2017 PAHRA Best Practices Showcase & Bellamy Awards

PAHRA Member Agency _____________________________________________________

Please check one:

Housing Award

Redevelopment / Community Development Award

Name of Program or Project __________________________________________________

Type of Program or Project (i.e. development, rehabilitation, revitalization, resident activity, supportive

service, economic development, etc.)

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

Contact Information (identify an individual knowledgeable about the program or project)

Name / Title _____________________________________________________________________________

Organization ____________________________________________________________________________

Address ________________________________________________________________________________

Telephone _________________________________ E-Mail ______________________________________

We plan to participate in the Best Practices Showcase at 6:00 PM, Tuesday,

September 19, 2017 at the Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square, Lancaster, PA

Participant _____________________________________________________________________________

Participant _____________________________________________________________________________

Equipment to be Provided:

Table/s _______ Chair/s _______ Easel ______ Electrical Power _______ Screen _______

number number

Please note that if your presentation requires a laptop or projector, you must provide your own. Thank you.

OFFICIAL ENTRY FORM

Please complete a separate entry form for each nomination.

The extent to which the problem or need is defined and clearly explained.

While rich in cultural heritage, the City of Chester has great environmental and economic

disparities. Nearly a third of residents live in poverty, and the city has long been a dumping

ground for Delaware County’s waste water and incineration of trash.

With only one grocery store in the City, Chester residents lack access to nutrient-dense food

options, and over 50% have diet-related diseases such as obesity, heart failure and diabetes.

The goals and objectives established to resolve the problem or need

Recognizing the need for greater food security and community health over the past decade, the

Chester Housing Authority (CHA) created a two-acre community farm on vacant land at the

Ruth L. Bennett Homes. This year, by focusing on capital infrastructure for the farm, CHA has

created a sustainable farming system that will allow it to further develop programming while

minimizing outside inputs.

Goal #1: Create a system of efficient infrastructure for a small-scale, productive urban farm that

will require minimal inputs in the future

Goal #2: Promote healthy lifestyle choices for residents of all ages

- Develop educational programming for children to learn how to grow and eat quality,

nutrient-dense and pesticide-free food

- Provide workshops for adults on backyard gardening and basic cooking

- Provide a positive communal space where residents can gather to share healthy meals

and for seasonal celebrations

Goal #3: Provide Beginning Farmers Training to new urban growers

- Model best practices for small-scale organic agriculture

- Create opportunities for trainees interested in urban farming to learn best practices for

small-scale organic agriculture

Goal #4: Create a thriving and diverse environmental ecosystem

- Provide a habitat for native pollinators through intentional planting of insectary rows

- Improve stormwater retention at the site

- Develop high organic matter content in the soil to grow nutrient-dense, chemical-free

crops

Goal #5: Identify retail outlets to support entrepreneurial efforts

- Partner with local markets interested in selling produce and flowers for additional

revenue stream and to expand community members’ access to fresh produce

Innovative approaches or solutions to the defined problem or need

By focusing on capitalizing infrastructure at the Bennett Community Farm, CHA is creating a

sustainable situation to best support its growing production and programs.

Additionally, this year CHA formed partnerships with two retail outlets which provide a revenue

stream for the farm and increase residents’ access to pesticide-free and nutrient-dense food.

In February, CHA partnered with Chester’s only grocery store in decades, Fare & Square. They

currently sell the farm’s collard and mustard greens, kale and lettuce. Located only a mile away

from the farm, residents can shop at their convenience for food grown in their backyards.

Most recently, CHA established a partnership with the Swarthmore Cooperative, a community

food market, which now sells Bennett Community Farm’s pesticide-free flowers.

The infrastructural improvements and partnerships that were made this year place the Bennett

Community Farm on track to become self-sustaining. Also, as the farm generates more profits in

the coming years, CHA will use the profits and invest in more programming for CHA residents.

The ability of the program or project to meet the stated objectives

The infrastructural improvements and increased community programming will support CHA’s

ongoing work in Chester to combat food insecurity.

