Developing Garden Programs with Emphasis on Integration and

Engagement

Shannon Spurlock, Denver Urban Gardens

Jessica Romer, Denver Urban Gardens

Andrew Nowak, Slow Food Denver

ABCD is a process by which neighborhood regeneration can be achieved by locating all of the available local assets and connecting them

with one another in ways that multiply their effect.

Evidence suggests that real community development takes place only when local people are committed to investing themselves and their

resources.

Asset Based Community Development (ABCD)

Determining Garden Priorities

Basic horticultural knowledge

Culinary educationStandards – science,

math, literacy, etc.Arts programmingCommunity buildingFood accessHealth & wellnessDemonstration sitePolicy change

Connecting schools to the larger community

Connecting Generations Intergenerational MentoringSupporting

exploration and learning in the garden

“I can sit around really well, but it doesn’t seem that sitting around is enough. What I discovered is that I could have an impact on the world and enjoy working with and being around kids and other volunteers.

The garden is such a great metaphor for the rest of the world.”

Phytochemicals

Denver Urban Gardens’ Gardening and Nutrition Curriculum

Worm composting in the classroom

Using the harvest

Denver Urban Gardens’ Gardening and Nutrition Curriculum

Plant anatomy

Creating garden signage

After School ProgramsBecoming garden ambassadors

Seed starting

Seed To Table: School Gardens

Spring planting

Making pesto

Taste Education“Feeding themselves”

Fresh tortillas

A morning harvest

Garden to Cafeteria“Feeding the School”

Selling to the cafeteria

2012 GTC season14 school sites29 types of fruits

and veg1,123 pounds sold$965.89 in sales

Garden To Cafeteria- 2012Fresh produce from gardens

Ready to sell!

Youth Farmers’ Markets“Feeding the Community”

Selling to the community

2012 YFM season29 school sites3 Boys & Girls Clubs141 Markets23,080 pounds sold$26,313 in sales$16,774 from farms$8,997 in profits

Youth Farmers’ Markets- 2012

Late season produce

Multiculturalism in the Garden Tour

Community Garden Programs

Harvest Festivals

Donation Models and Community Partnerships

Community Food Assistance Programs

DUG programsMaster Community

GardenersHelping Kids Get

Healthy Educator Workshops

Connecting Generations mentors

Master Composters

Master Gardeners and local experts

Professional development

School garden volunteers and mentors

Sustainable Models of Education

Local options

Slow Food programsGarden to CafeteriaYouth Farmers’

MarketsTaste EducationSeedling classes

School lunch programs

Booth at local FMCooking classes with

local chefs; Chefs Move to Schools

Partner with local greenhouse

Sustainable Models of Education

Local options