1. Homegrown Response to
Food Security in Jackson County
Jackson County UW-Extension
Luane Meyer Family Living
Monica Lobenstein 4H/Youth Development
Trisha Wagner Agriculture and Natural Resources

3. Food Insecurity in Jackson County?
2000 2008 2009
Poverty Rate 9.6% 12.6% -
Food Share - 2,362 3,069
(Increase from 12% to 16% of population)
In 2009, January (668) to December (834)
Eligible for Free or Reduced Meals - 32-56% 36-58%

4. Food Insecurity in Jackson County?
cont.
Interviews with professionals, volunteers, and families
 At parent conferences parents reported appreciation
for program
 Students shared with teachers that there is not
much food in the house
 “Mom is working so I will be on my own for meals”
 Teachers observe students coming back on Monday
less alert in part due to what food is available at
home
 “I would like to garden with my kids. It would be a
good thing for us to do together.”

5. Friends Sharing Food
Food 4 Kids
Friends’ Food Shelf
Jackson County Food Pantry

6. Friends Sharing Food
(Fall 2007)
• Recruit community members
• Form organization structure
• Identify current food resources
• Identify mission and fundraising campaign

7. Food 4 Kids
(April 2008)
• Identify need
• Locate storage and work space
• Plan fundraising campaign
• Identify source for purchasing food
• Recruit coordinator

8. Food 4 Kids
(continued)
• Provide scholarships to encourage families to
join the Community Garden
• Provide bag inserts on food preparation tips
and menu ideas
• Expanded to Food Shelves at two middle and
high schools in county

9. Friends’ Food Shelf
(December 2009)
• 501(c)3 group needed to distribute donated food
• Locate site
• Develop publicity
• Identify volunteers
• Recruit coordinators
• Provide food preparation and food safety
information

10. Jackson County Food Pantry
(Under “new management” August 2010)
• Due to retirement of coordinator FSF was asked to
consider taking over coordination
• This pantry receives commodities as part of The
Emergency Food Assistance Program
• Recruit coordinators

11. Spaulding Road
Community Garden
A place to Garden, Gather and Grow

12. Spaulding Road Community Garden
• Getting started
• Forming partnerships
• Contributing to food security

13. Spaulding Road Community Garden
Getting Started
• Gathering interest
– Educating the public/testing the waters
– News paper articles, open house
• Leadership
– Committee members
– Defining objectives
– Getting organized
• Promoting the garden
– To the public, city officials, opponents
– Presentations, press, displays,
brochure/flyer, etc.

16. Black River Falls
Community Garden
Let’s Grow Something Together!
http://www.uwex.edu/ces/cty/jackson/ag/index.html

17. A
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25% 25%
25%
25%
1. A place to grow plants
2. A place to hang out.
3. A club
4. A plant hotel.
What is a
Community Garden?

18. What is a
Community Garden?
Community gardens come
in all shapes and sizes
depending on what
members decide is best
for their community.

19. What is a
Community Garden?
Urban or rural, grow fresh
flowers, herbs, vegetables,
fruits or trees…

20. What is a
Community Garden?
They can serve as a demonstration
classroom for students and new
gardeners…
…as a gathering place for youth, the
elderly and anyone in between…

21. Black River Falls
Community Garden
 Rent a garden
plot where you
and your family
can grow fruits,
vegetables, or
flowers of your
own.
http://www.uwex.edu/ces/cty/jackson/ag/index.html

22. Black River Falls
Community Garden
Learn new
techniques from
other local
gardeners for
growing great
fresh produce.
http://www.uwex.edu/ces/cty/jackson/ag/index.html

23. Spaulding Road Community Garden
Forming Partnerships
• Volunteers
– Committee members
– Master Gardeners
• Institutions and organizations
– Black River Falls High school
– City of Black River Falls
– Black River Area Foundation
– WI DNR
– Workforce connections
– Community Service
– Boys and Girls Club of Jackson County
– Friends Sharing Food
• Local businesses

24. Spaulding Road Community Garden
Contributing to food security
Garden mission:
Develop a community of gardeners who foster educational,
healthful, and environmental activities in Jackson County.
Offer :
• Garden plots for rent for growing fresh fruit, vegetables and/or flowers.
• Opportunity to learn gardening techniques from other gardeners to
improve quality and production of fresh food.
• Participate in a number of activities, workshops other special events
dedicated to gardening, using garden produce, and community for
youth and adults.

26. Youth Programming

27. Supporting Youth Involvement
• Community Garden Board
Member
– Youth activities held during
monthly adult workshops
• Painting plant pots
• Water conservation
• Healthy snacks from the garden
• Worm composting
• And more

28. Bringing in Resources
• 4-H2O Grant – Rain Barrel
Project
• Eating Well Being Active mini-
grant – pedometers used to
measure exercise
• Youth Service America Grant –
in application phase

29. AmeriCorps/VISTA Members
• Key to supporting youth
programming around food
security:
– Leading workshops at the
Community Garden
– Organized a winter clothing drive
for the Friends Food Shelf
– Led community service projects
with youth to make hats and
mittens for the Friends Food Shelf

30. Evaluation & Results
Homegrown Response to Food
Security in Jackson County

31. Food 4 Kids – Weekend Food Bags
• 36 bags/week in 2008
• Increased to 72 bags/week in 2009 to present
• Participants report:
– Stretching their food dollar
– Children are able to prepare the food
– Participants find the information included in the
bags helpful

32. Friends’ Food Shelf
• Food Distribution:
– As many as 184 families in 1 week
– Averaging 160 families each week
– Serving over 500 family members weekly across
the county from 9 different communities
– Distribute 3000 pounds of food weekly
• Families using this service have become
volunteers and a few have started plots at the
Community Garden

33. Community Garden
• 24 plots available in 2009
• Increased to 48 plots in 2010
• Gardeners include:
– Limited income families &
individuals
– Boys & Girls Club of Jackson County
– Black River Area Green School
– Clients of Dept. of Health & Human
Services

34. Community Garden
• Participants in the garden report:
– Saving $100-300 annually because of garden plot
– Learning from their neighbors (talking with
neighbors and looking at other plots)
– Taking advantage of the expertise of Master
Gardeners
– Having more fun when they garden with others
– Learning a lot at workshops that are offered

35. Jackson County Produce Exchange
• 2009 was the first year
• More vendors participated and
produce volume increased in
2010
• Feedback from the community:
– Happy to have a place to take
extra produce so it doesn’t go to
waste
– Food Shelf clientele appreciated
fresh produce

36. Volunteers
• UWEX is a connection point for food security
programs in Jackson County
• Volunteers make things happen!
• Nearly 3000 volunteer hours
• Valued at over $51,000 in service to the
community

37. Homegrown Response to
Food Security in Jackson County…
What ideas and suggestions did you think of
while listening to this presentation?
Questions?

38. Thank You
Luane Meyer
Family Living Agent
Luane.meyer@ces.uwex.edu
Monica Lobenstein
4H/Youth Development Agent
Monica.lobenstein@ces.uwex.edu
Trisha Wagner
Agriculture Agent
Trisha.wagner@ces.uwex.edu
Jackson County UW-Extension
227 S. 11th Street
Black River Falls, WI 54615
(715) 284-4257
Homegrown Response to Food Security in Jackson County