Some of the highlights from the farm over the past year include:

- Development of appropriately-scaled infrastructure to support urban agricultural

production. This includes installation of a water line and electricity on-site; renovation of

a greenhouse which will allow farm staff to grow thousands of seedlings for crop rotation;

a hoop house with automatic venting for year-round production; and a walk-in cooler to

keep produce fresh

- Increased production space by 50%

- Activities for dozens of children enrolled in the Ruth Bennett Summer Meals Program,

including harvesting and preparing fresh food from the farm and bouquet-making

workshops

- Training and educational opportunities for young adults, including internships for

students from Widener University and Swarthmore College who are interested in

environmental science and food justice; host to WorkReady Chester youth who are

enrolled in a summer job training program

- Thousands of pounds of food sold as a result of partnerships with local retail outlets,

Fare & Square and Swarthmore Food Cooperative

The extent of public/private partnerships involved

The Bennett Farm has several public and private partnerships, including:

- Philadelphia’s Beginning Farmer Trainer Program supported by East Park Revitalization

Alliance and Nationality Services Center

- Hunger relief organization Philabundance and its non-profit grocery store, Fare & Square

- City Team’s food pantry and soup kitchen

- Students and professors from Swarthmore College and Widener Universities, who have

used the Bennett Farm as an outdoor classroom to learn about environmental justice

and food insecurity

- Swarthmore Cooperative community food market

- Philadelphia-based Urban Tree Coalition, which provided guidance to CHA employees

as farm operations started to expand

The extent of intergovernmental or multi-agency cooperation involved

In 2016, Chester Mayor Thaddeus Kirkland recognized the Bennett Community Farm as his first

“Point of Light,” an effort that highlights the positive activities happening in the city.

Additionally, the USDA funds CHA’s Summer Meals program, which supplements its food

supply with produce from the Bennett Community Farm.

The recognition from Mayor Kirkland, support from the USDA, and CHA employee involvement

is the full extent of intergovernmental and multi-agency cooperation. Beyond that, the farm is

able to sustain itself through its public/private partnerships.

The number of funding resources utilized

While the Bennett Community Farm is on track to become a self-sustaining model that will

require less inputs in the future, the program has received a great deal of support that has

helped propel the farm to where it is today. Keystone First and BB&T Bank are the two largest

private donor supporters of the program to date. They have given over $60,000 in total over the

years.

The Reinvestment Fund provided the farm with a one-time $40,000 grant, and the Clinton

Global Initiative granted the farm $5,000 for fencing vis-à-vis the Swarthmore Foundation.

With these initial donated funds, Bennett Farm is able to provide fresh produce and educational

programs for CHA residents until it can operate fully on its own.

The extent to which the program or project can be replicated by others

Housing authorities play a vital role in community health, and lack of access to nutrient-dense

food is a large factor in diet-related disease among residents. It is possible for other agencies to

create a program like CHA’s Community Farm if both passion for the idea and dedication to

investment in infrastructure, partnerships, and programming exists. Partnerships with local

organizations are crucial to successfully executing a project of this scale, as is participation from

local residents. Lastly, if housing authorities dedicate time to making strategic service

partnerships, then they will be able to replicate the Bennett Community Farm and create

opportunities for their own self-sufficient programs.

The ability of any resident activity program, non-housing, public or community services

to continue after federal and/or state funding resources are exhausted.

CHA focused on leveraging private donations and funding to develop sustainable infrastructure

on vacant land. It has created a small-scale independent farming system which will require

minimal outside inputs to operate in the future, regardless of federal and/or state funding.

Above: Summer Meals Program participants with their harvested carrots

Below: Participants help assemble bouquets to be sold at Swarthmore Food CO-OP

Above: Fresh produce grown at Bennett Community Farm

Below: Finished flower arrangements

Above: Residents in newly constructed greenhouse, Fall Harvest Day 2016

Below: Bennett Community Farm, April 2017

Chester Housing Authority farm gains outlet at local grocer Ayana Jones, Tribune Staff Writer | Jun 13, 2017

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held last week to mark the new produce section at Fare & Square grocery store, which features items from a Chester Housing Authority community farm.

Officials from Chester Housing Authority and the Fare & Square grocery store have formed a produce partnership that features items grown at agency’s Ruth L. Bennett Homes community farm.

“We’re excited to partner with the Chester Housing Authority,” Mike Basher, Fare & Square’s vice president for retail operations, said in a news release.

“When they first approached us about the concept of us purchasing their produce we thought it was a win-win, not only for us and the housing authority but for sustainability,” he said.

On June 6, officials held a ribbon-cutting event for the new produce section in the store in Chester. The partnership will provide revenue to help CHA sustain its two-acre farm and continue to offer it as an educational resource.

“This very happy day has been a long time in coming, maybe even 10 years,” said CHA Executive Director Steven A. Fischer.

“I believe this may be the first deal of its kind in the nation. If there are other housing authorities and grocery stores that have done the same we would love to hear from them, hear about their best practices and compare notes,” he said.

“This is a great example of two non-profits in a city getting together, combining resources, coming up with a creative idea which betters business in the community and is also good for the residents — and along the way we’re going to promote a healthier lifestyle, which is important to both organizations,” Fischer added.

