Southern Boone Learning Garden Plan Book

This document was produced by AdZou at the Missouri School of Journalism. The contents are the property of Southern Boone Learning Garden. All information is confidential and proprietary and shall not be modi-

fied, reproduced, distributed or used for any purpose without prior written consent of SBLG. © Advocate; May 16th, 2016 .

planbook.indb 1 5/6/16 9:02 AM

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

SITUATION ANALYSIS

SWOT ANALYSIS

RESEARCH

CREATIVE

BIG IDEA

TACTICS

MEET THE TEAM

APPENDIX

CONTENTS1

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46

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95

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The Southern Boone Learning Garden has been teaching children the value of gardening and living a healthy lifestyle since 2007. Its lessons are valued by the school district and parents alike, but most of all the children adore it. The garden is a wonderful learning resource the community is lucky to have.

But here’s the problem.

Facing financial trouble, SBLG has looked to us, ADVOCATE, for help. We have spent the last 15 weeks eating, sleeping and breathing SBLG and have created a multi-faceted awareness campaign to ensure the garden’s future success with a budget of $1,000.

Our goal is to make the tight-knit communities of Ashland and Hartsburg aware of the garden’s new sponsorship model, starting in 2017. We are looking to help secure a steady stream of funds so the children can continue to grow and learn from this unique resource.

Although our focus is on the children, our first step was to take a peek into the minds

of the community’s adults to understand how to achieve these goals. Using several primary research methods, we learned that parents understand their children’s love for the garden, but they don’t really know what exactly they do during their time there. We also found out that not many people were interested in the sponsorship model. Between these two insights, it was clear we had some work to do.

After all was said and done, we came up with three main insights that will be the roots for this campaign. Parents must be kept in the loop as far as what is happening in the garden and a special event designed specifically for parents and their children must be planned. Overall, every tactic we employ should be kept simple, matching the simplistic lifestyle that Ashland and Hartsburg residents enjoy.

We believe that we now have all the necessary tools to create an effective campaign. It is now up to SBLG to use them to help keep the garden running for generations to come.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY


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Secondly, a special event needs to be planned to not only raise awareness and funds for the garden, but to physically invite the community to actively partake in the garden and understand what it is truly all about.

Finally, keeping every tactic simple is key. Ashland and Hartsburg are small communities, and making our tactics tailored to a small town audience is essential.


SITUATION ANALYSIS


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GARDEN’S ROOTSThe Southern Boone Learning Garden is a small non-profit organization in Ashland, Missouri. Founders Jennifer Grabner and Lesli Moylan started SBLG in 2007 as a small after-school club that taught children how to live healthy lifestyles and learn basic gardening skills. Now the garden has sprouted and is firmly rooted into the Southern Boone County School District’s curriculum. Children kindergarten through sixth grade have class outside in the garden multiple times a year to learn hands-on lessons in gardening and sustainability while also expanding on the math and science skills they’ve attained inside the classroom. SBLG is aiming to take the garden a step further and grow into a gathering place for all ages within the Ashland.

WHAT’S THE BIG DILL? SBLG received a five-year grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health in 2012. Using our collegiate math skills, this means the grant expires next year in 2017. A variety of funds will have to be gathered in order for SBLG to continue its mission of growing Ashland’s youth into capable learners and gardeners. It’s going to take action by members of the Ashland community to provide enough funds to keep SBLG stable and strong. ADVOCATE’s strategic plan will determine how to inspire parents, community members and local businesses to donate to SBLG all on a budget of $1,000. It’s essential SBLG’s educational message is continually harvested for years to come.

COMPANY ANALYSIS


2007Southern Boone Learning garden founded by Jennifer Grabner and Lesli Moylan.

2016Today the learning garden welcomes 30 children to the after-school club in both the fall and spring, as well as 12 middle-schoolers for the after-school cooking class.

2017The learning garden will embark on a new adventure as the grant expires and will move to a sponsorship-based financial model.

The learning garden became integrated into the Southern Boone County School District’s curriculum.

2009

The organization received a grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health that allowed the non-profit organization to hire three full-time and four part-time employees.

2012

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Garden-based learning has fluctuated in popularity throughout the past century but lucky for us, the popularity of learning gardens across the nation is on the rise for a multitude of reasons.

According to Bridging the Gap Research, the percentage of elementary school learning gardens has risen from 11.4 percent in 2006 to 26.6 percent in 2013.

Installing one of these gardens is initially expensive, with an average cost of $50,000 according to Jane Black of The Washington Post. This fact does not scare away schools from planting the seeds as the cost decreases over time. As gardens become more established, and most funds go towards supplies and employee wages. Most obviously, it is an excellent and unique learning tool for schools to use to add some excitement to the classroom and learning lessons that can be otherwise boring.

GARDEN TRENDS

2006

11.4%

2013

26.6%

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The benefits of learning gardens also extend outside the classroom. In a study of 476 teachers that instructed within California school gardens reported:

29.6 percent said students improved academically.

57.6 percent said attitudes about school improved.

63.9 percent said social skills improved.

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The federal government has also taken notice of these benefit and has developed programs to curb the childhood obesity epidemic. Programs such as Michelle Obama’s school lunch program, Let’s Move!, have been implemented into public schools along with increased nutritional information guidelines.

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Southern Boone Learning Garden has contributed to this trend, by partnering with Oopa! Food Management Inc. This partnership brings fresh produce from the garden into the district’s school cafeterias. This alliance will lead to more vegetable consumption, according to a study by Cornell University. When children grow their own veggies, they’re more likely to eat them. If a salad bar in a school cafeteria contains produce grown by students in the school, salad selection increases from 2 to 10 percent.

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Southern Boone County Learning Garden is currently the only learning garden in Ashland, therefore it has no direct competition, though indirect competitors do exist. This includes the Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture, national school garden organizations and other projects competing for school board funding.

COLUMBIA CENTER FOR URBAN AGRICULTURE The CCUA, although in the same geographic region, has a slightly different focus than SBLG. Its main consumers are low-income families and its vision is to increase Columbia’s local economy by providing families the education and resources to start their own gardens. The CCUA’s 2,491 Facebook likes outshines the Southern Boone Learning Garden’s 618, which clearly demonstrates the competition for influence. It also hosts a variety of community events, the largest of those being the Harvest Hootenanny, an event which attracts Mid-Missouri businesses who could be potential sponsors of SBLG. Some of these businesses include The Bank of Missouri, Missouri Legacy Beef, Boone Electric Cooperative and Happy Hollow Farm.

COMPETITORS

“It’s really about people wanting to give, and people who care about what you are doing. You just need to keep them informed.”-Billy Polanski


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NATIONAL SCHOOL GARDEN ORGANIZATIONSNational school garden organizations such as REAL School Gardens and Edible Schoolyard Network, pose a potential threat but have not yet entered Mid-Missouri. These organizations are growing quickly and typically have more funds than local school gardens. If one of these organizations were to sponsor a garden in the Ashland or Hartsburg community, it would have much greater access to resources and tools than SBLG.

COMPETING PROJECTS The biggest threat SBLG faces is projects competing for funding in the area. The Southern Boone High School Athletic Booster Club, in particular, has received a large amount of funds from outside sources. Its projects include the new high school weight room and a potential scoreboard for the football field. The garden currently receives no funding from the Southern Boone County School District.


The community can currently access the garden for free, and most of the funding for SBLG comes from the Missouri Foundation for Health grant. The switch to a sponsorship-based financial model will give the garden more independence with its spending.

STUDENTSThe garden mainly serves Southern Boone County School District students in grades K–6. SBLG develops unique lesson plans designed for each grade. It also offers extracurricular clubs including the Elementary Garden Club which teaches basic gardening skills to 60 students (grades K–6) each year and a middle school cooking club (grades 6–8) which instructs about 18 students. The produce from the garden is also served in the school cafeteria with the assistance from SBLG’s partner, Opaa!.

PARENTSParents have the ability to volunteer with their children at the after-school clubs, as well as take their children to visit the garden on their own time. These parents are a primary target for donations and receive information about the garden through newsletters sent in the district’s “Friday Folder” email.

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“The Garden should be a place that is functional, productive and beautiful, that can benefit not only students but the community.” - Kelly Redford, Garden Manager

CONSUMER ANALYSIS


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TEACHERSTeachers receive lesson plans from SBLG and the resources necessary to lead their curriculum. LOCAL BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS Partnerships with the Missouri River Communities Network, PedNet Coalition, Columbia/Boone County Health Departments, Opaa! Food Management Inc. and the University of Missouri Extension Program currently provide SBLG with a variety of resources. Potential partners for future funds and event sponsorship include Moser’s, Pizza Haus, Home Depot and the Boone County Journal.

ASHLAND COMMUNITYAshland is an affluent and conservative area of Mid-Missouri with an agricultural past and a desire to spread the tradition of farming to future generations. Residents are welcome to use SBLG for their own use and to sample the produce at its stand in the Ashland Farmer’s Market.

Ninety percent of parents agree or strongly agree the garden improves their child’s learning environment.

Our Survey Found:


SWOT ANALYSISplanbook.indb 15 5/6/16 9:03 AM

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Everybody loves children. Educating them about healthy living and garden sustainability is a cause people rally behind.

Southern Boone Learning Garden is not just a garden, but a learning garden. Its lessons are implemented into the Southern Boone County School District’s curriculum and have the power to reach every child in the district.

If parents want their seedlings to receive further gardening education, SBLG provides after-school gardening and cooking clubs.

Having a working relationship with the school district also allows SBLG to communicate with the parents about the garden on a regular basis. Direct marketing is available to parents through email newsletters and the students’ “Friday Folders” emails.

STRENGTHS


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WEAKNESSESThis campaign exists because the Missouri Foundation for Health Grant is expiring—the grant supplied 95 percent of Southern Boone Learning Garden’s annual budget.

Not many Ashland residents are aware of the grant expiring, and are unaware of the challenges SBLG will face once it does.

Parents of the students are unaware of what their children are doing in the garden, we found only 17 percent were extremely or very familiar.

Southern Boone Learning Garden has a small campaign budget of $1,000 to promote its new sponsorship model — this may be a small seed to begin with, but if it is efficiently utilized there will be more to harvest later.

The workforce of the garden is small, with seven employees (three full-time and four part-time), which means volunteers are needed.

The current Facebook page has room to grow—currently the page has only a few hundred likes and the posts have little engagement.


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Ashland may be small, but it is affluent compared to the rest of Boone County.

The implementation of learning gardens is increasing rapidly across the nation.

SBLG has been firmly rooted into the Southern Boone County School District’s curriculum for the past few years—multiple generations of Ashland children have learned and gained memories from the garden.

The Missouri Foundation for Health grant may be expiring, but there’s a silver lining—SBLG will have more financial independence to grow in any direction it chooses.

OPPORTUNITIES


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National school garden organizations such as REAL School Gardens and Education Outside are sprouting around the nation and have more resources than the local guys—if one pops up in Southern Boone County, it could take the spotlight away from SBLG.

Gardening takes place in the great outdoors. Storms and seasonality also take place outdoors. It only takes one flood, drought or tornado to wreak havoc on the garden. Missouri winters make interacting with the garden more difficult during a few months out of the year.

The greatest threat to SBLG is competition for funds from the Southern Boone County School District and booster clubs in the area for new projects, such as the scoreboard and the weight room. More money for these projects means less money for the garden.

Any school board budget cuts could potentially affect the learning garden’s financial support.

THREATS


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WHAT WE DUG UP


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PROBLEM STATEMENT Since 2012, SBLG has been thriving under the assistance of the Missouri Foundation for Health grant. With the grant’s expiration in 2017, SBLG plans to move to a tiered-based sponsorship model for future financial support.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE ADVOCATE hopes to determine how to incentivize family membership for parents of Southern Boone County School District students. We will also discover strategies that similar community gardens utilize to attract corporate sponsors, which can supply greater funds to SBLG.

TARGET DEFINEDThe primary audience for the sponsorships will consist of mothers of children currently enrolled in kindergarten through sixth grade in the Southern Boone County School District. These mothers are active in their children’s education and involved in community organizations.

We are also interested in targeting potential corporate sponsorships throughout the Ashland/Hartsburg region. Targets include Home Depot, Moser’s, FFA, MFA, etc.

PRIMARY RESEARCH


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PROPOSED RESEARCH METHODWe aimed to collect a variety of quantitative and qualitative data about our target audiences in order to secure funds for SBLG in 2017.

Surveys were the primary tool to gather quantitative data. ADVOCATE worked with the Southern Boone County School District to deliver an online Qualtrics survey to the mailing list of guardians of students in kindergarten through sixth grade. The key findings of this survey include gardening interest and habits, current awareness of the curriculum taught by SBLG, parent and student use of the garden, interest in the sponsorship and what incentives would increase that interest.

