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Living Green Community

Grant

Application deadline: April 28, 2017

OVERVIEW

LIVING GREEN is the commitment to operate through the lens of good stewardship for our people, our planet and for prosperity both today and into the future. In2012,theCityofGreendevelopedtheLivingGreeninitiative,aprogramdesignedtoencouragegood

stewardshipofourplanet,ourpeopleandourfinances.In2015,theCity’scontractwithourtrashand

recyclingvendor,TheKimbleCompanies,providesarebatetotheCitybasedonrecyclingvolume.

ThesefundsarethebasisoftheLivingGreenCommunityGrant.Pastrecipientsinclude:

GrantYear Amount Recipient

2016 $1,000 TheCommUnityGarden

2017 $1,800 TBD

In2017,theCityofGreenismakingavailable$1800.00oftheserebatefundsintheformofCommunity

Grantstobeawardedtonon-profitorganizations,operatingwithintheCitywhoseprojectsormissions

areconsistentwiththeLivingGreenprioritiesandthatincreaseourCity'slivability.

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ProjectsshouldpromoteoneormoreofthefollowingLivingGreenvalues:

• EnergySavings

• WaterQuality&Conservation

• WasteReduction

• LocalFood

• Community/VolunteerEngagement

• Healthycommunity

Applicationsmaybesentbyemailtolivinggreen@cityofgreen.orgorbyregularU.S.Mailorhand

deliveredtotheCityofGreenCentralAdministrationBuilding,1755TownParkBoulevard,Green,Ohio

44232-0278,andmustbereceivedby3:00pmonFriday,April28,2017.Grantawardswillbe

determinedbytheLivingGreenTaskForce.Formoreinformation,visit

www.cityofgreen.org/livinggreen/communitygrantorcontactValerieWolfordat

livinggreen@cityofgreen.orgor(330)896-6602.

ELIGIBILITYGUIDELINES

EligibleactivitiesarethosethatpromotegoodstewardshipoftheCity'svaluableresourcesand

encourageamorelivableCitysuchas:

• neighborhoodrecyclingdays

• communitygardenprojects

• promotionofartsandculture

• historicpreservation

Eligibleprojectsmust:

• achieveadirectbenefittotheCityofGreen

• demonstratealignmentwithLivingGreenvalues

Ineligibleactivitiesinclude:

• fundraisingactivities

• politicalcampaigns

• administrationcosts

Eligibleapplicantsinclude:

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• Non-profitsoperatingwithintheCityofGreenlimitsandwhoseworkandmissionlargely

benefittheresidentsoftheCityofGreen

APPLICANTINFORMATION

ApplicantAgency:HarmonySpringsChristianChurch

AgencyAddress:POBox428,Uniontown,OH44685

AgencyPhoneNumber:330-899-9785

AgencyTaxID#:34-0714351

NameofProjectCoordinator/Contact:JenniferBerlyoung

ProjectCoordinatorPhoneNumber:330-807-8072

ProjectCoordinatorE-mailAddress:jennifer@harmonysprings.org

Organization'sHistory(250wordsorless):

HarmonySpringshasalongstandinghistoryinSummitCountywithextensivepartnershipsformorethanacenturywithlocalnon-profitsandorganizationssupportingthecommunity.In2011,HarmonySpringspurchased9.2acreslocatedat3891ArlingtonRoadneartheBoettlerintersectionforfuturedevelopment.InMarch2017,thechurchfinalizedthesaleofthepreviousbuildingindowntownAkron(HighStreetChristianChurch)andislookingforwardtocompletingplanstobuildontheArlingtonsite.ThechurchcurrentlymeetsatAGMCHealthandWellnessonMassillonRoad,andhasbeenmeetinginGreenforfiveyears(seeattachedAkron.comarticle).

Organization'sGoals&Objectives(250wordsorless):

ThemissionofHarmonySpringsistobeawelcomingandprogressivecommunityoffaith,seekingharmonyinaworldofdissonance–seekingspiritualmomentsoftransformationthroughworship,reflection,andservicetothecommunity.WearerootedintheDisciplesofChrist,whichisaChristianmovementforunity,inclusion,andwholeness.Groundedinthesetraditions,weseektointentionallywelcome,supportandaffirmindividualsseekingspiritualgrowth,whilerecognizingwhotheyare–theirbeliefs,age,gender,struggles,race,sexuality,andabilities.HarmonySpringsstrivestoconnectwiththosewhoconsiderthemselvesspiritualbutnotreligiousbyengagingincommunityevents,projects,andinitiativeswheneverpossibleinanefforttopromotelove,unityandcommunity.