Fare & Square at 3117 W. 9th St. is currently carrying a selection of collard greens, mustard greens and kale grown organically on the community farm. Next season, the selection is expected to include tomatoes, peppers and eggplants.

Natania Schaumberg, the farm manager, says having the produce available at Fair & Square is convenient for area residents.

“It’s so nice to have such a flexible partnership with grocery store, “Schaumberg said. “A lot of times grocery stores normally work with large-scale producers so it is prohibitive for small producers.”

Bennett Farm started as a small community garden, providing food and farming education to CHA participants. The farm now produces enough food to sell off a portion to pay for its ongoing operation and providing affordable produce as well as some part-time jobs to Chester residents

A farm grows in Chester City, and so does supermarket partnership

JOHN RYAN BARWICK / STAFF Raised beds of collard greens from the previous harvest, grown the Bennett Ruth Community Farm.

by John Ryan Barwick, STAFF WRITER Published: February 27, 2017 — 3:01 AM EST

Young men are spreading and shoveling piles of mulch on the raised beds on a pleasantly warm February afternoon. At the other end of the garden, a manager peers through the greenhouse at beds of collard greens.

Juxtaposed against the cracked concrete sidewalks, with its benches and plywood posters, the Ruth L. Bennett Community Farm in the struggling city of Chester’s West End, the farm might seem as incongruous as the February warmth.

Going on 10 years old, the farm marked a milestone last month when it reached an agreement with Fare & Square – the city’s only major grocery store – to sell its produce, starting sometime this spring.

“If they’re growing in this community, we want to be selling,” said Mike Basher, the market’s vice president of retail operations. “Folks shopping here are buying stuff that's raised right in their community.”

The farm was created with the help of “a couple of Swarthmore volunteer college students, who wanted to start a community garden,” according to Steven Fischer, the executive director of the Chester Housing Authority, which manages the farm and the Bennett housing project.

It has grown to include a 2,500-square-foot greenhouse and more than 60 raised beds on fertile soil. Its customers have included neighborhood residents, the Chester Farmers’ Market, and Community Hospital.

The farm and Fare & Square have been cultivating a relationship for several years, dating to the time when the market donated hot dogs and hamburgers to a farm BBQ, aimed at raising awareness to the project.

In 2013, Fare & Square became the first supermarket in a decade to open in Delaware County’s only city - where a third of the 34,000 residents live in poverty. It isn’t unusual for patrons to purchase items at the deli counter in coin amounts – as in, “What can I [buy] for 25 to 30 cents" – said Amanda White, a spokeswoman for Philabundance.

Last month, Fischer met with both Basher and Andre Dixon, Fare & Square's senior manager for external relations, to talk about how the farm could be more self-sustaining, which led to discussions with farm officials about selling the produce at the grocery store.

“They thought there would be more red tape to forming this partnership with us, and we were like 'it’s approved.' We cut the ribbon right there in the meeting. We’ll sell everything you have!” said Basher.

Most of the produce purchased by Fare & Square comes from Lancaster County and New Jersey, but any opportunity to be “ultra local,” as Basher puts it, is ideal.

Fare & Square will purchase the produce at the same rate as any other grocer.

“The residents of the community can be proud that something they are growing here is actually being sold here,” said Norman Wise, the director of the public housing project.

“We’re lucky that we get a lot of volunteer help, so it offsets the costs.”

On any given day, the Ruth L. Bennett farm can have anywhere from 20 to 100 such volunteers; federal grant money also helps.

Now the farm is looking for more growth. It is installing an irrigation system and bringing electricity to its two greenhouses, said Natania Schaumburg, the farm’s new manager. In addition to produce, the farm is looking into selling flowers, and even raising fish.

Originally, the farm was to be an educational tool. Most of the produce was given to neighborhood residents, said Fischer.

“We've had fits and starts of selling our product at farmers markets here and there but nothing on a daily regular basis.”

To Fischer, selling produce is a natural transition.

“All the good will in the world isn't going to be support without a good business plan,” he said. “This is the newest part of our business plan, to seek new nontraditional revenue sources.”

"I’m really thankful to Fare & Square for giving us this shot,” said Fischer. “Chester needs more business doing well.”