Qualitative data was collected to investigate how to incentivize local businesses and organizations to sponsor SBLG by interviewing the Executive Director of Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture (CCUA), a successful non-profit community garden in Mid-Missouri. We also searched to understand the long-lasting benefits SBLG provides by interviewing two former garden-club members, Rebecca Sjostrand and Katrina Gateley.

SAMPLING AND RECRUITMENT STRATEGY

Surveys ADVOCATE will target 156 Southern Boone RI School District parents using the school district’s email server list. One $50 and two $25 raffle drawings will be offered to increase involvement.

Personal InterviewsWe will contact Kristin Anderson and coordinate a visit when her second grade class has a lesson in the garden. 20-40 permission slips will need to be distributed, signed by parents and returned.

ADVOCATE will also contact Billy Polanski of Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture via telephone for an in-depth interview.

Total Expenses = $120For detailed survey responses and interview transcripts, please refer to the Appendix.


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Eighty-five percent of survey partcipants said supplying their family with fresh and organic produce is important or extremely important.

Parents agree with the mission of the garden—providing healthy lifestyles to children

KEY FINDINGS

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Eighty-five percent of parents hear their children talk about the garden at home. And when their children talk, they give SBLG great reviews.

And their children love the garden

Seventy-nine percent of children had a favorable or extremely favorable opinion of the garden. Only one percent of parents reported their child having an unfavorable experience.

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Parents believe SBLG is beneficial for their child’s education

Ninety percent of parents agree or strongly agree with the statement: “The garden improves my child’s learning environment.”

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But...parents are not exactly sure what their children experience within the garden

Fifty-five percent of parents reported visiting the garden. And most have only visited under three times.

Only seventeen percent reported being extremely or very familiar with the lessons their children learn in the garden.

“Have only visited to pick up child from garden club meetings.”

“Once outside of picking up my kids.”

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More than half of parents said they would definitely or probably attend a Southern Boone Learning Garden event.

They are interested in being involved with the garden5


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E-newsletters would be popular, 71.8 percent of parents said they would definitely or probably subscribe.

More than a third of parents said they would definitely or probably become volunteers.


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Parents are fairly interested in becoming sponsors

Half of parents are interested or strongly interested in becoming sponsors of SBLG.

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...BUT, they are not interested in spending too much money in order to do so

A vast majority of parents (122) prefer to spend less than $50 annually.

Only 24 are willing to spend more than $50 on sponsorship.

12224

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Where to find them: Social Media

An overwhelming 87 percent of parents chose Facebook as their first choice of social media.

Forty-five percent chose Pinterest as their second choice.


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Where to find them: Traditional Media

Newspapers were the preferred choice of traditional media, with 41.7 percent listing it as their first choice.

Television was second with 35.3 percent listing it as their favorite.

Radio is the third preferred choice of traditional media, with 23.1 listing it first.


BILLY POLANSKIExecutive Director - Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture

KEY FINDINGS - INTERVIEWS

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“They say fundraising is friend-making. It’s really maintaining relationships with these people, the public. The people who consistently give and consistently give large amount, are the people who we keep a dialogue with.”


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KATRINA GATELY “I think it’s a good thing to teach kids how important gardening is and agricultural aspects. A lot of people that live here, live outside the city limits and are involved in a lot of farming so I think that it’s good to teach kids that not all food comes from the store.”

REBECCA SJOSTRAND “I tried a lot more vegetables during that club. I wasn’t a big vegetable eater but they encouraged us to eat things we weren’t used to, and especially eat things that we grew ourselves. That made me a lot more excited to eat them and give vegetables a chance.”

“I would say the interest in gardening. After I did the club, I was inspired and started gardening at home. Now I enjoy helping my grandma, so I have the garden to thank for that.”


RECOMMENDATIONS

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First and foremost, more effective communication to the community is needed as to exactly what the children are learning in the garden, in order to increase the perceived value to the children’s parents.

Secondly, a special event needs to be planned to not only raise awareness and funds for the garden, but to physically invite the community to actively partake in the garden. This will help parents further understand the garden and its mission.

Third, business partnerships and grants are essential for the future of Southern Boone Learning Garden. Most survey participants listed $0–$25 as their preferred donation, which will not make up the 95 percent of the current annual revenue supplied by the Missouri Foundation for Health. Seeking grants and business partnerships will be the fastest and most cost-efficient method to secure funding.

Finally, keeping every tactic simple is key. Ashland and Hartsburg are small communities, and making our tactics tailored to a small town audience is essential.

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“I wouldn’t give up on grants. Diversifying your income is a good idea. I can tell you that right now, I think between 50 and 60 percent of our income is grants. And we’re trying to get that percentage down because with those individuals, we would be more stable. You lose one $50,000 grant, and you’ve lost $50,000. You lose one $50 donor, and you’re still functioning. You have to put more time and effort on it, but I wouldn’t have them totally give up on the grant writing and with those individual donors, just focus on the relationships.”-Bill Polanski

Our main objective of the campaign is to secure enough funding to sustain the garden after the grant runs out, but we also hope to instill a sense of enthusiasm in the community. By motivating the people of Ashland to be involved in this unique aspect of the community they will be more inclined to take an active role. We aim to achieve this goal by targeting our two main audiences, small business and parents of

children currently using the garden, with two different forms of tiered sponsorship models. Our campaign will utilize fun and playful yet nurturing tones to maximize the effect of the emotional bond provided by the children. We hope to develop the sense of responsibility the community feels for the garden and investing in not only its future, but their children’s future.

STRATEGIES AND OBJECTIVES

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In order to promote the beginning of the Southern Boone County Learning Garden’s sponsorship program effectively, the campaign will target two separate target markets.

LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERSThe first audience is local businesses in the Ashland and Hartsburg area. The learning garden already has good relationships with many local businesses and organizations such as the Boone County Journal and Home Depot. In the communities of Ashland and Hartsburg, businesses, like the citizens, take a large part in supporting local nonprofits that better the future of the community. Through this campaign we will target businesses owned by community members who have both a vested interest in the community and the funds to donate to the garden. These businesses are locally owned and could benefit from the advertisement opportunities available to them by participating in the sponsorship program.

ASHLAND PARENTSThe second audience for this campaign is more directly affected by the education provided by the learning garden. We will be targeting 30–40 year-old mothers in efforts to inspire them to take an active role in their children’s futures by supporting the learning garden as a sponsor. This target has an average annual income of $75,000–$100,000, live active lifestyles and are invested in their children’s education. These parents target audience places a high importance on providing their children with a healthy lifestyle, which includes making home-cooked meals with fresh produce.

“You have to bring in new people, but it’s foolish to spend all of your time getting these new people, and then neglecting the people you have now. It’s like buying a new car but not changing the oil.”

- Billy Polanski

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AUDIENCES


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MELISSA THE MOMMeet Melissa, a 35-year-old mother of two children living in Ashland, Missouri. She spends much of her free time attending her four-year-old daughter’s ballet lessons and seven-year-old son’s basketball games. Despite her busy schedule, she values taking the time to prepare home-cooked meals and believes it is better to interact in person rather than social media, though she does periodically post photos of her family on Facebook or search recipes on Pinterest. Melissa was raised near Ashland and has developed close friendships with other mothers and neighbors in the area. She takes pride in the town’s traditions and prosperity.

MARK THE MANAGERMark is the manager of a locally-owned business in Ashland, Missouri, and has lived in the area for eight years. He is invested in the community and passionate about helping nonprofits prosper. Mark also searches for ways to promote his business and is looking to sponsor an organization he believes will draw widespread awareness of his business.

TARGET PROFILES


CREATIVEplanbook.indb 41 5/6/16 9:03 AM

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WHY ARE WE ADVERTISING?We want the Ashland community to rally around the fight to preserve the learning garden, and develop a sense of ownership among the community for the garden’s success. We plan on advertising a new sponsorship model that will allow the people of Ashland to take full stock in the garden.

WHO ARE WE TALKING TO?The first audience is local businesses. These are only businesses that are within Ashland and Hartsburg. They can either donate supplies or money to the garden. Our second audience is Ashland and Hartsburg mothers, age 30–40 with an average household income between $60,000–$100,000. They are very involved within the community and care a lot about their children’s health and education.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THEM THAT WILL HELP US?Local businesses are already very involved in Ashland. Just recently, the Southern Boone High School was given a new weight room by their booster club. They also plan to build a new scoreboard this fall. The targeted mothers value healthy lifestyles for their children and are active in their education and extracurricular activities. These moms are aware of the Southern Boone Learning Garden’s practice in the school (over 80 percent of respondents to our survey were mothers) but do not necessarily understand what is involved in the curriculum. We believe if there is more awareness of the curriculum to these mothers, they will be more likely to support it financially and volunteer for the garden.

CREATIVE BRIEF


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WHAT DO WE WANT THEM TO THINK?Main Message: The community is what you make of it. By annually supporting the learning garden, you are directly investing in not only your child’s education but also the future of Ashland and Hartsburg. The garden has grown drastically since its start in 2007, and without continued support from the community, it may not be able to continue to provide the education in which Ashland residents have become accustom.

CREATIVE STRATEGYWe will increase community awareness and involvement for SBLG by positioning the garden as an essential learning tool for the children of Ashland, while also creating a sense of urgency towards action to sustain the future of the organization.

WHAT IS THE SINGLE MOST PERSUASIVE IDEA WE CAN CONVEY?The learning garden was created and cultivated for the community, and now it needs a little love from Ashland in return. With the community’s help, the garden can continue to flourish and give their children the tools to prosper.

WHY SHOULD THE AUDIENCE BELIEVE IT? The Southern Boone Learning Garden has been in existence since 2007 and is an active part of the primary school’s curriculum. It keeps the agricultural traditions of the Ashland and Hartsburg area in tact during the changes of the 21st century, and encourages healthy eating and teaches children life skills that they can carry with them through their entire life.


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CREATIVE SPARKS TONALITYThe campaign should evoke a loving and nurturing feeling, while also retaining gardening themes of freshness and growth. Family and community are at the center of each advertisement and should tie together the agricultural traditions of the area with the possibilities that the future has to offer. The campaign should also convey a sense of urgency, while still portraying community empowerment.

KEY COPY POINTS A part of the school’s curriculum

Teaches children life skills

Brighter futures

Community involvement = preserved success

Taking an active role

Keep it simple: As a tight-knit, agricultural community, Ashland thrives on the “simple things” like backyard barbecues and Friday night high school football games.

Planting roots: A garden prospers when a community takes the time to plant the seeds and nurture it.

It takes a village


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We asked participants of our online survey to pick out three words that come to their mind when thinking about Southern Boone Learning Garden. A few trends began to blossom before our eyes.


BIG IDEA


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We designed all new logos to be more legible across multiple platforms of media and help your organization to fit in with the modern design landscape. We wanted to keep the tone of your original logo while providing options for use on Web or in print. The round icon logo (left) can be used as a social media icon, while the script logo (right) can be used on t-shirts and other print media.

NEW LOGOS


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BIG IDEAPeople tend to cringe at the word “dirt,” but in reality, dirt should be celebrated. It is the foundation for growth and the starting place of any garden. In fact, dirt is what SBLG is all about. It’s taking the children out of their comfort zones for a hands-on experience with nature. It’s learning food isn’t something that comes from the store, but from a seed in the ground. It’s getting your hands dirty, and taking action to make things grow.

We believe this is exactly what the residents of Ashland need to do. To sustain the garden they need to get involved, take action and yes, get their hands a little dirty.


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TACTICS


WHY Premiums will serve as a major incentive to become a sponsor of Southern Boone Learning Garden. ADVOCATE compiled a list of potential premiums and asked survey respondents to rank their most preferred items, placing high-ranking premiums into the more expensive sponsorship tiers to increase funds. One of the most desired items was the garden bounty box, a monthly collection of excess produce that will be awarded to one lucky raffle winner.

In addition to incentivizing the sponsorships, premiums are an essential tool to grow SBLG’s brand. Premiums are a great physical tactic for a physical activity such as gardening. SBLG can provide physical tools to its target audience from seeds to shovels for members to use within the garden and at home. This will help cultivate a relationship with the member and remind them that SBLG will always be their partner for their gardening needs.

WHENPremiums will be available to SBLG sponsors throughout the year. Seed packets and garden bounty boxes can be picked up from the garden at the beginning of each month. T-shirts and garden plots will be distributed to sponsors when they register for the corresponding tier. Premiums will be delivered to SBLG depending on their sponsorship tier.

