USDA Grant Report 2020-2021
Because of collaborative efforts with a multitude of partners, we hosted 114 demonstrations and workdays in gardens and greenhouses over a 12-month period, despite a raging pandemic that hampered our efforts and presented many challenges. We have provided our growers with 13 new chicken coops, 76 new garden beds, 25 new beehives, and 100 shiitake mushroom logs for their continued local urban farming efforts. We have provided entrepreneur farmers with more than 150 egg-laying chickens and ducks. We have delivered many pounds of fresh local food to 8 food pantries on multiple occasions. We have built 4 new greenhouses and refurbished or managed 3 greenhouses for shared space among network of growers. That network grew in 2020-21 from 43 to more than 240.
We strengthened existing partnerships and developed 27 new garden partnerships at community centers, schools, houses of worship, and urban plots.
We held an old-fashioned soap-making day and shared health kits with our homeless neighbors who live near our gardens. We provided countless garden tools, irrigation system components, seedlings, loads of soil, and mulch.
Our 21-page USDA report is below.