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Organization'sPrograms&Services:

HarmonySpringsisachurchwiththeexpectedSundayservices(averageattendance100)andspecialservicesthroughouttheyear,howeverthatisonlyasmallfractionofwhatisintegraltoournature.HarmonySpringshasbeenanactivememberofthecityofGreenduringthefouryearsthatthechurchhasbeenmeetinghere.

HarmonySpringshasengagedinthecityofGreenthrough

• ParticipationintheGreenSchoolsBlessingsinaBackpackprogramthroughdonationsoffooditems,monetarygifts,andvolunteerhourstofillbackpacks

• FreedomFesttablewheremoneyearnedsellingpopbenefittedtheBackpackprogram

• MemorialDayparticipationwithfloatandhand-outstoparadeattendees

• BoettlerParkTrickorTreatTrail–handedoutcandy

• EarthDayParkCleanupDay

HarmonySpringsseeksoutLivingGreeninitiativeswithinthecongregationthroughtheestablishmentofaGreenMinistryTeamLeadtopursuegreenhabitstomakethechurchmoreenvironmentallyfriendly.Somechurchhabitsinclude

• Usingwashableceramiccoffeemugsduringserviceratherthansingle-useStyrofoamorpaper

• Utilizingawhiteboardupdatedweeklyandanoverheadprojectorinthemeetingspaceratherthanprintingweeklybulletins

• E-maildistributionofweeklyandmonthlynewslettersratherthanpapercopies

Churchprogramsandmeetingsareopentoallmembersofthecommunityregardlessofchurchmembership.ChurchgroupsincludeWomen’sCircle(meetingmonthly);Youthgroup(incollaborationwithotherlocalchurches,meetingweekly);andOWLS(OlderWiserLearningSeniors),whichmeetsregularlyatwelcominglocationssuchastheTorokCenter,ACMEcommunityroom,andtheGiantEaglemeetingspaceupstairs.

Organization'sStructure(Board,Trustees,etc.):

HarmonySpringsiscongregationalinitsstructure.ItoperateswithaBoardofTrusteeswhomakefinancial,property,andbuildingdecisionsandaBoardofEldersthatmakeprogramandorganizationaldecisions(seeattachment).

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PROJECTINFORMATION

ProjectTitle:HarmonySpringsFarm&Garden

ProjectLocation:3891ArlingtonRd.Uniontown,OH44685(thisaddressisreachedbyheadingupthedrivewaythatleadstotheredbarnandturningrightthroughthefieldattheendofthedrivebehindthebarn–seeattachment)

DescriptionofProposedProject(250wordsorless):

GiventheuniquesetupofHarmonySpringsFarmandGardeninwhatwasrecentlyanemptylot,andnowonlyagarden,HarmonySpringshashadadifficulttimewithwateringthegardeninamannerthatmaximizessustainability.Wehavelookedatmanyoptions:Therearenogutterstofillarainbarrel,andwedonothavealakeorpondtoaccessasaresourcetowaterthegarden.Diggingawellisoutofourpricerange,andnotrecommendeduntilthepermanentspaceforthechurchbuildingissetnordowehaveaccesstocitywater.For2016,thegardenwaswateredfromsoakerhosesconnectedtowatertanksthathadtobeshippedinandrefilledasneeded,andageneratortopumpthewatertothehoses.

In2017,HarmonySpringsplanstoinstituteamoreefficientwateringmethod.Theprojectcallsforpurchasingthefollowingitemstoincreasethegreenfootprintofourgardenandsecureitssustainability:

• Two84”rainsaucersfromhttp://rainsaucers.com/products.htmtoholdrainwater($210each)

• One500-gallonrainwater-harvestingtankwouldbeneeded($500)• Soakerhosestoaccommodatetheincreasedgardensize($100)

Asasignofcommitmenttothegardenproject,HarmonySpringshiredaGardenCoordinatorfortheseason.JenniferBerlyoungcomeswithprojectleadershipexperienceaswellasextensiveresearchinCommunitySupportedAgriculture(CSA)modelsandgardening.

DescriptionofNeed:

HarmonySpringsFarmandGarden’smaingoalistoconnectGreencommunitymemberswithsustainableandgreenlocalgardeningtechniquesinanefforttosupportthosestrugglingwithsuburbanfoodinsecurity.WeappreciatethemodeloftheCommunityFoodandWellnessInitiativeattheMethodistTheologicalSchoolinOhio(https://www.mtso.edu/ecotheology/community-food-and-wellness-initiative/)andplantohavesuchanimpactonourowncommunityastheFarmandGardenprogrambecomesstronger.

