment
How was/is the initiative advertised to prospective participants?
Advertisement was placed in local paper asking for expressions of interest from schools/community groups interested in participating in the project.
What criteria, if any, are used for selecting participants, or are all applicants accepted?
Selection of groups/schools for the garden projects was based upon:
- Degree of commitment to the programme i.e. demonstration of previous environmental activities and, in the case of schools, confirmation that at least 2 teachers would be committed to the project to ensure sustainability.
- Availability of ground
- Priority given to applicants from most deprived wards in the borough.
What, if any, are the "joining" requirements (e.g. written parental permission; reference from another agency; evidence of interest/commitment from the participant etc.)?
See above
Is there a charge made to participants and, if so, for what and at what rate?
No.
Activities / Sessions
How is the programme structured to operate in respect of participant attendance time?
The programme is designed as a 2-year project with time input as required to maintain the growing produce.
How often is the programme run?
The programme is run in accordance with the gardening calendar & so at particular times of the year there is a lot more activity than others (i.e. Spring would be the busiest time).
Is the programme designed to attract "new" participants each time or are participants able to attend a programme on a repeat basis if they wish to do so?
Each year the programme works with the same group of participants from each of the 6 gardens.
How are the sessions structured and conducted?
Sessions basically work in two different ways: as workshops/training sessions at individual sites, or as composite sessions where groups involved are all brought together for training sessions/workshops.
In Year 1, the sessions involve:
Planning
Training
Site Preparation
Purchasing of tools, materials etc.
Planting
Maintaining plants, weed control, composting
Harvesting and preparation for winter growth
Year 2 is a continuation of Year 1 with the introduction of planting fruit trees, bushes and strawberry plants.
Support workshops include subjects such as composting and recycling, wildlife, organic pest control, wildflower meadows, and healthy foods.
Is there any follow-up to a session for the participants and, if so, in what form?
Groups receive a gardening calendar which outlines what they should be doing & when throughout the gardening year.
Detailed information leaflets are also produced on how to undertake particular tasks – e.g. preparing the vegetable plots for the winter.
All produce harvested during year one was also given to the children involved to take home or used within the school/community setting for tasting & preparation sessions.
Which activity / feature of the programme do you think participants enjoy / benefit from the most?
It is the whole process from ‘plough to plate’, which is seen to be of benefit, as opposed to any one type of activity.
What is the targeted optimum number of participants per session?
Sessions work with the groups involved from each garden site either individually or in composite depending on the type of activity being undertaken. All groups involved are different sizes depending on whether they are a school or community group, so numbers vary.
What is the ratio of staff to participants for sessions /activities?
It differs depending on the type of activity.
Management & Staffing
What is the management /operational "structure" for the project?
The Local Agenda 21 Coordinator from Dungannon & South Tyrone Borough Council manages the project in partnership with the HAZ Development Manager & Community Food Coordinator.
How many hours per week / month / year, would you estimate, are required to run the project (administration and operation)?
¼ of full time hours.
How many staff, if any, have been specifically recruited to work in association with the project, and in what capacity?
None
What, if any, special / additional training has been required for those running the project?
None
Other Resources
17. What do you consider are the essential physical resources required for the project activities?
a) Type of venue:
School/community venue with suitable plot of land for development.
b) Facilities:
None specified
c) Equipment:
Basic hand tools, gloves, seed trays, composters, raised beds, timber, fencing materials, topsoil, compost, weed suppressing fabric, watering cans, plant labels
d) Other materials:
Plants & seeds, fruit trees, fruit bushes
e) Training materials:
Gardening calendars, detailed information leaflets for specific tasks.
Sustainability
When did the project start?
September 2002
How long is the project intended to last?
2 years
Evaluation
How is the success of the project measured?
Short term:
Monitoring forms on produce sown, harvested, eaten etc…
Long term:
Development of skills by groups involved – ability to maintain & manage the garden on their own at the end of the 2-year programme duration.
Which project objectives have been met and to what extent?
All 10 aims of the project have been attained to varying levels during year 1 & will be built upon during year 2.
What are your feelings about the project so far?
Pleased with the positive feelings about gardens by participants and their motivation to continue into Year 2.
What are the most significant achievements to date?
All groups produced and harvested some crops. One school produced a surplus of lettuces, which they sold through the local butcher. Two schools displayed their produce at the community fair. Older students (from Parkanaur College) have started to grow their own vegetables at home.
What plans are there for the future of the project?
One of the long-term aims of the scheme is, after enabling the individual projects to be self-sufficient after 2 years, to explore the possibility of setting up a community growing enterprise.
Lessons Learned
What obstacles or problems have been encountered?
Maintenance of the garden plots during the school holidays, particularly during the summer, which is a crucial time of the gardening year.
Size of the plots in relation to the time commitment caused problems with weed growth and pest control in two of the school sites.
Lack of commitment and problems of break-ins at one site.
How have these been overcome?
All groups were encouraged to develop a strategy to cover holiday periods.
Size of the plot and scale of the project should be matched to the number of volunteers and time available for maintenance of the garden.
A new group leader, who has genuine interest in the garden project, has been appointed at the site where commitment appeared to be a problem.
What particular advice would you give to others wishing to start a similar project?
To seek advice from an organisation like ADHAZ who has been running such a programme at the initial planning stages so that lessons learned can be shared & subsequent initiatives minimise the difficulties they may have to encounter & benefit from the achievements of others to ensure success.
Have you been contacted and given advice/information to any other organisations on setting up a similar project, and, if so, please indicate how many and what type(s) of organisation?
Yes – 2 Community Organisations
Contact Details
Name: Lyndsey McCann
Job Title: Community Food Co-Ordinator
Aodhan O’Donnell Development Manager
Organisation: Armagh & Dungannon Health Action Zone
Address:
Unit T4,
Dungannon Enterprise Centre,
2 Coalisland Road,
Dungannon,
Co.Tyrone,
NI BT71 6JT
Phone No: 028 8772 9017
Fax No: 028 8772 4017
Or 028 8772 9698
Or 028 8772 7239
Email: lmccann@adhaz.org.uk
Or aodonnell@adhaz.org.uk
Website Address: www.adhaz.org.uk
Name: Yvonne Zellmann
Job Title: Local Agenda 21 Co-Ordinator
Organisation: Dungannon & South Tyrone Borough Council
Address:
Council Offices,
Circular Road,
Dungannon,
Co. Tyrone,
NI BT71 6DT
Phone No: 028 8772 0300
Fax No: 028 8772 0368
Email: Yvonne.Zellmann@dungannon.gov.uk