Grant Questions + Answers

What are the plans to sustain the project upon completion (250 words max):

The garden maintenance plan will be supervised and implemented by the garden designer and the co-planners. Specific rules and regulations will be drafted using exemplars from other gardens and organizations, such as ACGA, Franklin Park, and Garden Works, as well as from the guidelines provided by the City of Columbus. The rules and regulations will be on permanent record in the community handbook, will be posted at the garden site, and a copy will be provided to each household that claims a garden plot.

Each bed will be assigned to a gardener or household, and they will be required to maintain the bed by removing weeds, keeping growth under control, and removing all garden materials by a specific date at the end of each growing season. Between each of the beds, a weed barrier and ground cover material will be placed so that the growth of weeds and other vegetation around the beds will be kept to a minimum. We will ask each participating household or gardener to donate a small amount of time each week or month in general maintenance and will request that the participants record their efforts and time committed to maintenance in a logbook that will reside at the site.

In an effort to reflect on and evaluate the garden these considerations will be taken into account in the future: Does the garden bring community together? Does the garden serve as a source of food and flowers for the community? Is the maintenance plan effective? Do the garden rules accommodate the community, and are additional rules or revisions to existing rules needed? Does the design accommodate the gardeners? What number of people participate in the garden, and is every member of the community with an interest in the garden being served? Does the Columbus Park site work for the community? What needs to be changed for the next garden season? Is this garden sustainable?

These questions will be answered through surveys, record keeping, meetings, and communication within the community and with the Columbus Department of Parks and Recreation.