In2016,HarmonySpringsbrokegroundonacommunitygardenprojectlocatedatthe3891ArlingtonRd.propertyinanefforttoconnectGreenresidentswithlocalproduce,gardening,andreducesuburbanfoodinsecurity.Thegardenhasbeenintheplanningstagesince2012,andwas

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implementedinSpring2016.Thechurchhaddecidedtomoveforwardwiththegardenprojectinordertobegoodstewardsoftheland.Thegardenwillbecomeapermanentpartofthepropertyinapproximatelyitscurrentlocationevenafterachurchbuildingisconstructed.In2016,nearly150vegetableplantswerepurchasedandplantedofawidevariety:tomato,peppers,watermelon,honeydew,strawberry,cucumbers,zucchini,squash,cabbage,greenbeans,kale,greens,leaflettuce,carrots,andpeas.

HarmonySpringsFarmandGardenpromotestheseLivingGreenvalues:

Energysavings–Localfoodreduceswearandtearontheroadshippinglongdistances;iseasieronthewalletforallinvolved;andrecently-pickedvegetablesarehealthierthanthosepickedearlyandallowedtoripenonthetruckortrainonthewaytoourcity.

Wastereduction–Alotoftimeandgarbagegoesintopurchasingvegetablesatthegrocerystoreevenifweareonlytalkingaboutpackagingmaterialsorplasticbagsusedtoselectfooditemsforcheckout.HarmonySpringsisplanningtodevelopacompostingmethodforusedplantsaswellasencouragingchurchmemberstocompostinordertobringmorenutrient-richtopsoiltothegardenasafertilizer.

Localfood–fruitsandvegetablesgrownattheHarmonySpringsFarmandGardenwillbeavailableasaCSAmodelin2018[seenextparagraph]aswellasdonatedtolocalfoodpantriessuchasGreenGoodNeighbors.HarmonySpringsFarmandGardenpledgestosetaside25%ofitsharvestatalltimesfordonationtolocalfoodpantries.

HarmonySpringsbelievesthestrongestimpacttothecommunitywouldbeinaCommunity-SupportedAgriculture(CSA)model.ThismodelwouldconnectHarmonySpringsFarmandGardenswithpersonslocallywhowouldliketheirowngardenspacebutlackresourcesintheirownlivingareaaswellasofferfreshfruitsandvegetablestolow-incomefamilies.InaCSApeoplepurchaseintosharesoftheanticipatedharvestataflatweeklyrate.Theythenarerequiredtoassistwithcareandharvestingofthegarden(ordesignatesomeoneelsetodoso).Theworktocareforthegardenisshared,andthenthebountyisalso.Thisproduceshighquality,pesticidefreeproduceforthecommunityindividuals.Bytakingpartintheactualcareofthegarden,CSAmembershaveahigherstakeinensuringhighstandardsforthegarden.HarmonySpringshashiredaGardenCoordinatortoensuresmoothoperationsofthegardeningeneralaswellascoordinateCSAactivities.

Foodinsecurityis“nothavingaccesstoenoughsafefoodforallmembersofahouseholdforanactive,healthylife”(Coleman-Jensen2015).TheUnitedStatesDepartmentofAgriculture(USDA)istaskedwithrecordingtherateandcharacteristicsoffoodinsecurityintheUnitedStates.ThemostrecentpublicationfromSeptember2015reportsthenationalaverageatcurrently14%.TheUSDAreportsthatOhiohasafoodinsecurityrateabovethenationalaverageof16.9%(USDA2016).

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Foodinsecurityisnotrelegatedtodevelopingnations,tostateswithlowfoodresourcesorevenareasthatarehistoricallyconsideredlow-income.Thefastestgrowingareasoffoodinsecurepopulationsareinthenation’ssuburbs(KneeboneandBerube2013).Theproblemoffoodaccessisbroadandsystemicrequiringremediationfromvariouslevels.Whenanindividualisabletoparticipateinfoodaccesstheyarelessnegativelyaffectedandtheyfeelbetteraboutusingsomeofthefoodthattheyareinvolvedinproducing(Forcone2016;Leatherman2005;Lietz2011)HarmonySpringsFarmandGardenwillassistinalleviatinglocalfoodinsecurity.Itisuniqueandvaluableinthepositiveinvolvementandvaluablecommunitycohesionthatitwillprovidetothoseinneed.Low-incomefamilieswouldbeidentifiedbythelocalschoolsorbyfoodpantriesthatareprivytopersonalinformationaboutfamilies.HarmonySpringsencouragesreferrals.

ArecentInsiteReport(seeattachment)revealedthatwithinathree-mileradiusoftheHarmonySpringsproperty,25.13%ofthehouseholdshaveanincomelevelunder$39,999.Ifweincreasethatlevelto$49,999,thepercentagejumpsto39.01%.AsignificantnumberofthesefamiliesarewithinthetargetdemographicthatwillbeassistedwithproducefromtheHarmonySpringsFarmandGarden.