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Chester Housing Authority and Swarthmore Co-Op Selling CHA-Grown Flowers

(Chester, PA- July 6, 2017) – The Chester Housing Authority’s community farm has found a second line of business – flower sales. And it has found a partner to help market the flowers – the Swarthmore Co-Op community food market. The first harvest of Sunflowers went on sale in late June. So why is CHA getting into the flower-growing business in addition to its produce farming? In a word, Money. “Flowers are the highest grossing crop per acre,” according to CHA executive director Steven A. Fischer. “We already have our produce partnership with Fare & Square (grocery store in Chester) and now we’re excited to be selling Chester-grown flowers to the Swarthmore Co-Op. These are the kinds of efforts that will help us reach our goal of a self-sustaining farm.” “You can pack the same amount of flowers in the space that it takes for collards and get about triple the return for the same size bunch,” added Natania Schaumburg, who manages the farm at CHA’s Ruth L. Bennett Homes.

In addition to the revenue, additional goals are to beautify the space and attract pollinators to the farm. (Bees are draw to the bright colors and scent of certain kinds of flowers.) CHA is growing about 20 kinds of flowers, including: Sunflowers; Snapdragons; Strawflowers; Statice; Celosia; Amaranth; Bachelor’s Buttons; Dahlias; Scabiosa and Black-eyed Susans. Schaumburg believes there’s a growing interest in local flowers, noting that most flowers on sale in the region are imported from countries where toxic pesticides are used, which damage both the environment and workers. “More awareness about local flowers is a great thing. People don’t necessarily think about pesticides in flowers the way they do with food, but you can also be exposed to harmful chemicals if a bouquet is sitting on your table and wafting into the air,” she said. The CHA farm does not use pesticides. It prevents pests by using a row cover or insect netting, a fabric that serves as a barrier between plants and insects. “Working with local growers is what we’re all about. We were also impressed with the Bennett farm’s mission,” said Swarthmore Co-Op produce manager Rose McDaniel. “Shoppers love the Bennett flowers and produce and have been buying them.” Working on growing flowers will be the newest activity for children who participate in CHA’s annual Summer Food program. Starting this week, they will be helping to grow and harvest produce that they can use in their lunches. Soon, they will also be learning about growing flowers and making their own bouquets. The co-op sells local seasonal products throughout the year. At CHA the local season will now be virtually 12 months a year, thanks to the two-acre farm’s new greenhouse, equipped with electricity to power heating, cooling and fans. “This is where we’ll grow seedlings over the winter,” Schaumburg says. “We can grow greens and flowers in the hoop house.”

“The connection with Swarthmore is a natural one for us,” Fischer said. “Our interns are from Swarthmore and the co-op is near the college campus. The store management has been very encouraging.” Read more about CHA at http://www.chesterha.org. Read more about Swarthmore Co-Op at http://www.swarthmore.coop/about.

Chester grocery sells locally grown produce

Ruth L. Bennett Homes Community Farm manager Natania Schaumburg poses on the hill above the farm on Concord Road. LORETTA RODGERS — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA

By Loretta Rodgers, Times Correspondent

POSTED: 06/07/17, 8:30 PM EDT | UPDATED: ON 06/08/2017

CHESTER | Chester’s only full-service grocery store is now featuring fresh produce grown locally at the Ruth L. Bennett Homes community farm.

Chester Housing Authority officials were joined Tuesday morning by representatives of the Fare & Square grocery store for a ribbon-cutting ceremony launching a partnership that hopefully will yield revenue to assist the CHA in sustaining the farm.

“This very happy day has been a long time coming,” said CHA Executive Director Steve Fischer. “This is a great example of two non-profits in the city getting together, combining resources and coming up with a creative idea which betters business in the community and also is great for the residents. We hope to promote healthier lifestyles, which is important to both organizations.”

Fare & Square Vice President of Operations Mike Basher said the market is more than happy to be part of such a worthwhile project.

“This is a win-win for the community,” Basher said. “Everybody wants to know where their produce is grown these days, so this is locally grown right in our own back yard by residents, volunteers, and CHA employees. We are very proud to partner with the community.”

Farm Manager Natania Schaumburg said the vegetables are picked fresh each day on the 2-acre working farm, which features greens, peppers, blueberries, tomatoes, eggplant, kale, squash, basil, sweet potatoes, and a variety of fruit and flowers.

Recent farm upgrades include an automatic irrigation system, electricity and plans to plant at least 20 new fruit trees including pear, plum, peach and cherry trees.

Fischer said the project has been in the works for at least 10 years, when a small community garden was planted at the Bennett Homes. Five years into the program, CHA representatives felt it would be a good idea to market the produce and perhaps be a vendor for a local grocery store.

“Fare & Square came along and it seemed like a good match,” said Fischer. “It took a few years to get to this point and today is the culmination of years of hard work.”

The Bennett Homes produce has its own section to the left of the entrance of the market, which is clearly marked with a colorful banner.

In addition to the working farm, a special children’s summer program, community cook-outs, arts and crafts, internships and a summer meal program is provided at the site.