The Coalition of Community Gardens - Tampa Bay
A brief history
The Coalition of Community Gardens was the result of a brainstorming session in August, 2015. Representatives of 6 Hillsborough County community gardens and allied professionals were present. Original members: Plant City Commons, Seeds of Faith, Seminole Heights, Tampa Eden Project, Tampa Heights, Temple Terrace, Temple T. Farm 2 Sch, University Area CG, Extension Agents from Hillsborough & Polk County, David Whitwam, Rebecca Blanco. At the next planning meeting, April 2016, we drafted the mission and goals. We have steadily been working to accomplish those goals. We became a 501(c)(3) organization. Board of Directors are Lena Young Green, Kitty Wallace, Michele Ogilvie.
Organization’s achievements, 2016-2021:
Organization’s achievements, 2016-2021:
- Organized quarterly meetings, visiting each other's gardens, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 (until the pandemic)
- Established a logo
- Started a website
- Established goals at our first organizational meeting 4/16 coalition_workshop__4-16-16_kw.docx
- Participated in Hillsborough County Neighborhood Conference
- Participated in Sustany Buzz, 2019, 2022
- Participated in the State Fair, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
- Participated in Garden Steps, one of 50 counties to receive $10,000.00 in Aetna Foundation's Healthiest Cities/Counties Challenge to improve the health of our community. Following 2 years, Garden Steps came in runner up and was awarded $50,000.00 to implement the Garden Steps action plan over the next 3 years.
- completed year 2 of Garden Steps Project implementation with installation of the Healthy 22nd street demonstration garden, Middleton HS school & community garden, 6 community partner gardens, and 20 residential front yard gardens as well as 12 community workshops.
- Article in Tampa Bay Times in September, 2021
- Created a brochure promoting community gardening for the Department of Health public_health_pamphlet_hillsb.pub.pdf
- Made numerous presentations to neighborhood groups;
- Participated in Hillsborough county center wellness display, Earth Day week.
- Held Earth Day Celebrations as part of the Healthy 22nd Street Garden Initiative, 2021, 2022
- Collaborated with university partners to expand the field of knowledge; UF research and USF research, UT research.
- Encouraged Youth Gardening opportunities; partnered with local Elementary School to establish their school garden;
- Connected with government agencies to streamline process - ongoing
- Connected with allied organizations to support existing gardens
- Received Best of the Best, Hillsborough County Soil/Water Conservation award, 2019
- Connected with Extension to develop educational supports for inner city gardens; inaugurated classes in the fall of 2019.
- Made a presentation at the Annual Conference of the American Community Gardening Assoc., Sept. 2019
- Collaborated with the Sustany Foundation to establish a source of funds to aid groups in starting a new garden or enhance an existing one; presented checks to 5 garden start-ups: Apollo Beach, Urban Progress Alliance, Forest Hills Presbyterian Church, 1Body Ministries, and University Area Community Garden (Harvest Hope Park)
- Met with City of Tampa Parks/Rec Director, Planning & Devel Director, Paul Dial and staff to establish a framework of collaboration, utilizing selected property in City of Tampa Parks for community gardening.
- First community garden is located in a City of Tampa Park, Wellswood Community Garden - 2/2021
- Hosted our annual Grow Gardens Conference, 2018, 2019, 2020 (virtual), 2021 (hybrid); 2022.
- Celebrated the USDA Urban Agriculture Innovation Products grant received by the City of Tampa, summer 2022. Coalition will be leading the implementation of this grant, approved by city council Nov. 2022.