Grant Questions + Answers

Goals & Objectives (4000 characters)Describe the specific and measurable goals and objectives of your project. This information should provide a clear and concise view of how and why this garden will make a difference. These goals and objectives should be the backbone of your successful project.

The goals of the Sycamore Hills Community (SHC) Garden include:
-Growing a sense of community among each other and within the city of Columbus.
-Growing knowledge of: nutrition, cultivation of healthy food, organic and environmental growing practices, self reliance, one's self, and of the earth.

Creating a community garden in the neighborhood will enable residents to participate and connect with their neighbors in a meaningful and positive way. It will bring the Sycamore Hills Community together for work and for play. A community garden is a wonderful opportunity to those from all demographics to feel welcome and to participate.

Many of the Sycamore Hills residents bring a lifetime of experience and knowledge of gardening and growing food, maintaining soil, preventing pests and disease. With a garden in place, they will have the opportunity to share their expertise. The garden will be a positive and authentic way to connect with other older and younger residents in the community. The community garden will also provide an opportunity to the Sycamore Hills residents to grow their knowledge, to seek out those in the greater Columbus community who have valuable gardening knowledge.

The design elements of the garden will be mindful of the many generations. Included will be raised beds that are 4-5 feet off of the ground, easily accessible water (drip irrigation), nearby street and parking access, safe and level walking paths wide enough for a walker, wheelchair or stroller, and shaded and comfortable places to rest. There will also be elements focused on children and teens within the community.

A garden gives a person the understanding, the pride, and the joy of seeing barren earth produce wonderful things. A community garden brings those emotions not just to one or two, but to the entire collective. It will foster pride within one's self and within one's community. Having worked together to foster life brings people closer together and creates lasting friendships.
The community garden provides a wonderful place for those who would love to garden but do not have the adequate place for a personal garden. Whether the existing constraints be lack of room, too much shade, or something else, the community garden will be designed with such concerns in mind. It will be open and accessible to all those in the community who wish to test his/her green thumb.

The community garden will open a wonderful new growth for the Sycamore Hills Community into community service. Currently there are no community organized service opportunities. The garden would provide the opportunity to participate in "Grow a Row for the Hungry." Many community members are very interested in supporting the local pantry through this program, and look forward to establishing a strong connection. Another plan is in place to provide food and flowers for the residents in Sycamore Hills who are in need of healthy food, a cheerful bouquet of flowers, or just the company of the delivery person.

The images included in this section show the backbone of the garden goals: our community. These images come from a celebration at the park (and future garden site) to welcome home a neighbor and solider from Iraq.