PREMIUMS

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INDIVIDUAL SPONSORSHIP TIERSINDIVIDUAL SPONSORSHIP MODEL CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP MODELINDIVIDUAL SPONSORSHIP MODEL BUSINESS SPONSORSHIP MODEL

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Root ($250)

Stem ($500)

Bud ($750)

Blossom ($1000+)

Logo on T-shirt

Name on T-shirtName on Newslet-

Name on Garden Plot

Logo on Newsletter

Name on Website

Logo on Website

Seedling ($50)

Sprout ($75)

Bloom ($100)

Garden ($200)

Exclusive Newsletter & Recipes Seed Packets

SBLG T-Shirt

Branded Shovel

Garden plot Garden Produce Box

Family garden lessons


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SEEDLING LEVEL ($50)SBLG’s sponsorship model will begin as most gardens do, with seeds. Seed packets can be purchased from American Meadows for a cost of $100 for 2000 packets. Wildflower, basil, arugula, strawberry and salad greens seeds will allow sponsors to cultivate the plants that grow within SBLG in the comfort of their own backyard.


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SPROUT LEVEL ($75)All of the above PLUS:The SBLG t-shirt will allow the garden and its business sponsors to advertise their name around Southern Boone County. Sponsors will sprout up to this tier because everybody loves an extra t-shirt. The front of the shirt will display the SBLG logo and the “Get Dirty Your Hands Dirty” tagline, and the back will feature the names and logos of businesses that help fund the garden’s mission. The organization that pays for the cost of the t-shirts will have its name and logo most prominently displayed.


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BLOOM LEVEL ($100)All of the above PLUS:Sponsors in the Bloom tier will be able to schedule a family gardening lesson on the weekend of their choice. Upon arrival to the lesson, personal shovels will be distributed to each family member and can be personalized with paint. With shovels in hand, the entire family will be able to get their hands dirty, learn tips from SBLG staff, cook a meal and dine together. Twenty-four shovels can be purchased from Sears for a cost of $55.


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GARDEN LEVEL ($200)All of the above PLUS:Sponsors in the Garden tier will have their names inserted into a monthly raffle for the garden bounty box. The garden bounty box was the most preferred premium in the online survey, and for good reason. SBLG will put excess produce at the end of the month into the bounty box. The winner of the raffle will be able to take home fresh and free produce for their entire family to enjoy.

Garden level sponsors get the maximum amount of premiums to use outside of the garden, as well as having the chance to be honored within it. Those in the Garden tier will be able to sponsor a crop plot of their choice with their name on a wooden post. These posts will serve as SBLG’s thank you to the people who go above and beyond with their support.


WHY In order for people to love and support the garden, they have to know what it’s all about. Collateral plays an important role in spreading information to the public so they can become informed of the amazing things the garden has to offer. Collateral will be the line between the garden and the sponsors that will bond the two together.

WHENCollateral will be used throughout the year at various times depending on when that particular tactic needs to be displayed. In January, pushing the newsletter will be of high importance due to the fact that people’s incomes are higher after the holidays. We will also push the newsletter when school begins, in August, to remind parents of the sponsorship model. The newsletter should still be sent out every month to update sponsors on upcoming events and give a closer look into the lesson plans that children are experiencing in the classroom.

HOWThree types of collateral that will be employed.

First and a foremost, a monthly email newsletter will be a great way to keep SBLG’s sponsors in the loop as far as what is going on in the garden.

To go along with this, a flyer should be created that will further explain the sponsorship model to parents that are interested in joining.

Furthermore, a sponsorship packet will be created to alert philanthropic businesses within Ashland and Hartsburg to this great opportunity.

COLLATERAL

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The Big BeatWhat’s going on in the garden? This spot will be the place for any “breaking news” such as upcoming events, big projects or new additions. With the “Big Beat,” sponsors will be ahead of other parents on any exciting news and become excited about what’s happening in the garden.

NEWSLETTER

J U N E 2 0 1 6

Save the Date!

The Southern Boone County Learning Garden’s

Monthly Sprout

Lorem Ipsum Dolor Sit Amet

The Big Beet

In 2007, the Southern Boone Learning Garden received a $100,000 grant from the ______, allowing them to hire new staff and grow into the expansive, hands-on educational tool that they have become. As of 2017, however, that grant will end, and the garden will begin a new adventure of moving to a sponsorship-based financial model. This change means working more closely with the community to inform residents about the incredible lessons taught in the garden, hosting more events for families to experience the outdoors together and presenting more opportunities for the community to take stake in the garden.

To read more about the sponsorship model, scroll to page 5

Back To School Blowout September 2nd, 4:30 pm

City of Ashland- Lemonade Days Saturday, June 11

Visit the SBLG booth to get your fresh produce while you enjoy lemonade! Bring your kids for some fun activities.

Come kick off another great school year of digging in the dirt and watching things grow! The event is open to the public and will offer appetizers, crafts and a raffle. Tickets $15 for adults, $5 for kids.

Get the Dirt on class projects, healthy recipes and upcoming events


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SPRING 2016 THE LOREM IPSUMS

Sprout Spotlights Highlights of what your sprouts are

learning in the Garden

The 3rd Annual Dine in the Dirt fundraiser was a huge success! With the support from Opaa! Food Management and various local growers and producers, we were able to host glorious meal in the garden. Thanks to everyone who came out and made this night so much fun.

Cooking Class Closes a Great Season

The middle-school cooking class chopped, sliced and diced their way through another great season. Chef ‘Z’ taught the 12 student participants to create four-course meals with soup, salad, entrées and desserts, all made from fresh ingredients. Interested in learning the secrets of healthy cooking? Keep an eye open for fall applications!

The 4th Grade Gets Creative in the Garden Fourth-graders step outside to gain inspiration for creative writing. The classes took time to channel their inner artists while using nature as a muse.

Another Delicious Dine in the Dirt

Sprout SpotlightsHere’s where we make proud mothers! The Sprout Spotlight will feature three classes, individuals or groups and the amazing things they accomplished this month. Did someone win a lettuce eating contest? Put in the winner! Did the second grade class build a scarecrow? Let’s see photos! You get the picture, it’s all about bringing parents special moments in the garden they would otherwise miss, and informing them about lesson plans or projects they can talk about at the dinner table.


3 3

SPRING 2016 THE LOREM IPSUMS

What’s Happening Next

Summer School Classes Kick Off! Summer is the perfect time for teachers and children to explore all the garden has to offer. The curriculum during summer school programs is often more flexible, allowing teachers to take more time in the garden. Lesson plans including planting watermelon and sunflowers from seed, and investigating the soil, are just some of the fun topics kids will enjoy this summer.

Farmers Market Stand With school out it can be hard to keep the kids entertained. Don’t resort to the TV- come visit the SBLG booth at Ashland’s Coyote Farmer’s Market! Get the freshest produce and support the learning garden at the same time.

New Sponsorship Opportunities

This September, SBLG will be moving to a new sponsorship-based financial model. With two separate sponsorship applications for businesses and residents, there are affordable ways for you to support the garden. Sponsors can receive exclusives such t-shirts, seed packets, newsletter recognition, garden plots and gardening lessons with the family. Read page 5 for more details.

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What’s happening next? Parents can look forward to what their children will be doing this month with the “What’s up next” section. Choose four lesson plans, projects or upcoming events to highlight in this section.


Season’s EatingSeason’s Eatings show parents what the garden is growing! Choose one veggie from the garden that’s in season this month, and do a little research. Include sections highlighting Profile (what type of veggie is it?) Health Benefits (why is it good for you?) and How to Grow It. Below will feature a healthy and delicious recipe using that seasonal veggie. This section not only provides new dinner ideas, but will also encourages healthy eating habits and inform families of new vegetables.

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Season’s Eating Garden!

THE MONTHLY SPROUT JUNE 2016

Featuring: Arugula

Profile: One of the most nutritious green-leafy vegetables, sometimes referred to as salad rocket. It is ranked among the top 20 foods in regards to ANDI score (Aggregate Nutrient Density Index) Health Benefits: Consuming two cups of arugula will provide 20 percent of vitamin A, over 50 percent of vitamin K, and 8 percent of your vitamin C, folate, and calcium needs for the day. How to Grow: Plant seeds in a sunny area, one-fourth inch deep and 1 inch apart in rows. For best results, add compost to soil before planting and apply a time-released fertilizer. The leafy plants grow 6 to 12 inches tall.

Arugula Pizza Ingredients: Naan Bread- 1 piece per person Tomatos sliced- 3 per pizza Fresh Mozzarella, sliced- 3 slices per pizza 1 bag baby arugula 5 oz. container diced pancetta Balsamic glaze to drizzle on top

Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees 2. Cook pancetta in pan until crisp. Remove pan and set aside (keep warm) 3. Brush both sides of naan bread with a little olive oil, place on baking sheet. Top naan

with tomatoes and sliced mozzarella. Bake for 10 minutes. 4. Top each pizza with a handful of arugula and sprinkle pancetta on top 5. Drizzle with balsamic glaze


GET YOUR HANDS DIRTY Become a Sponsor

FAMILY SPONSORSHIP LEVELS

Seedling Level: $50 • Exclusive Newsletter • Recipes • Seed packets

Sprout Level: $75 • Above Mentioned Material PLUS: • T-shirt Bloom Level: $100 • Above Mentioned Material PLUS: • Family Gardening Lesson • Free Admission to Dine in the Dirt

Garden Level: $200 + • Above Mentioned Material PLUS: • Plot with your family’s name

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Thank You SponsorsInclude every name and business who buy a sponsorship, adding logos for businesses can be an extra incentive for them choose a higher sponsorship level.

Thanks to our Community Sponsors for Helping the Garden Grow

Adventures in Learning Ashland Chiropractic

Ashland City Hall Biz Crossing

Bullard Seed Company Cameo Construction Services, LLC

Law Office of Matt Uhrig, LLC Moser’s Discount Foods

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FlyerThis flyer is a straight-forward resource for parents to fully understand the new sponsorship-model and the benefits they could receive. It should be distributed in Friday Folders each Friday during the month of September. On the application, ADVOCATE encourages adding, “How did you find out about becoming a sponsor?” SBLG can judge whether or not the flyer was a successful way to advertise the new sponsorship model.

Get Your Hands Dirty


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Get Your Hands Dirty!Cultivate Your Community

Dear Community Partner, HHere in Ashland, we know what it means to be a community. Helping eachother to grow and succeed is just what we do. This fall, the Southern Boone Learning Garden will be moving to a sponsorship-based model, and are inviting you to join the adventure. We are looking to plant our roots deeper into the community, so that we can continue to help the kids grow.

2017 SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNI T IES

Sponsorship PacketsSponsorship packets put the information businesses need to become a sponsor right in their hands. This includes facts about the garden along with pictures, making businesses realize the true value in the garden. These packets should be distributed personally to businesses who SBLG has a working relationship with, or has expressed interest in becoming a sponsor. It is roughly $5 to print the packet at FedEx. ADVOCATE suggests choosing ten businesses that would have interest in being a sponsor and hand deliver these packets to them.


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WHYSpreading community awareness is key for SBLG. For the people of Ashland, the Boone County Journal is the primary source for local news and updates on their community. The spot should be written as a “Thank You” to sponsors for putting in the time and effort to sustain the learning garden. This ad will also be used as a method of advertising the sponsorship model, and works as an incentive for new business owners to become sponsors.

WHEN This advertisement should run once in May as the school-year comes to an end.

HOW As a half-page spread, this spot will cost $342, however as both parents and business owners read the newspaper, this is the most effective and affordable way to reach bothtarget audiences.

TRADITIONAL MEDIA

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dTHANKS FOR GETTING YOUR HANDS DIRTY!

THANKS TO OUR LOCAL BUSINESS SPONSORS!You know the old saying,” it takes a village to raise a child”? Well, the same goes for a garden. If it weren’t for our amazing sponsors, donors and volunteers, the Southern Boone County Learning Garden wouldn’t be here. So thank you for getting your hands dirty and putting in the time, effort and funds to help us grow. This fall season, SBLG will be moving to a sponsorship-based model affordable for both businesses and residents. With your help, we’re looking forward to another year of learning, discovering and yes, getting our hands a little dirty.

For more information on how to be a part of the growth, visit the sblearninggarden.org for sponsorship levels and the exclusives offered.


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WHY Public Relations is an important tactic for SBLG. Most importantly, the use of PR tactics such as press releases allow SBLG to promote events, new announcements and achievements to the community through popular local news outlets such as the Boone County Journal without any cost to the organization. Due to the low advertising budget, press releases are a necessary tactic for SBLG because it provides the organization with unpaid promotion directly to its target audience. The objective of this tactic is to promote SBLG to the local community through sending relevant press releases to local news outlets in order to educate community members on the happenings, events, achievements and announcements pertaining to the garden.

WHENCurrently, this tactic is scheduled for February to announce the beginning of spring gardening lessons, in July to announce the sponsorship-model and in August to announce the Get

Your Hands Dirty event, but it can be utilized whenever necessary as a source of free media promotion.

HOWSBLG will execute this tactic by writing press releases to announce any event they see fit throughout the year. Once written, press releases will be sent to local news outlets in hopes they will pick up the story and in turn promote the garden to the community through a news story. If a news outlet decides to pick up the stories written in the press releases, SBLG will need to be willing to answer questions and provide quotations and clarifications to assist the reporters in creating an effective story. The effectiveness of this tactic will be evaluated by the amount of news outlets that are interested in the topics of the press releases to the point that they write or broadcast a story based off of the press releases content.

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PUBLIC RELATIONS


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POTENTIAL MEDIA LISTThe Boone County JournalColumbia MissourianColumbia Daily TribuneKOMUKRCGKFRU - David Lile ABC 17

PRESS RELEASESHere are a few sample press releases to be distributed throughout the year as necessary.

Southern Boone Learning Garden

104 Maple Street, Suite B

Ashland, MO 65010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jennifer Grabner, Executive Director

5732688431 [email protected]

Southern Boone Learning Garden announces its “Get Your Hands Dirty” event

Ashland, Missouri (August 15, 2016) Southern Boone Learning Garden, a nonprofit

organization provides gardenbased education for children in Ashland and Hartsburg area,

announces its “Get Your Hands Dirty” fundraiser on September 3, 2016. This event is to

celebrate the garden’s 10th anniversary with the community and raise money for its gardening

programs.

The event will have two parts: paint station and scarecrow. In the first half of the event, each

child will paint a flower pot under the supervision of their parents and plant a seed in it. Children

can also write down their wishes and bury them with the seeds. And then, as the second part of

the event, all the children will make a scarecrow for the learning garden together. During the

event, parents and children can participate in a short gardening lesson at the end of the event.


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Southern Boone Learning Garden 104 Maple Street, Suite B

Ashland, MO 65010 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jennifer Grabner, Executive Director


Southern Boone Learning Garden launches sponsorship model Ashland, MO (July 15, 2016) – On August 1, the Southern Boone Learning Garden

(SBLG) will launch a new sponsorship program that will provide community members and local

businesses the opportunity to get involved and financially support the organization.

Community involvement in the sponsorship program is vital. Since 2102, the majority of

the garden’s funding has come from a generous fiveyear grant donated by The Missouri

Foundation for Health. With the help of this grant, the garden has grown immensely since its

2007 beginning and has served the children of Ashland and Hartsburg by instilling in them the

importance of healthy eating and lifestyles. With the terms of our grant expiring within the next

year, we will require community collaboration and involvement to be able to continue our

mission to inspire, teach and to help cultivate a healthy future for the youth of Boone County.


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Southern Boone Learning Garden

104 Maple Street, Suite B

Ashland, MO 65010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jennifer Grabner, Executive Director


Spring Has Arrived, and Classes Resume in The Garden

Ashland, Missouri (February 15, 2016) After a long winter, the Southern Boone Learning

Garden will reopen its garden and welcome students back in the gardening classes on February

25. According to Jennifer Grabner, the executive director and cofounder of the garden, students

will start on the preparation first, and the official gardening lessons will officially begin in

March.

“They (the students) have been staying home to keep warm for the whole winter, and it’s now

time for them to be involved in some outdoor activities,” said Grabner. “This year, we have

designed some new and interesting lessons for them to participate in. I hope they will have fun

with it.”

Students from the Southern Boone County School District also said they were prepared for the

gardening classes.


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WHY Ashland is a small community where people know each other, so a local event will be an effective way to bring all the target audience together and get them involved.

This event serves a lot of purposes:

WHENSeptember 3, 2016 from 4-6 p.m.

HOWSBLG invites families to welcome in a new school year of getting their hands dirty in the garden and learning how things grow. This fundraiser encourages families to help support the garden’s vitality while reminding the community of the unique learning experiences the garden offers the children of Ashland.

SPECIAL EVENT

Raise money for the Southern Boone Learning Garden

Get more parents and local businesses involved, so they will have a full understanding of what the learning garden has been doing and take more active roles

Advertise for our new membership and sponsorship model

Draw media attention and earn free publicity for the learning garden


BACK TO SCHOOL “GET YOUR HANDS DIRTY” EVENT INVITATION

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This fundraiser will be generating money in two ways: selling both admission tickets ($15 for adults and $5 for kids) and raffle tickets ($1 each). Prizes that are going to enter the raffle will be donated by our local business sponsors, and families are welcome to bring their own items to enter the raffle.

Also, a huge banner will be made for our guests to put their “dirty” hand prints and signatures on as they enter the learning garden. This corresponds with our “Get Your Hands Dirty” campaign.

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The first half of the event is called the Paint Station. Each family is given a flower pot for children to paint and plant seeds. Families can bring these flower pots home after the event.

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The second half of the event is called the #SOBOCOscarecrow. All the children present will make a scarecrow together. Adults are not allowed to help, but are encouraged to take pictures and share them on various social media platforms like Facebook.

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During the event, the learning garden will serve refreshments featuring natural salad made from vegetables and fruits grown in the garden.

At the end of the event, all guests are welcomed to participate in a short experiential gardening class, in which they will have a full understanding of what the learning garden is offering to the children. This will also be an excellent opportunity for the learning garden to advertise their new membership model.

For a detailed timeline of this event see the appendix section.

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WHYSocial media is a great tactic to use to not only reach our target audience in an effective way, but it’s also free, and how can you beat that? Since the garden is incredibly visual (and who doesn’t love a picture of a cute kid?), we will use this to our advantage. It’s also a great way to personally communicate with our audience and develop the emotional connection necessary to get people excited about participating in the garden.

HOWWe suggest using Facebook as our main focus, and adding a blog component to the website for a longer form post so we don’t bore the audience will too many words, unless they want to go find out more on their own.

Our goal of using this media is to increase traffic to the page, naturally, but more importantly increase the quality of the interactions we have with our audience. Since the garden is only in Ashland and our audience won’t be larger than the members of our community,

quality is much more important than useless numbers. We want the Facebook wall to be a place where members of the community can come together to discuss what’s going on and to feel as though they have a voice. The more quality engagements (comments and shares, not just likes) will in turn influence and increase the traffic to the page. Also, by directing people to the blog via Facebook posts, traffic will also be directed to the website which is important because it is the point of donation.

The voice of every post should be nurturing and caring, but very casual and fun because it is a garden for children, after all. There is no need to stay strictly professional, so have fun with the posts! Exclamation points, contractions, and gardening or vegetable puns are definitely welcome. We want to portray that we care about our audience just as much as we care about our plants, our children and our community.

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SOCIAL MEDIA

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WHENA variety of pre-planned posts will be used to stay consistent and keep the audiences engaged. As many posts as possible should include at photos or videos, even taken on an iPhone, to increase engagement and add some entertainment value to the page·

MEASURING/EVALUATING SUCCESSFacebook offers plenty of insights and analytics to help us determine what is most and least successful. Keep and eye on this and increase frequency of the most successful posts.

The Insights tab provides helpful graphs and statistics to see what type of posts are the most successful, the demographic breakdown of your audience, and what type of actions people are taking on your page.

In the Overview section, pay attention to the time posts with the largest amount of engagement are posted, and aim to post at those times. In the Publishing Tools tab, utilize post Scheduling.

Don’t forget to always include a “Like our Facebook page!” plug at the bottom of every email, newsletter, blog post.

The Facebook page currently does a great job of sharing relevant posts, but keep these to a minimum as to not clutter the page and bury our content.

.


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Lesson PlansA short summary of that day’s lesson should be posted. The garden does amazing things, and the community needs to know exactly what the students are learning through it. A longer description of the plan can be posted on the blog, and each post should include a few photos from the day and the link to the blog post.


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Events Use social media to increase awareness about your garden activities. As well as constructing a post after the activity is over, be sure to post before they happen as well, so parents don’t miss anything.


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Sponsor SpotlightThis will be a tool used to incentivize sponsor donors. Once a month, highlight one of the garden’s sponsors with a blog post and Facebook post. Include a photo of their logo, a photo of them at the garden or their sponsored garden plot (if possible/applicable) and a short thank you for their support. Be sure to tag the business in the post and in the photos, and email them after it is posted to remind them to check it out. Making sure our sponsors feel valued and recognized will go a long way for future donations.


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#GetYourHandsDirtyIn order to take advantage of free exposure and involve attendees in events, the usage of a the hashtag #GetYourHandsDirty during the activities. One raffle prize will be allotted for only those who post a picture of themselves or their child at the activity with the accompanying hashtag.

#FarmerFridayDeveloping #FarmerFriday garden tips are designed to be both informative and entertaining. Every few weeks, post a short video of a local gardener (or even a garden club member) with tip for our audience members.


WHYPersonally contacting businesses to make them aware of the Southen Boone Learning Garden is effective because, first and foremost, SBLG is a non-profit organization with a very modest budget. By making personal calls to local businesses and soliciting donations (either monetary or gardening supplies), we are using an effective resource (the telephone) to ask for donations that would directly benefit SBLG. There will be a call sheet made up of all the businesses in the Ashland and Hartsburg areas so the caller can log the outcome of each call.

The objective of this tactic is to continue the process of raising awareness about the Southern Boone County Learning Garden and the benefits the children and community receive from it. It also is critical to bringing in the necessary funds to keep the garden running.

WHENThis is not technically a part of a “true” media plan. This type of cold calling can be done throughout the entire year at whatever time deemed necessary.

HOW SBLG will be partnering with the Alpha Phi Omega chapter at the University of Missouri starting in 2017. Students majoring in business or agriculture will have the opportunity to make calls on behalf of SBLG to businesses in Ashland and Hartsburg to make them aware of the new sponsorship model. If a business is interested, Jennifer Grabner, Executive Director of SBLG, will follow up the call with a personal visit to try and solidify the sale. The effectiveness of the personal selling tactic will be known by the end of the year (2017) based off how many donations they were able to solicit from local businesses in Ashland and Hartsburg.

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PERSONAL SELLING


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BUDGET

90

Collateral (5%)

Special Event (29.3%)

$50

$342

$293

$160

Premiums (15.5%)$155

Total (100%)$1000

$100 for 2,000 seed packets$55 for 24 troughs from Sears for the Bloom Tier

$342 for half-page ad in Boone County Journal

1.38 per sheet – $5 for 1 packet, 3 pages front and back x 10= $50

Miscellaneous Expenses (16%)


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MEDIA PLAN

Newspaper Advertising

Press Releases

Collateral

Social Media

Special Event Promotion

Personal Selling

High Intensity

M edium Intensity

Low Intensity

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC


EVALUATION

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The effectiveness of this campaign can be gauged by the overall increase of new sponsorship members sold. Each tactic works together to increase SBLG’s visibility in the community and disseminate information about both the sponsorship model and the organization itself. These individual components work towards the same goal, however their success should be evaluated in different measures.

PREMIUMSThe number of premiums given away reflects the number of sponsorships sold, so the success of the premiums should be measured by how many sponsorships were purchased that year. In addition, each year a survey should be sent out to sponsors asking for their opinions on the premiums. Sponsors should rate their favorability towards each premium and whether or not it was an incentive to become a sponsor.

COLLATERALEffectiveness of the flyer and sponsorship packets can be judged by the sponsorship application. A question asking, “How did you find out about becoming a sponsor?” can determine whether or not the flyer was able to reach a large group of people. Forty percent of respondents listening the flyer can be considered effective, while ten percent listing the sponsorship packet is effective.

TRADITIONAL MEDIASimilar to the collateral, traditional media’s effectiveness can be gauged by the number of respondents listing the advertisement as their first source for finding out how to become a sponsor. Ten percent of respondents listing traditional media should be considered successful.


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PRESS RELEASEThe effectiveness of this tactic will be evaluated by the amount of news outlets that are interested in the topics of the press release and write or broadcast a story based off of the press releases content.

SPECIAL EVENTThe primary purpose of the event is to generate donations and attract sponsors, so a large factor in evaluating the success will be determined by the money brought in by the event, and whether the event not only broke even, but made a profit. The event is also intended to raise awareness for the garden, which requires people to attend the event. This means another key factor in evaluating the success will be how many tickets are sold. An ideal number of tickets sold would be a minimum of 75 tickets.

SOCIAL MEDIAFacebook should be a place where members of the community can come together to discuss what’s going on and to feel as though they have a voice. Quality engagements such as comments and shares, rather than just likes, will determine whether the posts have been effective.

PERSONAL SELLING The script will be evaluated based on how many sponsorsips they are able to sell within the year. SBLG should also take into account the conversation rate of calls to sales.


