[Communications] [Test] Water Access for All Gardens • Community Garden Profiles • Covid-19 Safety

[Marsha Wyatt]

Happy to help.

Also, we have an electric lawnmower to donate to someone who needs it!

On Wed, Sep 16, 2020, 12:57 PM Amy Olson <akeo at me.com> wrote:

> Hi Marsha,
>
> The questions on the survey were developed with the primary goal of
> identifying gardeners in need of assistance with this issue.
> Our strategy is to follow up with any respondents to learn more of their
> specific situations with regard to insurance policies and specific water
> access challenges.
>
> I think it’s a good idea to add your question “What type of land is your
> garden on?”
> I feel the additional questions you indicated below about insurance and
> ‘what type of water access’ are important to ask gardeners directly, but
> not on the survey.
>
> With regard to proper water use/risk of citation… this is something we can
> address separately via an article/web/social media.
>
> Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
> Amy
>
> On Sep 16, 2020, at 12:42 PM, Marsha Wyatt <mkwyatt1 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Great newsletter overall-- I had to take a peek at the whole thing for
> just a few minutes.
>
> Here are questions that need ADDED to the survey
>
> ADD:
> *What type of land is your garden on?*
> Church Property
> CHA land
> NeighborSpace sponsored garden ( on NS-owned land)
> Vacant Lot with permission of owner or Aldeman
> Other_____________________
>
> *Sub Question if they answer YES ro having Liability Insurance:*
>
> What type/amount of Liability Insurance do you carry?
>
> *Under Do you have access to water for your garden:*
> What type of access do you have
> Private Residence /Business exterior spigot
> Public Building (church or school) exterior spigot
> Is your Hydrant Access
> __________legal (permitted with RPZ)
> __________currently "illegal" tapping hydrant after hours
> __________in process of permitting with RPZ
>
> I think it's important to understand the different situations that people
> are working under.
> And I also think it's important to educate everyone that IF they are
> hooking up to a residence or business they need tomake sure that water is
> turned OFF after each use or they could still be cited as "constant hook
> ups of any kind" are not allowed and massive irrigation systems that have
> their own water meter also have to have an industrial level RPZ ( St
> Ignatius Recreation Fields on Blue Island)
>
> Hope this helps !!!!!
> Marsha
> 630-210-1589
>
>
> On Wed, Sep 16, 2020 at 12:50 AM Amy Olson <akeo at me.com> wrote:
>
>> Hi Marsha,
>>
>> Below please find the draft of our newsletter I shared at the meeting. In
>> it you can find a link to the water survey and also the article about your
>> garden! I was holding off sending the Maxwell St Garden piece and post to
>> you because we need to insert the gallery of photos in the web post. But
>> the written content is all there.
>>
>> Please let me know your feedback and thoughts.
>>
>> Thanks!
>> Amy
>>
>>
>> .…….…
>> amy olson
>> sent via iphone
>>
>>
>> Begin forwarded message:
>>
>> *From:* CCGA via Communications <
>> communications at chicagocommunitygardens.org>
>> *Date:* September 15, 2020 at 13:08:23 CDT
>> *To:* Communications at chicagocommunitygardens.org
>> *Cc:* CCGA <info at chicagocommunitygardens.org>
>> *Subject:* *[Communications] [Test] Water Access for All Gardens •
>> Community Garden Profiles • Covid-19 Safety*
>> *Reply-To:* us14-74d8a1481b-742954e60b at inbound.mailchimp.com
>>
>> 
>>
>> "This is the latest email draft." — Chicago Community Gardeners
>> Association
>> To send feedback about this test campaign, reply with a message above
>> this bar.
>> View this email in your browser
>> <https://us14.campaign-archive.com/?e=__test_email__&u=7f2904daf2a26a891c68f8bb0&id=b38dabb5a6>
>>
>> *News for Community Gardeners*
>> *"What we do echoes through the generations."*
>> - Barack Obama, 2020
>> *Pictured here are young adults working with West Side gardens through
>> the Garfield Park Community Council last summer.*
>> Celebrating and Supporting One Another
>>
>> As spring turned to summer, our support for Black lives and for the
>> community gardening community grew and continues to grow with each day. As
>> surely as we tend our gardens, we tend to our neighborhoods and each other,
>> and we reaffirm that growing is an important part of creating resilient and
>> healthy communities in Chicago.
