1. 1 Somerville, Massachusetts The New Victory Gardens: Brownfields and Community Gardens Brownfields 2009 New Orleans, Louisiana November 18, 2009 ~ Brownfields 2009, New Orleans, Louisiana ~

2. 2 Today’s Speakers New Victory Garden, Brownfields 2009 Richard McCarthy Market Umbrella, New Orleans Yarrow Etheredge Groundwork New Orleans Dr. Sabine Martin Kansas State University

3. 3 What do we know about community garden sites? How do we turn them into Victory Gardens? What do we need to know?

4. 4 Gardens on Vacant Lots American Community Gardening Association reports 18,000 community garden members and an estimated >550 organizations Many metropolitan urban gardens are community or volunteer organizations that acquired vacant property in the 1970s. Green guerilla’s in NYC suggest they are the first in 1973. Many community gardens are created on vacant lots, some taken over through ‘guerilla gardening’ or gardening squatters Many different ‘voluntary’ organizations garden to: –promote sustainable and subsistence agriculture –support food banks and improve food security –expand community and small business development, –enhance youth education –provide therapy for patients and create healing gardens Many do test soil – on garden sites. Soil samples generally sent to extension services for testing – pH, nutrients, organic material, and sometimes, lead Sustainability Series ~ Louisville, KY ~ July 7, 2009

5. 5 USDA, Urban Soil Primer, 2005, page 52 National Cooperative Soil Survey (NCSS) survey’s of urban areas San Diego, CA, 1973 Suffolk County, NY, 1975 Washington, DC Urban Soil Series < 20% glass, brick, St Louis, 12-40” and up to 48” Sand and dredge soil, Charlotte Co, FL USDA Urban Soil Primer New Victory Garden, Brownfields 2009

6. 6 Reduce or mimimize vacant lots exposures Increase physical activity and reduce stress Increase social connections Increase vegetative cover and reduce urban heat islands Reduce stormwater surges to urban rivers and streams Increase opportunities for fresh, safe food Allow food dollar savings to meet other health needs Introduce urban residents to nature in a different way Increase soil structure, biodiversity and carbon capture Improve habitat for bees, butterflies and birds and people Gardens can Improve Public Health New Victory Garden, Brownfields 2009

7. 7 We’ve been here before ! 18,000,000 Gardens Initiative of the Secretary of Agriculture, as reported in Time, Feb. 08, 1943 The Great Hoe-Down reported in Time, May 05,1975 40% increase in seed sales in 2009 2010?