SAFB Farm and Garden

SAFB Program Committee

Farm and Garden: Nutrition and Wellness

SAFB Farmer's Market

TARGET:

low income and food insecure populations

Socio-ecological Model

& Program Opportunities

Goal

Evaluation

Where Food Banks Initiatives Fit into the Food System

Food Bank

Farms and Gardens

Community

Reach

Emergency Food & Food Access:

Urban Agriculture Education

Production and Processing:

Food Bank Farms and Gardens

Food Access:

Farmers' Market

Distribution

and Retail

Outputs

(Food and Wastes)

Food Consumption (Health and Wellness Education)

Total # of FMs: 46

Total # of Cooking Demos: 40

Total Profits: $ 11,394 (Jul-Nov 14)

RESULT:

Continue to push educational opportunities to promote intake of locally grown produce, healthier lifestyles and disease prevention.

Keep State of the Art FM: Diversity of producers; Cooking Demos, Popular Food Vendors, EBT transactions,

WIC & SFMP

Health promotion and disease prevention by increasing access to fresh produce.

Opportunities:

Investment in local food, help stimulate local economy

Farm to Work, Farm to Table, Prescribing Produce

Integral part to bring nutritious foods to Americans – participating in Nutrition Assistance Programs

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP);

Women, Infants and Children (WIC) FMs Program;

Seniors’ FM Program

Program

Sustainability

Accreditation:

• SAFB Farmers' Market Association certified under the Texas Certified Farmer's Market Corporation (Oct 28/10)
• Go Texan Farmers' Market (Oct 15/10)
• SNAP vendor under USDA/FNS (Jan 25/11)
• Pilot program: EBT Machines/ Wi-Fi spot
• WIC/Seniors FM - Summer 2014

• Complement existing Food System

• Market seasonal crops: Spring, Summer, Fall & Winter

• Established Farmers’ Market Culture in low-income areas

• FMs Industry continues to grow in three ways:

1) FMs themselves

2) SNAP, WIC & SFM, FM to Work clients

3) Non-profits supporting FM

*SAFB Farmers' Market Association certified every year.

2010 - 1 FM

2011 - 2 FM

2014 - 3 FM

2015 - 6 FM (Added Ella Austin CC and Sam Houston HS

Strengths:

• Accreditation
• Partnerships
• Expertise

Partnerships:

• Main Plaza Conservancy - Music
• SAHA (mgmt is covered $8,725/year
• East Side Promise Neighborhood (mgmt is also covered)

How these partnerships help:

Unique

Sale Point

Marketing

Innovation

SAFB, Metro Health, and SAHA

• Presence in food desert areas
• Reach low income families - SAHA
• EBT machines to use Lone Star Cards

• Main Plaza - heart of SA
• SAHA - Cooking from the Farmers' Market
• High School fully committed (garden)

• Includes assisting consumers and producers - know their local food sources and items
• No competition at present locations (MP & SAHA)
• Experience - Gained considerable knowledge after 4 years of operating 2 FMs
• SAFB Spurs Community Garden and Farm Vendor - affordable prices

Expertise:

SAFB employs diverse food professionals passionate about growing food and educating others.

1 PhD Nutritionist

1 MS Dietitian

4 Nutritionists

1 Certified Chef

2 Physical Activity Specialists

1 Master Gardener

Additional Expertise: Knowledgeable staff on Farmers' Markets ad Urban Agriculture (community gardening)

What does the Garden/Farm Do?

It EDUCATES!

Nutrition, Health & Wellness Education Promote:

• Healthier Lifestyles to Prevent Chronic Diseases

• Promoting Wholesome Diets & Physical Activity

Green House

Urban Farming

Urban Farming Cont:

Digging deeper in the Garden and Farm

Growing produce in a city which typically involves reusing food waste and recycled water.

How the SAFB does it

• Water wall
• Filters
• Shade cloths
• Pumps
• Circulation fans
• Fix doors
• Added heaters (not connected)

1. Drip irrigation: reduces water usage, increases yield, decreases labor and decreases expenses.

2. Injection pump system: allows personnel to fertilize through pumps, reduces labor, increases effectiveness,

3. Hydroponic Farming: allows growth in small areas, faster growth, diversifies our classes and possibilities

Water collection: reduces the city water usage

Technology

Renewable resources

Access

SAFB Agriculture

Initiatives:

• Increase Access to Locally Grown Vegetables & Fruits. Engaging People to Grow their Own Food.

1. Overview of Farm

2. Urban Farming

3. Greenhouse

4. Land Development

5. Growth

6. Goals

7. Sales

8. In the works

9. Volunteers

• Water catchment
• Solar power
• Compost mater
• Wind power

Farmers' Markets

• Drip systems
• Planting machines
• Seed Trails
• Edible plants that imitate flowers
• Off season harvesting
• Cycling water system
• Reduced evaporation

• Farmers’ Markets: 6 FMs under the SAFB-FMs Association

(EBT Cards accepted, cooking demos )

Next Steps:

1. Composting (3rd party)

2. Black Mulch (reduces/eliminates pesticide, I.e. Fully Organic

3. See to transplant potting: reduces costs, allows for training ops

4. Water collection - grey water

WELLNESS!!

New Methods

• Urban Gardening Education

Road to Wellness

What we are growing:

Farm Land Development

Land Facts:

• Currently have 23 acres planted
• 21 different types of produce

What we are growing (cont.)

Produce Numbers:

Direct Sales:

Production Goals:

Current Sales and Growth:

Current buyers

Prospects

• Farm Table
• Arugula, Spice and Wine
• Farmers markets

• Farm to Church Program (UTSA Dept. of Kinesiology, Health and Nutrition)
• Ali Baba Food Market
• Food Trucks
• Staff and Volunteers (transplants)

Purpose of Direct Sales:

All this would not be possible without...

Volunteers!

• Pays cost of seeds and transplants
• Minor repairs
• Pesticides and herbicides cost
• Bagging materials
• Irrigation tools

BY the Numbers: