Amanda Webb’s Community Garden Project

Amanda's garden project was very successful and through the development made possible by NRCS funding, long-term opportunities for other agriculture students in Willcox have become available. Amanda won many college scholarships due to the success of her project and it was chosen as a Coronado RC&D "Success Story" that was spotlighted at the National RC&D Conference in July. Amanda left in June to begin her duties as the 2006-2007 Arizona State FFA President and began college at the University of Arizona to major in Agriculture Education.

History of Amanda Webb's Community Garden Project

Amanda Webb, Project Manager

Part of the educational opportunities that FFA provides comes with a Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE).  This allows students to work in an agricultural area and gain experience in all aspects of the agricultural business.  I decided to make my SAE into one that would be able to provide a long-term opportunity for other non-rural students.

With seed money provided by a grant from NRCS/Coronado RC&D, I developed a community garden at the Willcox High School Agri-Science Center.  The Community Garden is a series of raised beds geared toward vegetable and fruit production.  I started with an idea and through hard work and research I developed a project plan that I presented to my instructor, Mr. Daniel Foster, and the Willcox School District Board.  Part of my plan included surveying the area, drawing the plan, developing a materials list and talking to appropriate businesses in town to gather price information.

In the process, I learned how to develop a budget and how to recruit volunteers.  I also learned about grant writing and submitted a grant application for a $600.00 “Good Neighborhood” grant from the City of Willcox to purchase marketing materials and to the Cochise Community Foundation (CCF) for $1,000 to purchase tools to use to in the garden.  I was awarded the “Good Neighborhood” grant and the CCF grant at a value of $600.00 each!  Throughout the season I ran across pest problems and diseases that I had to identify, research, and then prepare and implement pest and disease control plans.  I also learned how to construct and manage an irrigation system. I learned to keep complete financial records on not only three separate grants, but also on invoicing my customers.  In May, I discovered that I was going to need help, so I went through the process of writing a job description, developed a work schedule and held interviews of other FFA students.  I hired Luke Helton who worked 16 hours a week and Andrew Wolf who worked on an “as needed” basis.

The first order of my marketing plan was to create a name and logo for my business.  I decided on “Community Garden Produce”.  I then designed my own business stationery such as letterhead, business cards, order forms and invoices.

 In order to obtain a customer base, I sent out a packet of information to approximately 20 people that contained a personal letter on my Community Garden Produce letterhead explaining my project, my company business card, pictures of the process of my garden, and a “subscription card” (order form) like the ones you find stuck in the middle of magazines.  I used the “subscription card” idea because it was different.   These cards contained an area for customer contact information as well as my address and phone number so that they could send them back to me.  The card showed all 13 varieties of fruits and vegetables I was growing and the price per pound.  Each customer selected what produce they wanted and the quantity.  Out of the 20 packets I mailed out, I received 15 back.  I ended up with 25 customers.  The other 10 came from seeing others with their attractive canvas bags filled with colorful produce and they wanted to know where they could have some!  I divided my 25 customers into 3 groups.  Orders were filled on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays each week with the produce that was available.  I personally delivered their produce to their doorstep.  At the end of each month I sent out invoices to all of my customers.

I wanted a unique way of packaging my produce.  I decided to use canvas bags that look like your basic paper sack you get at the grocery store.  These bags were unique in the sense that they were reusable, washable, colorful and eye catching!  I printed 75 of these bags using my company name and logo. The customer would receive their order of produce in one bag and would give me back the bag they used the week before. It worked out great and saved many a tree!  Customers seemed to appreciate the fact that I was conserving one of nature’s valuable resources.  The produce was picked, washed, and packaged in these bags and delivered each week. 

My mother painted a sign for my garden with the appropriate name and logo.  We installed it on one end of the garden.

My zucchini crop was going crazy at one point, so I developed a flyer that included zucchini recipes so people would know what to do with all their squash!  Many of my customers said they appreciated the recipes because they had run out of ideas on how to cook it.

I had some volunteers that helped me a lot, so I made up thank you “gift baskets”.  I purchased baskets and filled them with my colorful produce and a nice thank you card, of course using my logo.  They seemed to really like them. Because of my gesture, several of them became “paying” customers.

I feel I reached more than 25 families, because all the remaining produce from each picking was generously donated to several church organizations and the Willcox Food Bank.

Any revenues from the sale of produce have been re-invested into the program. Younger students have participated in all aspects of the program to allow them to move into vegetable production as their SAE in future years.

In closing, I believe my garden project has been a huge success.  I’ve been able to evaluate the success by what I’ve learned- all the way from learning how to drive a tractor to clear the land, to how to keep and maintain financial records for my own business.  I believe my marketing plan was not only unique and fun, but seemed to be efficient and user friendly for myself as well as for my clientele.  I have been satisfied with the entire scope of the garden process this summer.  I do want to make some improvements next year, however.  I want to install buried water and electric lines in the garden area.  This will allow me to use an irrigation timer.  I’d also like to purchase and install a storage shed that has water and electricity so I can use it for washing and packaging my produce as well as have a place to store my tools.

FFA - BUILDING BLOCKS FOR THE FUTURE OF AGRICULTURE

Our student office assistant Amanda Webb continues to excel in the Willcox FFA program. Recently, she was elected as the Chapter President for the 2005-2006 school year. She also took top honors in the state receiving first place in soils judging and the first place proficiency award in Environmental Science. 

Part of the educational opportunities that FFA provides comes with a Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE). This  allows students to work in an agricultural area and gain experience in all aspects of the agricultural business. Many students live on farms or ranches and utilize one aspect of that operation for their SAE. Amanda has always lived in town so hasn’t had that opportunity in her back yard. She decided to make her SAE into one that would be able to provide a long term opportunity for other non rural students. 

With seed money provided by a grant from NRCS/RC&D,  Amanda is developing a community garden at the Willcox High School Agri science Center. The community garden will be a series of raised beds geared toward vegetable production.  Amanda started with an idea and through hard work and research, developed a project plan that she presented to her instructor and the Willcox School District Board. Part of her plan included surveying the area, drawing the plan, developing a materials list and talking to appropriate businesses in town to gather price information.   

In the process, she learned how to develop a budget and how to recruit volunteers.  Many thanks to John Holcomb, Dwayne Owen and Mike Moss for contributions of labor and materials. (Mom and Dad for the hundreds of details) and Mr Foster for assigning the 8^th grade classes to help. She has also learned about grant writing and has submitted an application for a “Good Neighborhood” grant from the City of Willcox to purchase marketing materials and to the Cochise Community Foundation to purchase tools for students to use to work in the garden. The record keeping education is just beginning. 

Mandi’s Veggies will be a business that delivers fresh vegetables each week to primarily elderly families that sign up for a “vegetable subscription." A mixture of fresh produce available that week will be delivered to the homes in reusable canvas bags. Younger students will participate in all aspects of the program to allow them to move into vegetable production as their SAE in future years. Any revenues from the sale of produce will be reinvested into the program.  

Coronado RC&D supports Amanda in her efforts!