References

Coleman-Jensen,A.,Rabbitt,M.,Gregory,C.,andSingh,A.(2015).HouseholdFoodSecurityintheUnitedStatesin2014,ERR-194,U.S.DepartmentofAgriculture,EconomicResearchService,September2015.

Forcone,T.(2016).PalatableHelp:ExperiencesoFoodInsecurityinaSuburbanEnvironment(HonorsThesis).TheUniversityofAkron,IdeasExchange,April2016.

Kneebone,E.,andBerube,A.(2013).ConfrontingSuburbanPovertyinAmerica.WashingtonDC:TheBrookingsInstitute.

Leatherman,T(2005).ASpaceofVulnerabilityinPovertyandHealth:Political-ecologicalandBioculturalAnalysis.Ethos33(1),46-70.

Lietz,C.(2011).EmpathicAcitonandFamilyResilience:ANarrativeExaminationoftheBenefitsofHelpingOthers.JournalofSocialServiceResearch,37(3):254-265.

U.S.DepartmentofAgriculture(2016).OhioStateFactsSheet.RetrievedonAugust27,2016fromhttp://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/state-fact-sheets/state-data.aspx?StateFIPS=39&StateName=Ohio

ProjectGoals&Objectives(howdoesthisProjectalignwithLivingGreenvalues?)

TheHarmonySpringsFarmandGardenwaterprojectalignswiththecityofGreen’sgoalsandobjectivesinthefollowingways:

CommunityGardening

Sustainably

AddressFoodInsecurity

OrganicGardening

CommunityCooperationthruCSAmodelofGardening

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HowdoesthisProjectpromoteandencouragecommunity/volunteerinvolvement?

HarmonySpringsFarmandGardenwillinvitecommunitymemberstotakeownershipingardeningbypurchasingsharesofCSAanddonatingvolunteerhourstothegarden.Apercentageoftheproducehasbeendonatedandwillalwayscontinuetogotothosestrugglingwithfoodinsecurity.AscommunityinvolvementincreaseswiththestartupofaCSA,HarmonySpringspledgestocontinuedonatingatleast25%ofitsweeklyharvesttofoodpantries.WewilladvertisetheCSAinlocalnewspapersandinotherappropriateforums(atchurch,noticestootherchurches,socialmedia,flyershandedoutwhereverHarmonySpringsisactive).

ProjectTimeline:Beganin2016,use2017toresolvewaterissueandprepareforCSA;continueonasaCSAmodelin2018

GrantAssistanceRequested,InDollars,noCents:$1120

TotalProjectCost:$3120for2017

Plants $2000

RainSaucers $420

500galTank $500

SoakerHoses $100

Fencingforlargergarden $100

Source(s)ofmatchingfunds,ifapplicable:HarmonySpringsRossFundforCommunityProjects

______________________________________________________ April28,2017

ProjectCoordinatorSignature Date

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ATTACHMENTS:

1. ResolutionofSupport

2. ListofBoardMembershipincludingofficers

3. AerialmapofHarmonySpringspropertyonArlingtonRoad

4. SouthSideLeaderarticledetailingHarmonySpringsmovetoGreen

5. InsiteDemographicReportHouseholdIncomeTrends(fullreportavailableuponrequest)

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Rev. Joel. S. Engman P.O. Box 428 - Uniontown OH 44685-0428 www.harmonysprings.org ph: 330-899-9785

Christian Church of Green

RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT At the meeting of the Leadership of Harmony Springs Christian Church on April 22, 2017, the following resolution was proposed and approved by the Board of Elders: Resolved: WHEREAS the mission of Harmony Springs Christian Church is Loving God, Loving You; WHEREAS Harmony Springs Community Garden supports the mission of Harmony Springs Christian Church; That the Harmony Springs Christian Church Board of Elders is in full support of a grant proposal to the Living Green Community Grant for Harmony Springs Community Garden.

Ted Iler Chair of the Elders/Moderator of the Congregation

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LISTOFBOARDMEMBERSHIPINCLUDINGOFFICERS

HarmonySpringsiscongregationalinitsstructure.ItoperateswithaBoardofTrusteeswhomakefinancial,propertyandbuildingdecisionsandaBoardofEldersthatmakeprogramandorganizationaldecisions.

Elders:

TedIler,ChairCarolZumstein,Vice-ChairLizIlerTomBenjamin

Trustees:

ClarkReed,ChairDarleenSlater,Vice-ChairSherylBlanchardJohnForconeRobertPiks

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