>>
>> In this issue, we have garden stories, news and updates, distribution
>> notes, and awards to tell you about. But first, we want to share a moment
>> we had in dialogue with founding CCGA member Angela Taylor, a committed
>> community activist and garden leader in Garfield Park, to share some
>> thoughts on the importance of staying focused and dedicated to our work in
>> our communities as an antidote to the sadness and unrest that has swept
>> through our city.
>>
>> *How does community gardening support Black lives? How do community
>> gardens contribute to dismantling racism in our city?*
>> *Here at the Fulton Street Flower and Vegetable Garden, we see the color
>> green. To be afforded the opportunity to work with young people, and watch
>> them learn about gardening and the role farming played in our culture, and
>> then realize the importance of growing not just food, but growing a sense
>> of community as well is amazing to witness. All of this seems to bring
>> about a better appreciation for life.*
>>
>> *From your work with young people, what can you suggest that will bring
>> us to a more creative and conscious dialogue about Black and Brown lives?*
>> *If we could sometimes stop talking and just listen, we could learn a lot
>> about what the needs of others are, and become open to learning new ways of
>> getting things done.*
>>
>> *What are some practices for creating more loving, resilient
>> relationships among each other in our communities as we work for and
>> support racial justice?*
>> *This is a tough one, but here you go... In everything we do, we should
>> first consider how we would want to be treated, cared for, and responded
>> to. *
>>
>> *In what way do you see gardens as a place for healing and empowerment?*
>> *Community gardens are considered a healing space. Early in the morning,
>> before the community wakes up, taking a walk in this quiet space sets the
>> tone for the day: Being one with the earth, becoming inspired in our
>> day, and to clear our mind to be able focus on what is in front of us.  *
>> *"Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our
>> struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month or a year, it is the
>> struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in
>> good trouble, necessary trouble.”*
>>   - John Lewis
>> Has your garden been affected by the 2020 Chicago Water Hydrant Policy?
>> We want to hear from you - there is help!
>> *Illustration by Sunshine Cahill or @sunshine.saqimax (via IG).*
>>
>> During the last few months CCGA has heard from community gardeners that
>> the new rules the Department of Water Management has now set for water
>> access at fire hydrants is crippling for them. Acquiring, installing, and
>> certifying a Reduced Pressure Zone (RPZ) unit for any community garden can
>> be cost prohibitive.
>>
>> CCGA contacted Sean Ruane, the executive director of AUA, and we heard
>> back that within 24-hours AUA was ready to circulate a sign-on letter to
>> garner more public support for this issue. The communications team was
>> asked if CCGA would like to be listed as a signatory at the bottom of the
>> letter. Without time enough to solicit wider response from all of our
>> subscribers, the chairs and working groups were asked to comment, and we
>> were able to change the wording of the letter to be more inclusive of
>> community gardeners.
>>
>> *There is much more to this issue, and we want to hear from more of our
>> community gardeners.* We've developed a simple survey and would greatly
>> appreciate your participation! The goal of the survey is to gain a clearer
>> picture of how community gardeners in Chicago access water and to determine
>> where support is needed.
>>
>> Take the CCGA Water Access Survey <https://forms.gle/uroWr5SGR3Hjjwm4A>
>>
>> The need for advocacy for community gardens with the City of Chicago is
>> evident, and CCGA seeks to develop a position and proposal to present to
>> the City for what our community gardeners need as a long-term solution. The
>> increase from previous years in the new policy is not as much a hardship as
>> the cost of the RPZ and the cost of the inspections. We look forward to
>> working collaboratively to find a solution.
>>
>> For those who need assistance *now*, AUA has compiled resources and
>> funding to help farmers/gardeners navigate the updated policy on their
>> website, and we encourage you to reach out to us if you have any questions
>> at communication at chicagocommunitygardens.org.
>>
>> AUA Water Access Resources & Growers Guide
>> <https://auachicago.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/AUA-Updated-Chicago-Growers-Guide-.pdf>
>> Show off your garden:
>> Enter the CEGA 60-second video challenge!
>>
>> The Chicago Excellence in Gardening Awards (CEGA) will be honoring
>> gardens for a fourth year—though with a twist, thanks to COVID-19. The
>> timing of the pandemic has made it impossible to ramp up the gardening
>> competition in time to take advantage of the summer growing season.
>> Instead, CEGA is presenting its first-ever *60-Second Garden Video
>> Challenge*.
>>
>> Here’s how it works. Gardeners create one-minute videos of their gardens
>> and upload them to the CEGA website. The CEGA Team reviews them for social
>> standards considerations, and posts the videos on the CEGA YouTube
>> Channel <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs7W3pRPsioXIK3S-1XOyvw/videos>.
>> Viewers then use the “thumbs up” to vote for their favorite videos.
>> The competition is FREE and open to anyone who has a garden or who
>> belongs to a garden, whether it’s a community garden, church or school
>> garden, or even a business garden. Videos can be straightforward, clever,
>> artistic, funny—whatever the gardener chooses. And, for this special
>> contest, e*ntrants need not be from Chicago. *We’re looking for 60
>> second videos of gardens from anywhere in the world.
>>
>> Videos that receive the most votes will be posted on the CEGA website and
>> on its social media pages. Those gardeners will receive a certificate, but
>> more prizes are in the works. Stay tuned. Videos will be accepted now
>> through *September 30*, with winners being announced monthly.
>>
>> Find out more and enter your garden video!
>> <https://chicagogardeningawards.org/>
>> Resources for Covid-19 Safety in Community Gardens
>>
>> Content to come: Guidelines and signage
>> Covid-19 Resources for Gardeners
>> *STORIES FROM CHICAGO'S COMMUNITY GARDENS*
>> El Paseo Community Garden is granted a Creative Placemaking Award
>> El Paseo Community Garden enhances the quality of life for Pilsen
>> residents through community building, stewardship, conservation,
>> placemaking, partnerships, programming, and community gardening. The
>> converted brownfield site provides opportunities to socialize with each
>> other, plant and grow food, play, or simply be outside and enjoy the
>> wildlife and fresh air the native plants provide. The garden and adjacent
>> land it stewards provides over 34,000 square feet of public green space for
>> the neighborhood and as a backyard for neighbors in the adjacent senior
>> living and affordable housing apartments. The garden sits along a path with
>> a monarch butterfly prairie on one side and raised beds on the other.
>> Gardening is offered through private allotment beds or collective beds.
>> Collective beds eliminate waiting lists for allotment beds and allow anyone
>> to get involved. Free food beds are included on the perimeter of the
>> collective beds for visitors.
>>
>> The leadership team at El Paseo Community Garden was able to apply for
>> the MacArthur Foundation Creative Placemaking Award and by the end of 2019,
>> they were notified they were finalists. On May 6th they were recognized
>> via a virtual ceremony and awarded $15,000 along with it. The Acevedos
>> credit their founders Sallie and Ron Gordon and their land trust,
>> Neighborspace, for trusting them to carry on their vision. Gratitude is
>> also expressed to all the organizations who have provided support through
>> sponsorship, partnerships, and various donations. The success of our garden
>> is possible by the countless volunteers that help maintain the space and
>> provide programming. Congratulations, El Paseo!
>>
>> Continue reading about El Paseo Community Garden
>> <http://chicagocommunitygardens.org/2020/09/04/el-paseo-community-garden-is-awarded-a-creative-placemaking-award/>
>>
>> Add Chicago Neighborhood Development Awards:
>>
>> https://app.lisc-cnda.org/
>> North Lawndale 'Slumbusters' Garden Workdays are a Success
>>
>> *Since the 1980’s a diverse patchwork of green spaces has appeared on
>> North Lawndale’s map. These pocket gardens are sites of community activism,
>> neighborhood beautification and youth education. In 1986, Gerald and Lorean
>> Earles founded “Slum Busters” to transform vacant lots into flower and
>> vegetable gardens. Their efforts have inspired the creation of more than 40
>> gardens and the North Lawndale Greening Committee.* -”Learning from
>> North Lawndale”, Chicago Architecture Tour, 2006
>>
>> Volunteers with the North Lawndale Greening Committee, inspired by the
>> work of Lorean and Gerald Earles, started a garden restoration of the Slum
>> Busters Garden on Saturday, June 20th. According to volunteer, Kimberly
>> George, “The garden was literally buried in overgrown weeds.  I started to
>> reconsider this project, but then I remembered a story about Lorean Earles,
>> discouraged in the evening, would still be out the next morning pulling a
>> few weeds.”
