The Big Garden Healthy Congregations Program - Molly Baurain KS Coordinator - United Methodist Health ...

The Big Garden
Healthy
Congregations
Program
 Molly Baurain
 KS Coordinator

The Big Garden

The Big Garden (TBG) History
 Founded in 2005 by United Methodist Ministries in Omaha,
  Nebraska.
 Established more than 200 community gardens in Nebraska,
  Kansas, and Southwest Iowa.
 In 2009, TBG began establishing gardens in eastern NE and
  northeastern KS.
 KS Coordinator, Molly Baurain, began in October 2019 for the
  purpose of expanding community gardens & orchards in Kansas &
  Nebraska through the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund’s
  Healthy Congregations Program.
 Partnership with Stilwell UMC in Stilwell, KS to provide office space,
  storage, and program support.

TBG Mission
       To cultivate food security by developing community
        gardens, creating opportunities to serve, and providing
        education on issues related to hunger.

Community                                               Integrity

    Justice                                             Authenticity

 Inclusivity                                            Diversity

SCOPE OF WORK
 Community Gardens
 Giving Grove (started fall 2020)
 As of Spring 2021, 7 fruit
  orchards planted.
 Eight orchards will be planted
  this fall and 10 comm. gardens
  in 2021.
 28 active UMC community
  gardens in KS & NE.
 Each site is managed locally to
  meet local needs.

Lawrence         Emporia
                   Bonner Springs   Wichita
Kansas TBG Sites   Colby
                   Salina
                                  Hutchinson
                                     Ogden

Wahoo      Broken Bow
                     Hastings       Lincoln
Nebraska TBG Sites   Schuyler
                     O’Neill
                                    Aurora
                                   Omaha

Community Gardens
 Located on UM church property or a
  partnership with a local community partner:
a)   School
b)   Food Kitchen or Food Pantry
c)   Parks Dept.
d)   Community Center
e)   Shelter
 Portion must be donated to the community.
  Most gardens donate 100% produce to those
  in need.
 Individuals/groups rent a raised bed for a fee
  or no fee.
 Mixture of raised beds and donation garden.

COMMUNITY GARDEN GRANT

                         $2,700 for garden infrastructure:
                         • Raised beds
                         • Fencing
                         • Garden Shed
                         • Water installation
                         • Irrigation & Tools

COMMUNITY GARDENS

COMMUNITY GARDENS

How to Get a Garden!
 Church must be registered with the United Methodist Health
  Ministry Fund’s Healthy Congregations program.
 To Apply, visit our website at https://healthfund.org/tbgapp
 Application in late winter/early spring.
 Grants awarded early spring (March 1st).
 Grant awards- maximum $2,700 for 3 years
 Existing gardens are eligible to apply to expand or improve
  existing infrastructure
 Garden will need to become self-sufficient after 3 years.
 TBG will provide ongoing assistance and horticulture
  expertise.

Giving Grove Grant
                      Average Orchard Site receives 10
                       fruit trees for FREE through Giving
                       Grove HC Special Opportunities!
                      Average Fruit Baskets per site: 200
                      Value: $5,000

                        Apples- Semi dwarf
                        Pears- European & Asian
                        Peaches
                        Cherries- Bush
                        Nectarines
                        Blackberries
                        Raspberries
                        Paw Paw, Jujube, Persimmon
                        Nuts: Chestnut, Pecan, Walnut

How to Get an Orchard!
 Church must be registered with the United Methodist
  Health Ministry Fund’s Healthy Congregations program.
 To Apply, visit our website at https://healthfund.org/ggapp
 Spring Application due March 1st & Fall Application due
  September 1st.
 Once approved, 2 self-appointed Orchard Stewards
 Attend New Steward Training (offered twice a year)
 TBG Site Visit
 10 Fruit Trees for FREE! All materials & tools needed for
  planting day will also be provided.
 Tree stewards agree to ongoing training and
  maintenance of the orchard for the lifetime of the trees.
 Portion of produce is donated to those in need.

UNITED METHODIST HEALTH MINISTRY FUND
Healthy Congregations Program
 Started in 1996 to address spiritual, physical, social, and emotional health in Great
  Plains United Methodist churches. www.healthfund.org
Program Benefits:
 $1,000 grant upon signing up (renewable each year)​
 Access to special opportunities reserved for Healthy Congregations churches​
 Programming ideas, resources, and consultation support to improve health
  and wellness in the local congregation and community.​
Program Requirements:
 Must be a Great Plains Conference United Methodist Congregation.​
 Teams need to have at least three lay participants.​
 Complete certification training within 2 years (self-paced online with live support).
 Annually - identify needs, develop work plans, and report on prior year results.

Healthy Congregations Program

Thank you!

              MOLLY BAURAIN
                KS Coordinator
                913-897-2418
                mbaurain@biggarden.org

             Stilwell United Methodist Church
             19335 Metcalf Avenue
             Stilwell, KS 66085