2501 Grants Help Springfield Community Gardens Promote Regenerative Agriculture in Local Communities

Springfield Community Gardens: Empowering Underserved Farmers through Sustainable Agriculture

Posted by Lillie Caudle Valdez, Intern, Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement in Equity Initiatives

Jun 12, 2024

Springfield Community Gardens (SCG) in Springfield, Missouri has been successfully operating and growing since 2010 with the assistance of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) 2501 Program.

Since its inception Springfield Community Gardens has received several 2501 grants, most recently in 2022. With the aid of this grant, the organization has expanded into 17 community gardens, three urban farms, a community food forest, and a test kitchen that serve different communities surrounding the Springfield, Missouri area.

Springfield Community Gardens offers free workshops and one-on-one mentoring for veterans and underserved groups. These trainings are designed to expand their knowledge of basic crop farming practices and business development. Participants learn how to build and manage their own small-scale farms using the best regenerative agriculture and agricultural business practices.

Regenerative agriculture focuses heavily upon sustainable farming practices, such as recycling farm waste and taking actions to support long-term soil health. As soil health improves, it becomes more resilient to extreme weather, pests, and pathogens.

SCG prioritizes soil health and pursues a holistic approach to farming. For example, the organization works closely with communities they serve to promote certified naturally grown gardens, and all their farms are Good Agriculture Practices (GAP) certified.

Founding Executive Director Maile Auterson said, “When you practice regenerative agriculture, you’re also taking care of the people and the animals.” This is her favorite part of the job because the process builds strong relationships not only with the other farmers and ranchers but also with the land and animals that live in those environments.

The 2501 grant has also enabled SCG to provide consistency with their staffing, creating opportunities to reach more communities that would appreciate training in small-scale farming. SCG has also been able to expand their community 4-H program to reach kids throughout neighboring counties.

Veteran and single mother Molly Fralick appreciates the education and technical assistance that she received from SCG, support that helped her start her own food business and accomplish her dream of operating her own small-scale fiber farm. She said, “I am forever grateful for their services and support for beginning farmers like myself.”

2501 Program grants are designed to help underserved and veteran farmers participate in USDA programs equitably. USDA is accepting applications until July 5.

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SDGs, Targets, and Indicators in the Article

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   • Target 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, pastoralists, and fishers, including through secure and equal access to land, other productive resources and inputs, knowledge, financial services, markets, and opportunities for value addition and non-farm employment.
   • Indicator 2.3.1: Volume of production per labor unit by classes of farming/pastoral/forestry enterprise size.

2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services.
   • Indicator 8.3.1: Proportion of informal employment in non-agriculture employment, by sex.

3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

   • Target 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water, and soil to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.
   • Indicator 12.4.1: Number of parties to international multilateral environmental agreements on hazardous waste, and other chemicals that meet their commitments and obligations in transmitting information as required by each relevant agreement.

4. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Target 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought, and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.
   • Indicator 15.3.1: Proportion of land that is degraded over total land area.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The issues highlighted in the article are connected to the following SDGs:

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
• SDG 15: Life on Land

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

The specific targets under the identified SDGs are:

• Target 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, pastoralists, and fishers, including through secure and equal access to land, other productive resources and inputs, knowledge, financial services, markets, and opportunities for value addition and non-farm employment.
• Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services.
• Target 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water, and soil to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.
• Target 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought, and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, there are indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:

• Indicator 2.3.1: Volume of production per labor unit by classes of farming/pastoral/forestry enterprise size.
• Indicator 8.3.1: Proportion of informal employment in non-agriculture employment, by sex.
• Indicator 12.4.1: Number of parties to international multilateral environmental agreements on hazardous waste, and other chemicals that meet their commitments and obligations in transmitting information as required by each relevant agreement.
• Indicator 15.3.1: Proportion of land that is degraded over total land area.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: usda.gov