Project Purpose:

The intended purpose of the project is to give 5 Burmese families a great start in their community garden, supplying funds for start up expenses and providing access to local gardening resources and instruction. If implemented appropriately, this project should enable these families to garden for years to come with minimal recurrent expenses by imparting knowledge of self-sustaining gardening practices such as seed-saving, composting, and a rich local network of gardening contacts. In return, each of these families will mentor another family in their community for one year passing on their education and knowledge to create a self-sustaining gardening community. Additionally, data will be gathered at every step of the process to attempt to quantify and analyze the effectiveness of enabling an immigrant community to enhance their food security through community gardening in our area. This data will hopefully become the basis of future efforts by the Burmese ECBOJ to gain access to more community gardening opportunities for their members.

Project Plan:
Below is a first draft of the project plan. Questions are highlighted in Yellow. When considering whether to create a document to be translated versus conducting a workshop, how important are budget constraints for translation versus the usefulness of the document long term. Can the document be reused from season to season? Plot to plot? Family to family? Community garden to community garden? This outline will become the basis for the project plan. Each numbered item is either 1) a heading 2) a task which will may be a. delegated to an individual or group, b. given a start date c. given a deadline, d. given a status, e. identified as a dependency for another task 3) definition/details 4) questions which need clarification 5) milestones (important dates, accomplishments, cusp events) Please mark this up at will. If all Task line items are implemented on time and within budget, the project should be able to be considered a success.

This is a first draft and absolutely incomplete and incorrect. Please strive to identify tasks as minutely as possible so that if you are unable to participate in the project, another project member would be able to implement your plan with a reasonable chance of success. 1. Identify 5 Plot Holder Families at the Garden at Jackson Square a. Statistical data collection i. Method TBD b. A family is defined as 1) one or both parents and their minor children 2) a couple. A family is not defined as a household since this community may have multigenerational or multi-family households. Plots available at the Garden at Jackson Square are approximately 225 square feet in area. Research indicates that this area will not be sufficient for large households but may be sufficient initially for small families defined by 1 or 2 adults and possibly small children. c. Plots should be well defined and clearly marked with a plot designation. d. Families should be identified with a i. garden plot designation ii. primary contact name iii. address iv. telephone number v. primary written language 1. Burmese 2. Shan 3. Karen vi. family demographic 1. mother, father, number of children and ages and genders of all 2. level of gardening or farming background indicated vii. optional email address if email address is indicated, it will be used as the primary contact for printed materials. If no email address is available, the address listed above will be used at the primary contact for printed materials. viii. photo of family group or primary contact this will be helpful in communications and meetings. Face/name recognition is difficult as English speakers often mispronounce Burmese names. ix. Mentored Family 2. Identify 5 Mentored Families a. see above general requirements in bold (1.b. & 1.d.ii-viii) for Plot Holding Families re: family definition and family identification b. garden plot designation is not required for Mentored Families c. Plot Holding Family which is mentoring them 3. How to use the Master Gardener Demonstration Plot at G@JS a. What is your game plan? How do envision this Plot working for the community?

b. Do we need to have a Plot Holding Families training session to explain how to use the Master Gardener Plot? Will this happen on 2/18 meeting at G@JS? 4. The Classroom Season a. Breaking ground i. Soil testing ii. Recommendation from Garden Mentors re: how to prepare the garden plot for planting 1. Will Master Gardeners develop list of materials needed for standard plot size of ____ by ____ feet. a. Top soil b. Composted manure c. Mulch d. Other amendments 2. Master Garden Demonstration plot has had limestone excavated to a depth of ____ inches. 3. Master Gardeners have created Document #1 in English describing <<what??>> a. Document #1 has been translated into Burmese (?), Shan (?), Karen (?) b. X Photocopies of translated Document #1 will be placed in weather resistant Info-Tube for gardeners at the Master Gardener Demonstration Plot iii. Plot Holder Planning how will each Plot Holder prepare the soil for planting? 1. List of materials needed for each plot will be generated 2. List will be aggregated and compared to the current DSGT Budget breakdown for the grant 3. Gaps will be identified in budget. DSGT Budget does not include top soil funding. a. Sources for filling budget gaps will be identified. Possibilities include 1) in kind donations 2) funding from community partners b. Who will be the recipient of these sources? An individual? An organization? A non-profit organization? Can BEBCO function as a non-profit recipient of donations or additional grants? If not, are there community partners who can function as the recipient of such donations or funds? 4. Identify work dates for collective efforts via the Plot Holding Families, Mentored Families and volunteers. b. Irrigation i. Recommendation from Garden Mentors re: how to utilize automatic irrigation and micro emitters.

1. Explain the rationalization for the irrigation method utilized. Please submit a written statement to Carol explaining why Florida Friendly irrigation practices must be used for continued involvement of Master Gardeners. 2. Will Master Gardeners develop list of materials needed for standard plot size of ____ by ____ feet? 3. Will the Master Gardeners develop a document to be translated for the Plot Holding Families? Conduct a workshop? ii. Plot Holder Planning how will each Plot Holder irrigate their plot? 1. List of materials needed for each plot will be generated 2. List will be aggregated and community sources will be located. DSGT Budget does not include irrigation funding. i. Personnel needed: Irrigation expert 3. Identify work dates for collective installation efforts via the Plot Holding Families, Mentored Families and volunteers. c. Planting i. Recommendation from Garden Mentors re: what plant materials are suitable for this season/month 1. Will the Master Gardeners develop a document to be translated for the Plot Holding Families? Conduct a workshop? 2. Will target planting date ranges be identified for the recommended materials? See 6.c.iv. ii. Statistical data collection 1. Method TBD iii. Plot Holder Planning 1. What will each Plot Holder plant? Options include plants from the Garden Mentors recommendation list and plants that they are used to growing in Burma/Myanmar. a. Do Plot Holders have a wish list of edible plants that may not appear on the Garden Mentor recommendations? DSGT Budget includes funds for consulting research to find appropriate sources for seeds/plants that Plot Holding Families are used to growing and can grow in Florida b. Aggregate wish lists and translate if necessary. The following will be helpful to find these materials for Plot Holders if not recognized by the Garden Mentors: i. Plant names written in Shen, Karen or Burmese ii. Photos of plant materials & fruits iii. Latin names if known iv. As many common names in as many languages as known v. Processed food products which include/imitate these plants or fruits

vi. Research wish lists will these materials grow in our climate, zone, garden? Are these plants materials discouraged due to invasive species or other considerations c. List will be aggregated and compared to the current DSGT Budget breakdown for the grant d. Gaps will be identified in budget. e. Sources for filling budget gaps will be identified. Possibilities include 1) in kind donations 2) funding from community partners f. Intended planting dates will need to be identified so that materials lists can be purchased. Purchased transplants are time sensitive and must be purchased as close as possible to planting dates. iv. Plot Holder Planting 1. Starting from seed a. Recommendation from Garden Mentors re: starting materials from seed i. Will the Master Gardeners develop a document to be translated for the Plot Holding Families? Conduct a workshop? 2. Using transplants a. Recommendation from Garden Mentors re: using transplants i. Will the Master Gardeners develop a document to be translated for the Plot Holding Families? Conduct a workshop? d. Garden Maintenance i. Recommendation from Garden Mentors re: what activities need to occur in the garden 1. Will the Master Gardeners develop a document to be translated for the Plot Holding Families? Conduct a workshop? a. Inspection of plants for condition, disease, pests b. Fertilizing c. Weeding d. Irrigation needs/changes e. Harvest i. Recommendation from Garden Mentors re: materials ready for harvest 1. Will the Master Gardeners develop a document to be translated for the Plot Holding Families? Conduct a workshop? f. End of Season Concerns i. Recommendation from Garden Mentors re: how/when/why to replenish the garden plot, planning for the next growing season, crop rotation, etc. 1. Will the Master Gardeners develop a document to be translated for the Plot Holding Families? Conduct a workshop?