>>
>> In the middle of a pandemic, social unrest and a financial depression,
>> restoring a garden may not be the best idea. But, the reality is, this is
>> the perfect time. Fresh produce and beautiful flowers are needed more than
>> ever. The outpouring of individuals from all over the city wanting to
>> contribute time is inspiring. Garden leaders like Dr. Shemuel Israel and
>> Mamie Gray are following the example of Gerald and Lorean Earles, who once
>> said “No one wants to do anything, so why don’t we?”
>> Dr. Israel, Mamie Gray and Kimberly George will be out with volunteers
>> this summer to restore and clean up gardens in North Lawndale. Hundreds
>> more individuals will be  volunteering throughout the city.  To offer
>> support please complete a volunteer sign up using the button below and join
>> the Chicago Community Garden Association for follow updates from Slum
>> Busters to be be shared throughout the growing season.
>>
>> Volunteer for North Lawndale workdays
>> <https://forms.gle/DpQbx61Dow9Ad2S17>
>> New planters at the Bezazian Library made possible with plants from CCGA
>> The North Uptown Neighborhood Association shared photos of the planters
>> at the Bezazian Library which were updated with plants from recent
>> Resources Team plant distributions. They said the city used to plant the
>> boxes, but since the city's budget crisis, this stopped and they picked up
>> the need for plants. They raised some funds through successful book sales,
>> but with the difficulties this difficult year, they were not sure they
>> could do it. They were so happy for the CCGA plant distributions, which
>> made it possible for them to fill the boxes with many pollinator-friendly
>> plants!
>> The Hart Peace Community Garden embarking on renovations to
>> increase accessibilty
>>
>> You might recognize Pat and Robert Hart as two of the most dedicated
>> volunteers of CCGA. These days, they've been focused on a new project at
>> their community garden in Austin. *The Hart Peace Community Garden *at
>> 645 N. Latrobe Ave was started on three abandoned lots they bought from the
>> city. The garden will soon incorporate several ADA-accessible planter
>> stations, paved walkways and a sun shelter to make it easier for seniors
>> and people with disabilities to grow produce and flowers. They are
>> collaborating with Human Scale, a design nonprofit founded by University of
>> Illinois at Chicago students. “I want to make it accessible to as many
>> people as I can. And make it so more vets can come garden,” said Robert
>> Hart, a veteran himself.
>>
>> Pat and Robert envision using the pergola as a space to teach and give
>> cooking demonstrations and let folks share recipes. As a nurse, Pat
>> recognizes the food value in a lot of vegetables that aren't favored so
>> much by her community. She wants to introduce veggies like eggplant and how
>> to cook with it. Pat shared, “The garden is still in the process of
>> development. It's an all-volunteer effort and there have been people
>> working on weekends; they've been moving, digging and learning how to use
>> Robert's tools. The garden is for seniors, vets, and folks in
>> the neighborhood; there's a school around the corner, so the garden will be
>> there for them too."
>> Read more about the Hart Peace Community Garden
>> <https://blockclubchicago.org/2020/08/06/west-side-community-garden-getting-renovations-so-seniors-people-with-disabilities-can-use-it/>
>> Maxwell Street Community Garden's public art and accessible raised beds
>> win praise
>> Maxwell Street Community Garden is in its second season at their new
>> location on the NE corner of Racine and 13th Street diagonal to Fosco Park.
>> They are at maximum capacity this year with a growing waitlist for next
>> season after expanding the number of plots "farmed for the community" from
>> two to six this season to provide more green tomatoes and fresh produce to
>> their neighbors in the adjacent properties, in addition to an herb garden
>> shared with members, neighbors, and Friends of the Garden.
>>
>> In early March, the garden received a $5,000 grant from Chicago Housing
>> Consulting Services (CHCS) towards transforming three concrete barriers in
>> the garden into public art. Pilsen artist Anne Farley Gaines designed three
>> mosaic murals, and progress is well underway on the first one in the
>> Welcome Garden by the 13th Street gate. Students living nearby, having
>> participated in other art programs led by Gaines for After School Matters
>> and Jane Addams Center, are creating mosaics both at the garden and in kits
>> at home on pre-cut masonry. Maxwell Street Community Garden is the first
>> public art project funded by CHCS.