MEET THE TEAMplanbook.indb 95 5/6/16 9:05 AM

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GRACE RASULOGrace is a hockey-obsessed musician from suburban Chicago who is far too obsessed with all things social media. If given the opportunity she would spend the rest of her life eating only Caesar salads and in her opinion, you can never be too excited about seeing a dog on the street. Every waking second of her last weeks of college will be spent with her closest friends. She then will be moving to Boulder, Colorado to pursue a career at an advertising agency, mostly because that means she’ll never have to wear business professional clothes.

Favorite Vegetable: Carrots! Even though I’m allergic, I still eat them...oh well.

MIKE PALMERMike is someone who enjoys being active and playing sports. He hails from Naperville, Illinois and majors in Journalism while minoring in hanging out on Big 12’s patio. When he’s not ranting about politics to his friends, he is usually an enjoyable person to be around. Unless he is ranting about Chicago sports, then you should probably just leave the room, it won’t end. Born as a premature baby weighing 2.3 ounces, he was resigned to wearing monkey diapers as a child. He is now a healthy young man with his only complaint being that he is not over six feet tall.

Favorite Vegetable: Carrots, but only if ranch is provided as a dipping sauce.


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YENKEI ‘ALEX’ CHIUBorn in Guangzhou, China, a fast-paced city with more than 14,000,000 people, Yankei is a confident, independent and determined woman who travelled over 8,000 miles to Missouri School of Journalism to fulfill her PR dream. She loves travelling, planning events, attending wedding and wearing heels. However, all she wants right now is to watch one more Kobe Bryant’s game.

Favorite Vegetable/fruit: Watermelon. I could eat as many as watermelons you want me to.

RYAN STEPHANBorn in New Jersey, raised in Minnesota and now attending school in Missouri, Ryan has traversed all over the United States. When he’s not spending money from his parking enforcer gig on used records from the 1960s, he enjoys watching the Minnesota Twins play terrible baseball or feeding birds. If you have to identify him from an imposter, he has a double-pronged uvula in the back of his mouth. He has no children, but breeds Endler’s Guppies in a ten gallon tank. If anybody is interested in buying one (or 20) you can reach him at 763-486-7182.

Favorite Vegetable: Eggplant. But only when it’s covered by parmesan and tomato sauce in my mom’s world-famous Egg Parm.


HALEY MCDILL Born and raised in Chicago, Haley is hard-pressed to find a city she doesn’t love. When she isn’t daydreaming of moving to London, you’ll most likely find her adding much more than she can afford into online shopping bags. Her guilty pleasures include re-watching “Friends” on Netflix, crying at sentimental commercials and gossiping on the phone with her grandma. Haley’s two life mottoes are to always let people know how much they mean to you, and that leopard print makes everything better. Following graduation, she is off to explore Seattle as a Fashion PR Intern at Nordstrom.

Favorite Vegetable: Asparagus! Squeeze a little lemon juice on top and you’ve got me hooked.

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MARSHALL MAXWELLMarshall was born and raised on the banks of the Colorado River in Austin, TX. Now, a Missouri boy, Marshall enjoys hiking the rolling hills and flinty bluffs of this great state. Marshall is happiest swimming in a creek, cycling on the MKT, or lounging in Peace Park with his girlfriend, Sarah, on a beautiful day. He is most likely found sketching in a coffee shop, finding comic books at the local library, or listening to records in his apartment.

Favorite Vegetable: Carrots


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JULIA REEDJulia is a coffee-addicted, dog-loving storyteller from Lisle, Illinois, who is often accused of talking too much with her hands. At age 20, Julia got bored and decided to join the waterski team at the University of Missouri because, why not? Her ideal day would consist of anything outdoors, and is obsessed with finding new hiking trails and climbing on things she’s not supposed to. Julia dreams to one day be like Eliza Thornberry and talk to animals, but if that doesn’t pan out she hopes to pursue a career in public relations.

Favorite Vegetable: Asparagus!!! I could eat asparagus all day, every day, in any form you throw at me.


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Graphics Used

Garden Trends icons - “https://www.flaticon.com”

Let’s Move logo - <a href=”http://www.letsmove.gov”><img border=”0” src=”http://www.letsmove.gov/sites/letsmove.gov/files/letsmoveweblogo.gif” width=”200” height=”145” alt=”Let’s Move”>

Cucumber photo - “freefoodphotos.com”

Lemon photo - “freefoodphotos.com”

Vegetable illustrations - Designed by Freepik (<a href=”http://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vec-tors/food”>Food vector designed by Freepik</a>)

Flower Illustrations - Designed by Freepik<a href=”http://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vec-tors/frame”>Frame vector designed by Freepik</a>

Banner vector - Designed by Freepik<a href=”http://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vec-tors/banner”>Banner vector designed by Freep-ik</a>

Seed packet photo - http://content.etilize.com/1300/1011508720.jpg

T-Shirt mockup - https://www.webresourcesfree.com/amizing-free-t-shirt-mockup-psd-templates/

Shovel photo - Author: Przemysław Sakrajda. File:TrowelPS.jpg. Created: 21 June 2005.

Garden post photo - TRUECONNECTIONReclaimed Wood Furniture, Decor, & Wedding Signs. https://www.etsy.com/se-en/shop/TRUEC-ONNECTION?ref=unav_listing-r


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Secondary Research Resources

Here is a list of the sources ADVOCATE used to learn about learning gardens.

http://www.academia.edu/11343590/The_Past_Pres ent_and_Future_of_Learning_Gardens_for_Scientific_Literacy

http://www.bridgingthegapresearch.org/_as-set/4q28pc/BTG_gardens_brief_FINAL_March2014.pdf

http://foodpsychology.cornell.edu/discoveries/growing-interest

http://health.mo.gov/data/mica/County_Lev-el_Study_12/headera.php?cnty=929&profile_type=5&chkBox=C

https://hort.cals.cornell.edu/sites/hort.cals.cornell.edu/files/shared/documents/Gar-den-Based-Learning-in-Basic-Education-A-Histori-cal-Review.pdf

http://www.letsmove.gov/learn-facts/epidem-ic-childhood-obesity

http://www.lifelab.org/wp-content/uploads/Nutri-tion_Brief.pdf

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19411056

https://hort.cals.cornell.edu/sites/hort.cals.cornell.edu/files/shared/documents/Gar-den-Based-Learning-in-Basic-Education-A-Histori-cal-Review.pdf

http://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/12045

https://www.washingtonpost.com/life-style/food/this-is-how-learning-gardens-grow/2012/09/18/94322aca-fcff-11e1-b153-218509a954e1_story.html


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Survey Questions

The following survey questions were distributed to parents with registered emails in the Southern Boone RI School District. This survey of 156 par-ents from the Southern Boone County RI School District provided quantitative data regadrding gar-dening interest and habits, current awareness of the curriculum taught by Southern Boone Learning Garden, parent and student use of the garden, in-terest in sponsorship and what incentives would increase that interest.

SBLG SurveyYou have been contacted today because you are a parent or guardian of a student in the Southern Boone County school district. We would appreci-ate if you answered some questions concerning your family’s gardening habits. This survey will take ten to fifteen minutes, and you will be entered into a cash sweepstakes upon completion (one $50 winner and two $25 dollar winners).

1. Are you a guardian of a child in the Southern Boone County School District? Yes _98%__ No _2%__

2. Do you work for the Southern Boone County School District? Yes _5%__ No _95%__

3. In what grade range is your child/children currently in? K-6 _71%__ 7-9 _26%__ 10-12 _20%__

4. Please enter your age on the slider below. __36.55 (mean)____ Age

5. Please select your ethnicity from the choices below. American Indian/Alaska Native _0.5%___ African-American or Black __0.5%_ Asian_0.5%__ Caucasian _96%__ Hawaiian/Pacific Islander ___ Hispanic/Latino _0.5%__ Other/Not Listed __2%__


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6. What is your gender? Male __23%_ Female _77%__ Transgender/Other ___

7. What is your annual household income? $0 - $25,000 _4%___ $25,000 - $50,000 __14%__ $50,000 - $75,000 _17%___ $75,000 - $100,000 _23%___ $100,000 - $125,000 __12%__ $125,000 - $150,000 __5%__ $150,000 - $200,000 _5%___ $200,000 or more _4%___ Prefer not to answer __17%__

8. Please consider your gardening habits to an-swer the next questions.

9. Can you estimate the amount of hours you garden per month (when conditions are ideal)? 0-3 hours _40%__ 3-6 hours _21%__ 6-9 hours ___15% 9-12 hours _12%__ 12 hours or more _11%__

10. Do you have access to a garden on/near your property? Yes _73%__ No _27%__

11. Please rank the importance of providing fresh and local produce for your family. Extremely important _44%__ Important _41%__ Neutral _13%__ Not important _2%__ Extremely not important _0%_

12. Are you aware of the curriculum Southern Boone Learning Garden provides through the primary school? Yes _85%__ No _15%__


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13. How familiar are you with the Southern Boone Learning Garden’s lesson plan? Extremely familiar _5%__ Very familiar _12%__ Moderately familiar 39%___ Slightly familiar _32%__ Not familiar at all _12%__ 14. Has your child talked about the garden at home? Yes _85%__ No _15%__

15. Can you estimate your child’s opinion of the garden? Extremely favorable _45%__ Favorable _34%__ Neutral _20%__ Unfavorable _1%__ Extremely unfavorable _1%__ 16. Have you visited the learning garden yourself? This can include former volunteer work, supervision duty, personal use, etc. Yes _55%__ No _45%__

17. Can you estimate how many times you’ve visited the garden? See open-ended responses below

18. Please rank your opinion of the statements regarding Southern Boone Learning Garden below.

19. What additional resources or supplies would you suggest the Southern Boone Learning Garden provide? See open-ended responses below


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20. Southern Boone Learning Garden will be con verting to a sponsorship-based financial model in 2017. These sponsorships will be packaged with certain benefits depending on the amount of the donation. How interested would you be in becoming a sponsor of the garden? Strongly Interested _8%__ Interested _41%__ Neutral _35%__ Disinterested _13%__ Strongly Disinterested _2%__

21. Sponsorships will come with certain perks de-pending on the financial contribution. Please rank these rewards on a scale of 1-11 (1 being most inter-ested and 11 being least interested).

___11___ Bumper stickers ___2___ Seed packets ___3___ Recipes ___5___ Apparel (clothing, hats, etc.) ___4___ Gardening supplies ___6___ Personalized plaques in the garden ___7___ Personal tree planted in your honor ___8___ Endorsement of a specific crop plot ___10___ Exclusive VIP event invitations ___1___ Garden produce boxes ___9___ Home gardening help/consultation

22. Please rank the donation amount you would be comfortable in contributing to a yearly spon-sorship of Southern Boone County Learning Gar-den (1 being most comfortable and 7 being the least comfortable). ___1___ $0 - $25 ___2___ $25 - $50 ___3___ $50 - $75 ___4___ $75 - $100 ___6___ $100 - $150 ___5___ $150 - $200 ___7___ $200 or more 23. Are you a current member of the Ashland YMCA? Yes _26%__ No _74%__ 24. How much physical activity do you feel your child receives? A great deal _23%__ A lot _40%__ A moderate amount _33%__ A little _4%__ None at all _0%__


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25. How much of a problem do you consider childhood obesity to be in:

26. Please indicate if you would become involved with Southern Boone County Learning Garden in the following ways:

27. Please rank your preferences of social media. ___1___ Facebook ___4___ Twitter ___3___ Instagram ___2___ Pinterest ___5___ Snapchat

28. Please rank your preference of traditional media ___1___ Newspaper/Magazine ___3___ Radio ___2___ Television

29. Please list three words that come to your mind when you think about Southern Boone County Learning Garden.

See open-ended questions below 30. Thank you very much for your time and participation. The information from this survey will be used by Southern Boone County Learning Garden to increase its appeal to the Ashland families it currently serves. By completing this survey you have been entered into a drawing for three prizes (One $50 cash reward and two $25 cash rewards) Please enter your name, address, phone number and email address in case you are selected.


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Open-Ended Responses to Survey Questions

The following answers are to Question 17 - “Can you estimate how many times you’ve visited the garden?”

333510208Every year when one of my 4 children have been children to come learn.46 timesToo many to count2100105430+9246

10Handful2Once outside of picking up my kids5To pick my child maybe 4 times43431021Mayb 6-8?2 - January10105231Once08210010


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Approximately 3-43Once 00154020010251030004150032012_040

None640202I helped at the preschool gardens 3 times last year420200None015Have only visited to pick up child from garden club meetings3000022 - Jan5 times12 times25 in the last 12 monthsA few times a month10


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2Couple No03010 110+

The following answers are to Question 19 - “What additional resources or supplies would you suggest the Southern Boone Learning Garden provide?”

Shovels

Boxes

Boxes

none

unsure

More space and more educators. The Learning Garden is a very important program for our chil-dren.

Unknown

should be strictly volunteer/not a requirement for our youth

produce auctions, allowing more input into where the food goes, opportunity for members to have their own plots

None

More money to buy the supplies needed.

Whatever the teachers are think is needed

I know they learn about seeds and how to plant them, care for them and eat them, if they are not learning about compost and how that helps the soil then they probably should.


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none at this time the kids do a great job now keep up the good work

not sure

Not sure

more produce for the schools

Bigger Space

More hand held tools

More space

Field trips to greenhouses in the area.

more weekend volunteer opportunities for kids

Greenhouse

Don’t know what they need. It would be nice to hear from the staff that works it what they think would be helpful.

Not sure what is needed

Don’t know

They are “adequately” stocked, but with garden-ing, one can rarely have enough hand tools and implements when working with a large group of people/students.

Instructions for kids to have their own garden or plant

Not sure. I’m not completely aware of what they already have.

can’t think of anything else

Seeds

I would support whatever the leadership believes that the garden needs. It is a EXCELLENT program we should be proud of and support as MUCH as POSSIBLE!!

Land

None

It would be cool to add in a greenhouse at the el-ementary level so they can see what occurs/can occur year round.

None

can’t think of anything

Not sure but willing to donate supplies

use in all grades

My understanding is they need more volunteers/staff. I’m sure they can always use more space, tools and funds for plants/seeds

I’m not sure

don’t know if anything right at the moment

recipes

love to see it bigger

I don’t know enough to give informed response here.

when my child participated they didn’t seem to be growing anything, they played games and cleaned out plots

food to the poor


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no opinion

Larger space

None

Monarchs

chickens or rabbits for composting manure and selling eggs

I think it would be terrific if the school district con-siders participating in the Missouri Department of Conservation’s Discover Nature Schools program-ming.

I don’t know

I think you all do an amazing job. We are so fortu-nate to have this garden, curriculum, the staff and volunteers. A+

green house

Should expand

Not that familiar with what supplies are available, so I’d rather not respond

Unsure since I have never been there

Full time person/people when grant ends.

Unsure

Literature sent home with the kids on events.

More time for kids

what about fresh food for the buddy pack program

recipe book

no suggestions

Staff to provide an after school enrichment pro-gram for all children who are interested

none

more plants

Not sure

hungry families help grow food to eat

Family Classes

not sure

Not sure

Bathroom facilities

lightweight garden gloves, proper fit

I would love to see them have more space and more plants.

After school/ or summer, or weekend mini -pro-grams for K,1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders

Community training, bring awareness to the entire community not just the families with children

More Parental involvement

Garden grown produce baskets

Nothing

Not sure

Unknown

unsure


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Info to parents

Don’t know

More fruit trees

I don’t know

More Space

I don’t know

not sure

None

unsure

none

Need more space especially at the middle school.

Tips to start your own small garden

None at this time

I don’t feel I’ve visited the garden enough to an-swer that question ... I feel it’s a very nice garden! I would like to talk to those who volunteer/staff the garden more often to find out what the garden needs.Gardening gloves for studentsmore hand tools to turn dirt so children have to work hard.Unknown

The following answers are to Question 29 :

“Please list three words that come to your mind when you think about Southern Boone County Learning Garden.”

Learning Produce EducationInteresting Educational Hands onFun Active DeliciousEducational Helpful InformativeInformative Interactive Importantenvironmentalists tree hugger activistResourceful Pleasure BountifulVegetables Seeds DirtEducational Fun HealthyHealthy Active AwarenessFun Learning HealthyNutritious Healthy Funknowledge caring LoveHealthy Environment Freshfruit vegetable cleancommunity healthy eating involvementhelpful meaningful involvementEnvironmental Teaching tool Hands onfood outside greenSmall Learning GrowNature Education Clean eatingFantastic Amazing GeniusGreat OpportunityHealthy eating Fun for kidsKnowledge Teach Healthyjoy important learningAwesome Amazing InterestingVegetables Flowers Work


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Veggies educational summerlearning fresh greatHealthy Sunshine FunInteractive Skills Sciencefun educational healthyeducation organic life-skillshealthy beneficent creativeVegetables Fresh EducationHealth Knowledge CommunityFun Educational InspiringLearning Growing ProvidingInnovative Caring Ground Breaking Educating Food ResourcesHealthy Informational GreatCommunity Enrichment WonderfulHealthy Fun Learningorganic earth teachingFresh food Learning how to garden Good activity for kidsfun innovative interestingKnowledge Nutrition Funhealth growth educationalnature information childhoodunique opportunity educationalexciting privelaged exceptionalHealthy Science Hands Onvegetables fruit learningeducational healthy responsiblefun learning activityGrowing Natural EnrichmentFun Healthy Hands-onGreen Educational Greatfun unique importantgreat fresh extension

Educational! Important! Awesome!Fun Educational BeneficialVegetable Fun SunshineWonderful Educational Fortunatehealthy resource environmental SPRING LEARNING FUNHealth Education Funyummy fresh greatlocal fun opportunitiesEducational Helpful InterestingEducational Important FunUnique Educational ValuableEducational Healthy ConvenientHaven’t heard much Sounds like fun Needs attentionvaluable experience unique importanthealthy fun educationalhealth learning vegetablesEducational Great Hands onProduce Educational BeneficialProductive Beneficial friendlyGreat Informational EducationalOrganic Pure Naturaleducational food outsideGreen Lifetime FreshFood Fun Sustainabilityno suggestions no suggestions no suggestionsFun healthy natureexciting educational beautifulawesome great educationalTime Money FunFresh Vegetables DirtyDNK DNK DNKgrowth practical learninspiring educational motivational


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Skills Lifelong HealthAwesome Yummy GoodnessHealthy Fresh Garden ClubEducational Fun Communityoutside hands-on get dirtyFun Creative AlterantiveHealthy Adventure EducationalDedication Community Skillsfresh produce experienceCreative Fun EducationalEducational Informative EssentialFun Butterflies HealthyEducational Local HealthyFun Educational AccessibleGood experiencePractical Important skillsPride Community OpportunityGardening Experience Learningenvironment exposure awesomeStrawberries Planting StudentsOutside Dirt Learningms grabner Kids OutdoorsAwesome Wholesome EducationalFuture Health WorkGreat learning toolExcited NeatGreen Educational FunDirt Vegetable FoodFun Dirty FreshProduce Learning whole foodfamily fun communitySchool Health EducateFuture Education Funhealthy educational outdoorsVegetables hands on skillFresh Learning Helpful

Fun Educational Communityfun nature explorationExceptional Extensive Excitingkale cute mudFresh Experience Enrichment


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In-depth Personal InterviewsTwenty minute in-depth personal interviews of current Southern BooneHigh School seniors were conducted by ADVOCATE. These two interviews helped gather qualitative insights into the history of Southern Boone Learning Garden and what the seniors took away from its lessons ten years later.

Rebecca Sjostrand - Member of Inaugural Garden Club (2007) Interview Transcript

Ryan Stephan (Interviewer): The purpose of this interview, we asked Jenny for some names of stu-dents who were a part of the garden during its first year way back in 2007, and your name came up. How were you involved, were you a student or a part of a certain club? Rebecca Sjostrand (Interviewee): I remember that they sent out applications to all the kids, and I think I was in maybe third grade and we all re-ceived applications in class. They picked a couple of kids to be a part of the after school club. Ryan: Were you one of the lucky few to be chosen? Rebecca: They might have chosen everyone, I don’t remember.

Ryan: Yeah that was a long time ago.

Rebecca - * laughs * Yes it was. Ryan : I don’t remember much about 2007… but was it during school time or after school? Rebecca : It was right after, I think for about an hour. Ryan: What was the name of that program? Rebecca: I think it was just the Ashland learning garden, something like that. Ryan: What exactly did they have you do as a part of this club, in terms of activities or lessons? Rebecca: I remember when they started out, this was back when it was right behind the elementary school, right behind the gym. We actually got to build our own beds with the group and planted our own vegetables. We learned how to plant them, and when we could plant them. They taught us about eating healthy, and we were able to try the foods that we got to grow. Ryan: So you said it was behind the elementary school, in a different location?


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Rebecca: It used to be right behind the elementary school, you go out the gym doors and it was right there. It was a really small area and there was one picnic table. Ryan: One picnic table? Rebecca: One picnic table. Ryan: So what they have now, it’s a lot bigger. Rebecca: Yeah we had one picnic table, and there was 4 little beds. No pathways. No mulch. Just all dirt. Ryan: Wow sounds like some barebone stuff. Rebecca: Yeah it’s totally different from what it is now. Ryan: That’s awesome, I didn’t know that. Con-tinuing on, you said that SBLG taught you how to eat healthy. Did those lessons change you eating habits at all? Did you eat more vegetables? Rebecca: Yeah I tried a lot more vegetables during that club. I wasn’t a big vegetable eater but they encouraged us to eat things we weren’t used to, and especially eat things that we grew ourselves. That made me a lot more excited to eat them and give vegetables a chance.

Ryan : So the process of growing your own vege-tables and eating what you took care of and culti-vated was rewarding? Rebecca : Definitely rewarding. Ryan: Alright so they taught you how to grow veg-etables and helped you start to eat them. Do you have any more distinct memories of being a part of the after school club when you were in third grade? Rebecca: I vaguely remember people in my group, but I remember that we had the chance to design our own beds in the shape of something. I think our group decided on a star and we got to help build it out of wood. It was fun to work as a group.

Ryan: Now looking back to when you were 8 and looking forward to now, did you retain any of the skills SBLG taught you and apply them to your daily life?


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Rebecca : Yeah I’m in FFA so we actually have our own little garden outside of where I go to school so SBLG provided me with some skills for FFA. I also volunteer at the learning garden now, and its cool to see how different it is and how the kids still enjoy it, definitely brings back memories from when I was that age. Ryan: So what’s different about the learning gar-den now, more space, more supplies? Rebecca: It’s so much bigger, the first time I ever went there I was like wow this is not even the same place its huge and its pretty cool. Ryan: So you said you’re in FFA I’m guessing you obviously still garden Rebecca: For sure

Ryan: Do you use the learning garden or do you use your own? Rebecca: We have our own and we plant a couple of vegetables and at the Ag building we plant strawberry beds.

Ryan: Gotcha, so could what they have going on in the current garden working in the high school curric-ulum? I’m guessing you guys have your own gardens, but is there a way to combine the two programs? Rebecca: Yeah I know that theres a greenhouse and they do a lot of maintaining the garden, pick the weeds and plant all the plants that we take out in late spring. I think that’s already incorporated at SBLG but I could see them expanding that. Ryan: You said you volunteer at SBLG, how does that volunteer program work? Do they personally invite a few high school students? Rebecca : FFA offers the opportunity to sign up and I went a couple a times a couple years ago. Basically you just sign up and go over right after school. You stay two hours and help with whatever tasks they need. I remember I helped a few kids plant some seeds or they have you help the kids haul mulch over the bed. Ryan: That sounds cool. What were the major differences you saw in what the kids were doing there and what you did in 2007?


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Rebecca: Now a lot more kids are involved but I think they teach a lot of the same things. Eating healthy and teaching them how to plant, teaching them about composting which is something a lot of us didn’t know about. Ryan: Do you know of any adults who use the gar-den in their free time? This can be parents or com-munity members without children? Rebecca: I know my mom and my grandmother garden at home but I don’t think they use the garden.

Ryan: Could you see anybody potentially using the garden if the space was broadcasted to the community? Rebecca: I could definitely see people coming in especially if they were able to help out, maybe if they got the chance to bring some vegetables home. I could definitely see that.

Ryan: Yeah, they’re thinking of doing a new plan where you pay a certain amount per year and then you get certain benefits. One of those would be garden produce boxes.

Rebecca: I think a lot of people would be interested.

Ryan: Okay, cool that’s what we would like to hear. *Laughter* Would you recommend this year-ly membership to people you know, especially those interested in gardening? Rebecca: Yes one time, I think it was the garden club or the learning garden, did a presentation and it was welcome to any gardener in Ashland that wanted to come in and learn about different pests or diseases and how they can prevent them. A lot of people came for that so I can see how they could expand on that. Ryan: So you think people would be interested in the education process of maintaining a garden? Rebecca: Oh yeah! Ryan: Alright shifting gears, slightly. How do you think the garden can become a vital part of the Ashland community? Do you see any potential events or venues it can participate in? or business-es it could partner with?


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Rebecca: I think definitely, the farmer’s market that we have in Ashland. I think that would be a good place to sell the produce and have the kids could get involved and help sell those to the com-munity members. I think it would be a great way to advertise the garden.

Ryan: How popular is the farmer’s market? Rebecca: It’s a pretty big deal, quite a lot of peo-ple go. It’s during the summer months on Tuesdays and Thursdays I think.

People come and there’s barbeque places and people that bring eggs or some kind of flowers, and of course vegetables and fruits on there. Ryan: That’s definitely something to look into. Al-right so how much would you value a membership at the learning garden or how much would you be willing to pay for unlimited access? Rebecca: I mean vegetables and fruits can be pretty expensive so if you got that benefit of that produce box, I think maybe $65 a year would be a reasonable amount.

Ryan: Yeah we were just interested in the first fig-ure that came to your head so that’s perfect.

Rebecca: Yeah when I think of other clubs and or-ganizations I think most charge 50-75 dollars per year.

Ryan: Alright I’m just going to name some bene-fits that would come with becoming a member and you can just list which one of these stand out. Seed packets, recipes, garden produce boxes, bumper stickers, shovels, learning supplies, t-shirts and apparel, which of those would be most appealing? Rebecca: I think the recipes sound great, maybe you guys could center a fundraiser around making a recipe book. A lot of people buy those and are interested. I definitely think the produce box would be a hit, and I think the t-shirts would work. People buy t-shirts because everybody love t-shirts. But the biggest would definitely be the produce box, people are always into getting fresh fruit and veg-etables throughout the year. Ryan: Are there any items I listed that you wouldn’t care for? Rebecca: Probably the bumper sticker laughter wouldn’t want to put any sticker on my car.


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Ryan: Yeah we found through our survey that bumper stickers are not the most popular laughter Ryan: Shifting gears again, do you see childhood obesity as a problem in the US currently? Rebecca: Definitely, studies have shown that it’s becoming more common and I think the learning garden would be a could way to promote healthy eating. The kids that would be involved, I know when I was there I learned all these ways to eat healthy so continued education will help

Ryan: Do you think Ashland is representative of the obesity problem happening in the US or is it better off than the rest of the country? Rebecca: I honestly think that we’re a pretty fit town, overall we don’t follow that trend as much. Probably a little healthier. Ryan: From what I’ve learned they put some amount of pounds per month into the school lunches, I’m not sure if they did that when you went through the primary school.

Rebecca: I know they adopted a whole new pro-gram for our lunch system, like they’re taking away some stuff because it’s not healthy. So that makes sense and I think providing fresh vegeta-bles is a great idea. Ryan: Did you support them taking away the un-healthy food? Rebecca: Well I miss the sweets, the cookies and stuff like that but I generally bring lunch from home so it doesn’t really affect me. Ryan: Alright, so how do you think the learning garden should be getting more community aware-ness? Do you think there’s already awareness within the community that it exists? Rebecca: Our community is supportive of different organizations and schools, like FFA and every-one’s been very supportive of any work. We’re such a small town that you can definitely get a lot of support for the learning garden. Ryan: Do you think parents know about the lesson plans?


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Rebecca: I think probably not, I’m sure not all par-ents even know about the learning garden. I know classes go out there during the day, because when I mentored my kids they were always so ex-cited to go out that day. I think the parents should become more aware of their excitement. Ryan : How did you like your volunteer experience at the garden? Rebecca: It was a lot of fun. It was fun to work with all the little kids and they all obviously enjoyed being outside, it was fun to help them.

Ryan: Alright, last question if you had to tell cur-rent students the main thing to take away from their experience at the learning garden, what would that be? Rebecca: I would say take away the opportunity to learn how to eat healthy and to do gardening because it’s a great way to be outdoors. A lot of people spend their time indoors and gardening is a great way to get outside, and be involved in the environment

Ryan: Awesome, I think that’s all we have unless you or anybody else has any questions?

Haley McDill: What is one thing you feel like you really learned and took away that followed you through the rest of your life from that experience? Rebecca: I would say the interest in gardening. After I did the club, I was inspired and started gar-dening at home. Now I enjoy helping my grandma, so I have the garden to thank for that. Ryan: Well thank you so much for your responses, and taking the time out of your day to meet with us!

Rebecca: No problem, thank you!

- End Transcript -


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Katrina Gately - Member of Inaugural Garden Club (2007) Interview Transcript

Katrina Gately (Interviewee) : My name is Katrina Gately, and I’m a senior at Southern Boone.

Julia Reed (Interviewer) : So, you were able to see the learning garden in its earliest form. How were you involved back then, was it an after-school program at the time or was it a part of the classes?

Katrina : That time it was an after-school pro-gram nd I heard about it, maybe through a flyer at school or through the newspaper or something. But my mom just told my sister and I that we were joining the learning garden club *laughs*.

Julia : What did you do back then?

Katrina : I remember learning about composting and starting to build the garden. Then I also remember learning like to build stepping stones. Like pouring cement and decorating with stuff to put in the garden.

Julia : How old were you when you were in the club?

Katrina : I think I was in the fourth grade, so probably 9.

Julia : Did you have a favorite class that you took?

Katrina : Back then we didn’t switch classes but I always liked math when I was younger.

Julia : Right. Ok, well what sort of things did they teach you in the garden. You mentioned compost-ing but were there any sort of life skills that they taught?

Katrina : I just thought of how they taught us about how food comes from simple gardening, rather than just buying it off the shelf. And they wanted us to grow something and have a meal out of it once we harvested it.

Julia : Did it change the way you looked at food at all?

Katrina : I don’t know, I was really young so *laughs* I don’t know if it changed the way I look at food.

Julia : Do you think that your eating habits have altered or been different compared to people who didn’t join the club?

Katrina : Maybe I know I never really liked vegetables as a kid, but then we grew them in the garden and I ate them there so that changed. Julia : Do you still use the garden or volunteer?


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Katrina : I don’t but I think that would be a cool group to have in the high school. They have a lot of mentoring opportunities but I don’t know if anybody gets to help out in the learning garden.

Julia : So you said you wish their were more opportunities to help out. Do you have any distinct memories from back then?

Katrina : After looking at some of the pictures they showed us and trying to find out who was in it I remember being in the gym at the Primary and learning about how to plant, then going outside to plant, and then going back inside to the kitchen and preparing the food.

Julia : What kind of food did you grow during your time?

Katrina : I think we did carrots and potatoes. Prob-ably more *laughs*

Julia : Do you still garden in your free time at all?

Katrina : My dad has a lot of gardens but he likes his things the way they are *laughs* so I really don’t help him out too much.

Julia : Do you think gardening an important aspect

of Ashland or do you think that people don’t do it enough?

Katrina : I think it is. I know a lot of people in town are really prideful about their gardening. You always see people with their garden of the month.

Julia : So childhood obesity is obviously a growing thing, do you see any problems in Ashland compared to other places in the U.S. or is it better than other places?

Katrina : I think it could be better in a way, because this community takes sports so seriously so a lot of us are really active with school sports or Optimist sports but I do see a lot of younger kids that do struggle with obesity

Marshall Maxwell : Do you think that the town is more involved in its community?

Katrina : I do. We have, I mean I’m on the student council and we try to find ways to get involved with the community. We try to get the student body involved with the community I think that it’s a big thing around here. We have that small-town dynamic.


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Marshall : What other residents get involved with the community?

Katrina : The biggest events we have are the Hartsburg Pumpkin Festival which is about fifteen minutes away. Everybody goes to that and we have a parade for basically every event. Also the Cattlemen Days Rodeo, we have that every year. We have a parade and then the homecoming football games have a parade. All the little kids get to lineup and look at us as we march through the parade. The whole town also gets involved with the girls basketball team. They went to the final four this weekend and when they went to the final four game on Saturday, the town lined the streets on Broadway when their bus left. Just things like that.

Julia : How do you think the learning garden fits into this small-town community mindset?

Katrina : I think its a good thing to teach kids how important gardening is and agricultural aspects. A lot of people that live here, live outside the city limits and are involved in a lot of farming so I think that it’s good to teach kids that not all food comes from the store.

Julia : They’re currently changing some things around. What improvements do you think the garden could use?

Katrina : I really don’t know, maybe advertising it more on the high school level or just showing us opportunities to volunteer or help out over there.

Julia : What sort of things would you be interested in doing through volunteering?

Katrina : I love working with kids, so helping out the adults with more supervision or maybe just a little bit more help with their gardening. You said they go there during class now?

Julia : Mmhm.

Katrina : So maybe one of the mentoring options could be to lead a learning garden class.

Marshall : Is there a student teaching club around the high school?


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Katrina : We do teacher aides. You can aide for a teacher at any school or you can do A+ mentoring to get your A+ money. That you can do with any teacher. Actually they did, it’s called Eagle Leadership Class, and high schoolers go over and have a “buddy” at the primary elementary school. So maybe we could incorporate the learning garden into that.

Julia : If you could tell any current students the main thing you learned from the learning garden, what would that be?

Katrina : I think how to be active in the community. I’m very involved as a high schooler now, but I think the garden is a good way for young kids to get involved. When you’re younger there’s just not that many opportunities, so I thought the garden was a good way for me to learn what this community is about.

Julia : Marshall, do you have any more questions?

Marshall : I suppose the last question I have is what were your best memories or thoughts about the learning garden?

Katrina : I think it’s a great thing for our town and to be involved in it. A lot of people are involved in FFA but there’s not a lot of other agricultural clubs available to the younger ages.

Julia : You said earlier that you grew a lot ofvegetables and you ate the ones that you grew. They were telling us earlier that the kids just pluck them off the ground. Did you experience that at all? Katrina : Not that I remember *laughs* my memory is really bad.

Julia : One last question, the skills that you ac-quired do you still use them now. Such as vegeta-ble growing or just appreciating how much time it takes to grow food.

Katrina : I think I do, just when you go to the gro-cery store and you end up buying fresh vegeta-bles rather than the ones out of the can, I don’t know it’s a different feel.

- End Transcript -


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Personal Interview with Bill Polanski of Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture

ADVOCATE and Billy Polanski, Executive Director of Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture (CCUA) met for an hour-long interview covering the finan-cial structure of his organization. The inside look was beneficial to see how a similar community

garden in the same geographcial region as SBLG structures their membership tiers, and how it incentivizes businesses and inviduals to join them. Polanski also gave advice maintaining memberships into the future as a relationship between the organization and the donor.


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Ryan Stephan (Interviewer) : We are doing a campaign for the Southern Boone County Learning Garden in Ashland and they are think-ing of switching to a model similar to what you guys have, from what I’ve read on your website. That’s basically multi-tiered donor levels and I was just reading, it appears you guys launched the Planting for the Pantry campaign in 2013.

Billy Polanski (Interviewee) : Mmhmm. Ryan : From what I’ve gathered, people can donate a certain amount of money for a certain amount of rows of crops, and I was wondering what events led to the creation of this campaign?

Billy : A big component of it as far as selling it to the donors, is that there is a tangible-ness to it versus like “Give us $100.” Are you familiar with Heifer International? Ryan : No I am not.

Billy : They’re a non-profit and do agriculture projects around the world. It started with heif-ers and giving pregnant female cows to com-munities and I won’t get into that *laughter* but one of their big fundraising things is they have a gift catalogue of all the animals they give out. You can buy ducks or you can buy a heifer, or you can buy a goat, or bees, or chickens or whatev-er. And they’re all different prices. It’s a really cute price catalogue and as far as the donor ex-perience goes, you have this tangible thing that you bought. I mean you didn’t really buy those chickens, it’s going towards all kinds of things, but the chicken sort of represents what you’re giving and that’s kind of what Paying for the Pantry does. Instead of asking people for $1,000, one row is $1,200 and you probably saw that on our website. Ryan : Yeah, I did. Billy : But it’s really easy to say, “Hey will you sponsor a row, versus “Hey will you give us $1,200.” Because the donor wants to know how their funds are being used and they’re giving be-cause they have a connection to the work the organization does. So by asking them to sponsor a row, you aren’t really talking about money at that point you’re talking about the mission and what we’re doing. It changes the framing, it changes the conversation you’re having.


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Ryan : So it’s a nice physical representation of what they’re giving. Billy : Mmhmm. Ryan : That makes sense. So how did you spread awareness for this new campaign in 2013, did you have an advertising firm, go through the university, do it yourself, word of mouth? Billy : Mostly word of mouth. What we did with this is we’d talk to different social groups, people who are supporters what we did is made a little campaign packet that they could take to their workplace or their church or something. It wouldn’t have to be just one person sponsoring a row; we had lots of businesses or social clubs or church-es that sponsor. So if the group decides hey we want to sponsor a row, or a half row, or a quarter row: then everybody can pitch until the fundraising goal is reached. It really sort of empowers people who are supporters to leverage their friends’ sup-port too. So we sort of went through those groups as a way to fundraise as well.