>>
>> This was more than reason enough for Maxwell Street Community Garden to
>> receive high praise from Lisa Roberson, Executive Administrator at Chicago
>> Housing Authority, who came to tour their garden in June while she was in
>> the neighborhood. She was awestruck and giddy with delight with what
>> Maxwell Garden had created in the middle of the city. They have built ADA
>> accessible tall raised beds that are a shining example for what all CHA
>> Gardens should aspire to become.
>>
>> Read more about Maxwell Street Garden's murals & raised beds
>> <http://chicagocommunitygardens.org/2020/08/27/maxwell-street-community-garden/>
>> *If you have a garden story to share, send us a message
>> <communications at chicagocommunitygardens.org?subject=Recipe!>!*
>> The CCGA Resources Committee has been busy this summer!
>> *Pictured above are a variety of perennial plants distributed to
>> gardeners last month. *
>>
>> COVID-19 has made us all wonder how we’d manage many new challenges
>> during this pandemic, and for many community gardens, the CCGA Resources
>> distributions and plant sales have been the sole source of affordable,
>> viable seedlings and healthy plants this year. The Resources Committee
>> organized - and managed to make seem effortless - *seven* contactless
>> distributions throughout April, May, June and July. When everything that we
>> once knew had changed so dramatically, this brought a sense of well-being
>> to gardeners with the possibility of bountiful bouquets and delicious
>> harvests.
>>
>> The dedication of the CCGA Resources Committee and generosity of our
>> partner growers continues to provide gardeners with opportunities for
>> planting, nurturing and harvesting, and to see things growing and thriving
>> in our gardens again amidst the challenges we are all facing. We know too
>> well that well-being depends on a range of social, economic and
>> environmental factors, as is emphasized by the health disparities seen in
>> different areas of our city. CCGA supports access to green space, and
>> recognizes that growing in that space is vital for health and well-being.
>>
>> Read More about the work of the CCGA Resources Committee
>> <http://chicagocommunitygardens.org/2020/08/27/resources-update/>
>> Upcoming Events
>>
>> Include more events
>> Garfield park Community Council Playstreets Virtual Events
>> https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/3Gp-H8D_r24GhEpW3vq9pA
>>
>> Garfield Park Conservatory Gardens - book a visit
>> https://garfieldconservatory.org/outdoormembervisits/
>>
>> Next CCGA virtual meeting
>> [image: Facebook]
>> <https://www.facebook.com/ChicagoCommunityGardenersAssociation/>
>> [image: Website] <https://chicagocommunitygardens.org/>
>> [image: Email] <info at chicagocommunitygardens.org>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> *Have ideas, suggestions or news you would like to share with fellow
>> community gardeners in the next CCGA email? Please send those items
>> to communications at chicagocommunitygardens.org.
>> <communications at chicagocommunitygardens.org>For questions about CCGA and
>> how to get involved, email membership at chicagocommunitygardens.org
>> <membership at chicagocommunitygardens.org>or
>> visit chicagocommunitygardens.org/ccga-organization
>> <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=00179W6ckE8nHc3_ea7VKAt_U7Qet-JCzLSSeOPh9N6gLUWNELIG_623Uq6CaEg83lQ1WW0jnA6WuALEV1KYm5MScGNmqRYtYgAgBDTodIy-SyCKM58AQz6GunGMbJ4-ek7UqfS8SQG6_xSbq9jDG3ygw1D1zHRazackxCKDCvakZu8s8cYVx8sGl2f1mgl-HYIDcDzXQnxkrapObZi2PTbGA==&c=Q_d2K6wsNreybPhq6TiCSg0zyf5NMPf7aMT2L5QmEGvWL4M9ouukwQ==&ch=86ZxnO5wcbz_NBbECE7jjonhPQ3EptToF6SB0B4xUiWBxWw2KdMzXQ==> Need
>> resources for your community garden? Have resources to offer?
>> Email resources at chicagocommunitygardens.org
>> <resources at chicagocommunitygardens.org>.*
>> *Copyright © 2017 Chicago Community Gardeners Association, All rights
>> reserved.*
>>
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