Ryan : Would you say a majority of the rows are sponsored by businesses or more individuals, a mixture?

Billy : It is a mixture, I’d say at least half are businesses and groups like churches or the rotary. Ryan : Are there incentives other than owning the row, like I saw with individual members if you donate, you receive a bumper sticker or something. Do they receive the same incentives. Billy : Not really. When they donate we mail them a certificate that says you sponsored this much of a row and a thank you card. Twice a year, we have some donor appreciation events. In the summer anybody who gave us a dollar can come to a meal at the urban farm. Every donor is invited to that event. You can sponsor one square foot for $5 and you get to come. IT’s a way to get all the donors together, and these are our supporters and people that really believe in CCUA and we gather them all together. We eat and its cultivation for us as well. We get to spend more time with the people that support us and find out why they support us. We key them into some of the stuff we’re doing so they can become more invested. Then in the winter we have a donor appreciation event for everybody who gave more than $100. It’s a little more upscale, not really ritzy. We hold it at the Columbia Art League downtown, so it’s really nice and instead of like a big buffet style outside in the garden. There’s little fancy sandwiches.


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Ryan : So it’s like a gala? Billy : Yeah but it’s not a like a sit down dinner, more like heavy hor doerves But, yeah, we do those two things for any of our donors.

Ryan : For those events, do you partner with orga-nizations that has food that comes from the gar-den itself?

Billy : Um, in the summer, yeah, a lot of food does. The winter time event, obviously it’s kind of hard. (Ryan: cause there is not much going on) But um, we partner, um, all the food was donated, the Columbia Artly donated the space for us to use, and we got free beers and wine from Bruce Winery and stuff.

Ryan : In the winter, speaking of winter and summer, is it harder to track donors? Or is it like a consistent process you are on that where people are just donating sporadically?

Billy : In the winter, you are talking about the Planting for the Pantry specifically?

Ryan : Um, just in generally Planting for the Pantry, individuals, businesses…

Billy : We started this year, we are really trying to do a campaign. But Planning for the Pantry before is just sort of a year-round, like you can get. But we are really going to push it hard this spring, they we’d like, you know, by summer, to have all the sponsors, so, that we can focus on different campaigns. We will have a membership campaign. Later in this summer, we’ll have a member event. And then, Planting for the Panty in the spring, people are thinking of planting. At the end of the year we do a year fundraiser appeal, so we do CoMoGives with the Community Foundation, was like an online campaign. I think Southern Boone can do that. And we do direct mail., I guess in the spring, we are really pushing for the pantries and in the summer, push the membership, and in the winter, I will push, really just like general donations, to help us if we ran out of budget at the end of the year. And give people those years in tax breaks and stuff.

Ryan : Other than tax breaks, how do you incentivize people or individuals? It looks like you guys have lots of swags. Is it the pantry more like an intransit motivators than the event? What you found that creates the most donations?


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Billy : Really, it’s people who care about what we are doing, that what we are doing is meaningful to them, and that, um, we are continuing to engage them. Oh, one second, I got a book. (Billy paused to look for the book) Ok, it’s not here.

Ryan : No problem!

Billy : It’s called Donor Centric Fundraising. It’s a great book. I read it in like four hours or something.

Ryan : That’s seems like a good book to digest.

Billy : It’s really about like people want to give, and people who care about what you are doing, will give you, you just need to keep them informed of what you are doing. So a lot of people only get in touch with their donors when they are asking them for money. “Hey, it’s us here again, please give us money! Please come to this event! We are gonna ask you for money.” They are not getting updates like, “Hey, we did this great thing, and your donation is helping this. Have a nice day!” You know, and getting thank you cards and all that kind of stuff. They say fundraising is friend-making, so, it’s really maintaining relationships with these people, the public. The people who consistently give and consistently give large amount, are the people who we keep a dialogue with. We see these people at the Farmer’s Market, we talk to

them, or at the event, we take time to talk to them, and ask them about their families and ask them about their own gardens, it’s really just about the relationships.

Ryan : So rather than just cold calling and an email asking for a donations and it’s more like an update progress showing them what we have done?

Billy : Right, and it’s both, right? And I imagine you guys are doing a campaign, you are trying to get new donors for them, right?

Ryan : Yes, they are going off their grant of this very foundation and trying to get parents of stu-dents on a donor-base level.

Billy : Right, it’s really like you have to do both. You have to bring in new people, but it’s foolish to spend all of your time getting these new people, and then just like neglecting the people you have now, right? It’s like buying a new car but not changing the oil. You know, like “Oh this car blows, so I am gonna spend all my time and money on buying a new car” but all you have to do is changing the oil, and you car will give you, you know. So, not to say that our are dispensable engines, but you know I am saying like you have to like maintain, like friends too. You spend all your time getting new friends, but you like, don’t spend time, you


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know, like you don’t never go to a movies or like to the bars with the people you knew. You are gonna lose them. So it’s both. So, I would say as you are trying to get these new people, like, you know, and this book Donor Centric Fundraising is great cuz it talks about, it’s really data-heavy, it talks about the recidivism rights and they are still hot. So you can get 100 new people, and next year when you send that mails again, maybe you can only get 15 of them. And why? They gave to you in the first place.

Ryan : So it’s all based about the relationship?

Billy : Right, if you are not maintain the relationships, it takes a lot of time, but it takes less time to keep a donor, and to have them give every year, maybe give more every year, and to get somebody in just, keep getting more people in the door. Now where Southern Boone is at, they don’t have a lot of people in their dome so they really need to...

Ryan : Yes, and there is not a lot of room in the dome, like 4,000 residents there, and it’s really a very small area.

Billy - Right, so, and you know, with that, those per-sonal relationships are even more important be-cause it’s a small town, and small towns are kind of built on these relationships.

Ryan - I think their whole thing is that they want to be a gathering hole for the community. We are go-ing to stress that, so your opinion would be a good direction to take. Switching bases to businesses, it seems like you have good relationships with a lot of local businesses. Are there separate member-ship models for them? Is it also tier-based? What made you decide on the financial figures for those tiers, and for the individuals, such as farmers, harvesters, etc?

Billy : We looked at what a lot of other people are doing online, kind of saw where other people are at. We also kind of saw where our current donations were, so we saw like, okay, a lot of people are here, and there’s a couple here and a couple here, and we’d really like to push more people here. So we kind of felt that by making those tiers, it would maybe, like, help push people to the next level. You know? Like if a lot of people were giving 25 dollars and we gave a 35 dollar level, which is still squarely not going to blow them out of the water right?


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Ryan : Yeah, push it a little upward. That makes sense. Continuing on the businesses, it seems like you promise them a logo on the website, event stuff, do they ever ask, do they barter with you, to they bargain with you, ask for more than what you offer?

Billy : Mhmmm Ryan : Does that like include partnerships for events?

Billy - Mhmmm. Um yeah, a lot of times, and a lot of times we just say no. Because, sometimes, you know it depends. A lot of times they’ll want to come to our events and like handout t-shirts or something and it’s like uhhhh no… We’re trying to push our message at this event and if you’re just handing out t-shirts for the bank… And a lot of times, they get it. Sometimes, we did a thing with Ace a few years, and in the spring, like the height of tomato plant season, we went out there a couple times and kind of just set up a table next to their garden section and just gave out some advice and we could also give out our cards and people could learn. So it was kind of like a mutually beneficial thing. We eventually stopped doing it because it wasn’t as mutually beneficial.

Ryan : Gotcha.

Billy : It was a little weird.

Ryan : Were they trying to tell you to push products, like shovels or?

Billy : No, no they weren’t. They were super cool about that but for us, it was like, having the table set up there was weird because people didn’t really want to talk to us because they thought we were trying to sell them something. But we were really just trying to give them advice.

Ryan : Spread awareness.

Billy : Right, and we don’t work there either. And so, where are the shovels? And we were like uhhh inside?

Ryan : So, um, considering the individual planters for the pantry and business memberships, which one of those three contributes most to your overall revenue?

Billy : That’s a good question. Um, I can go look. Do you wanna do that before you leave?

Ryan : Yeah that would be perfect. It doesn’t have to be exact dollar amounts, but yeah that would be great. Do any businesses approach you or do you primarily approach businesses?


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Billy : Um, usually we’re approaching them. Sometimes, yeah sometimes they’ll come to us. A lot of times they’ll come to us when they want to like give us free product. Um, which sometimes is great and sometimes is not. It really, you know the cash would be great because you can’t pay the electric bill with a free bag of fertilizer.

Ryan : Yeah.

Billy : Yeah usually we approach them and usually it’s not, it’s not always cold. We always try to find, like a way in or somebody. It’s like, don’t you know a guy whose brother works there? Let’s talk to him first. See who the right person to talk to is. Maybe he can introduce us. Oh we always try to get an introduction instead of just like, I remember, like doing fundraisers in high school and college and you have like the letter and you’re like “Can I speak to your manager, please?” And you know I’ve totally been there but that doesn’t work very well.

Ryan : You have to know somebody who gets you in.

Billy : Yeah and you kind of find out about them and know, okay, this person really cares about, maybe they have kids in the school, and that’s like how you want to sell it to them. Or maybe, they grew up on a farm and so they know the value of agriculture is really important or maybe you know

they worked at the food pantry before so they’ve seen poverty and hunger and malnutrition. So, you know of have to know, like I said, it’s friend-making. You don’t just go up to somebody on the street and be like, ‘Hey do you want to be my friend?” Like, you’re friends with people who you know through other people because you know you have common interest.

Ryan : So it’s like a common value thing? Rather than just a name to call?

Billy : Right and sometimes you know those cold introductions work but a lot of times if you know what’s motivating somebody. Because in the work we’re doing there’s a lot of things. There’s health, there’s environmental education, there’s economic opportunity for young beginning farmers, there’s all the educational benefits for the kids in the school, science, math, reading. So everybody is going to see it differently, somebody who’s a teacher is going to see it one way, somebody who is a business owner or works for the health department, all of these different things are gonna see the value in the work that’s being done differently.


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Ryan : That makes sense. Do you know, this might be something to look over there, but the most common individual membership donation?

Billy : We could look that up.

Ryan : Sounds good. And then um, what’s your biggest piece of advice to a community garden that is trying to switch from just relying on a grant to a donorship based model?

Billy : I wouldn’t give up on grants. Diversifying your income is a good idea. I can tell you that right now, I think between 50 and 60 percent of our income is grants. And we’re trying to get that percentage down because with those individuals, we would be more stable. You lose one $50,000 grant, and you’ve lost $50,000. You lose one $50 donor and you’re still functioning. You have to put more time and effort on it, but I wouldn’t have them totally give up on the grant writing and with those individual donors, just focus on the relationships. And have Jenny read that book.

Ryan : Oh yeah, that book sounds great to me.

Billy : Yeah, it’s, I read it and I like couldn’t put it down. It’s this woman and she’s like been a fund-raiser her whole life and she tells all these horror stories and she tells all of these success stories

of like yeah there’s this person and they consis-tently gave $100 every year and then when they died they left us their estate which was worth $4 million. And stuff like that happens and you don’t know. You don’t know that this person is a million-aire or maybe they know the people who work at the hardware store, you know the bigger your net-work of friends is the better.

Ryan : Well, I think that’s the majority of my ques-tions. Other than the nitty-gritty boring financial stuff. But I mean, thanks for all of your advice. I’m definitely going to find that book.

Billy : Oh yeah it’s great.

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The following information regarding memberships for the Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture was provided by Billy Polanski.

Membership Revenue of CCUA

Approximately $8,000 received from Membership Tiers $1,000 - 3 $500 - 2 $100 - 18 $75 - 1 $50 - 23 $10 - 26

$28,000 received from business donors. $24,000 from Harvest Hootenany and Logo Displays


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EVENT TIMELINE MEDIA CONTACT INFORMATION

KRCGNEWS TIPLINE: (573) 896-4534Email: [email protected]

KFRU - David lileTalk Shows: (573) 442-8255

Columbia Daily TribuneNEWSROOM: (573) 815-1700Fax: (866) 628-5873

The Boone County Journal:Bruce WallacePhone: (573) 657-2334Fax: (573) 657-2002Email: [email protected]

Columbia Missourian: columbiamissourian.com221 South 8th StreetColumbia, MO 65201 New phone: (573) 882-5720Email: [email protected]

KOMU Angie BaileyEmail: [email protected](573)-884-6397

ABC17 - Joey ParkerNewsroom Phone: (573) 449-1700Email: [email protected]

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Southern Boone Learning Garden Plan Book

Documents

Transcript of Southern Boone Learning Garden Plan Book