[soft music] NARRATOR: The following program is a production of Ozarks Public Television.

Good evening, and welcome to "Sense of Community."

I'm Michele Skalicky.

Well, it's spring time.

And many of you have already planted things like lettuce and potatoes.

One organization in Southwest Missouri that's been gearing up for the gardening season is Springfield Community Gardens.

Joining us on this program to talk about the organization and share some gardening tips is Maile Auterson founding executive director of the nonprofit.

I hope you'll stay tuned.

[upbeat music] NARRATOR: Welcome to "Sense of Community."

"Sense of Community" is a public affairs presentation of Ozarks Public Television.

Well, Maile, thanks so much for joining me today to talk about gardening and about the Springfield Community Gardens.

You know, I felt like this was the perfect topic for this time of year.

We're all starting to think about going out in the garden, out in the yard, and trying to-- try our hand at growing things.

And you know, I have to admit, I don't exactly have a green thumb.

But I love to get out and play in the dirt and see what comes up.

Why is it that people are so fascinated with gardening?

And just, they like to get outside and get their hands in the dirt.

Sure.

I think the activity, being outside-- and we all have, at some point in our lives, agricultural roots.

I just think it's a human contact with the Earth is so important.

And we certainly know that good soil smells good.

And just being out in nature, you know, it's a really wonderful way to have activity that is good for your body and also to beautify your neighborhood.

Yeah.

I agree.

I love to go through my neighborhood and see what my neighbors are growing.

What are the rewards of gardening?

You mentioned just a few there, but the mental impacts on a person, the physical, you know, benefits.

Right, yeah.

There have been several studies that have shown that that passive activity of gardening is really-- can add longevity to a person's life, you know?

But also, there's the-- there are the benefits of helping the pollinators, right, and being out in the yard and talking to your neighbor over the fence.

And also, we are what we eat.

So food is medicine we talk about that a lot with Springfield Community Gardens.

And it's really important to know where your food comes from and know where-- the soil, the medium that it's being grown in.

So those are all things that are good for us but also allow us to connect with our neighbors, over healthy eating and good food.

So I've tried my hand at native gardening.

And so that's a really big passion of mine now.

But there are so many different things you can grow, for pollinators, of course.

Native is good.

You focus a lot on growing food.

And I want to talk about that here in just a minute.

But first, I want to talk about some of the challenges of gardening because, you know, you hear people say, oh, I don't have a green thumb.

I've tried growing.

And it's just not working for me.

What advice would you give to somebody who's thinking about starting a garden or maybe they've tried and they feel like they've failed?

Definitely, there's so much information to get online.

And I would go to the online source and then-- and then organizations like our own or MU Extension.

They have a lot of resources.

But I will always say about doing anything new-- start small.

And just try one tomato in a pot, you know, from seed, for instance.

And get your courage up, like you would with any new skill that you're learning.

Yeah.

And I know you can purchase plants that have already sprouted.

You can also try your hand at growing your own seeds.

MAILE AUTERSON: Yeah.

What would you recommend?

I mean, you either-- what are the benefits, I guess, or the downsides of either?

Well, it depends on the different plant that you're going to grow.

Some of them are not going to do very well if you move them from the seedling pot that you start and try to transplant.

So follow the directions on the seed packet.

It's a great first step.

And, you know, they have some really good information on that packet.

But you can start them in-- one of the nice things is you can start them early in the house.

And that really is encouraging when it's cold out.

It's February.

And you can't wait to get out, and you start them.

You can have some lighting-- artificial lighting, if you can, to hang and start them that way.

So that's the benefit, is you can start earlier and get them out earlier.

And get excited about gardening, too, because you get to see what's growing on that table that you've got your seedlings.

Right.

Really, when you need that little bit of outdoors and sunshine but it's not quite there yet, doing that indoors is just a great way to just stay cheerful about the spring coming.

Yeah.

Something personally about gardening for me is my dad was a big gardener.

And so I feel like, when I'm out gardening, I'm using what he taught me.

And he-- he always grows his plants from seed.

So let's talk about your organization, Springfield Community Gardens.

It gets people involved in gardening.

And it allows residents to reap the benefits of those gardens, the food that is grown.

Yes.

Give me an overview of what Springfield Community Gardens does and what your vision is.

Sure.

So our vision is a community where everyone has access to healthy local food.

And that means not only gardening but farming.

And we're very much about advocating for a local food system.

And our vision for the community is in the master plan with the city of Springfield, their comprehensive plan.

And that's really to create a local economy around local food and increase our economic opportunities through farming and gardening.

So there are two different ways you can-- like entry levels, if you will.

You can garden at one of our community gardens.

But we also have about anywhere from 40 to 60 workshops a year to teach people how to garden and then scale up to what our grandparents would call market farming or truck farming.

So we're very much about sustainable small farms.

And if you don't have that experience to grow, to scale commercially, then you can start in a community garden and just get connected, get connected with people who do know how to do that, get connected with USDA programs.

We are funded by EPA for a food justice grant and a collaborative problem-solving grant because we do have a high level of food insecurity in our community.

So we basically have four programs.

One is a youth forage program, the community gardens, and the farm.

We have a farm school where we teach people, and we pay a living wage for people to learn how to market farm.

And then we also have produce distributions.

So we distribute produce throughout, actually, 17 counties.

And that's in collaboration with Community Partnership of the Ozarks and Community Foundation of the Ozarks and also Ozarks Food Harvest.

Is that to people who don't necessarily have access to that fresh food that you distribute to?

Yes, yes.

Unfortunately, we do not have enough grocery stores in our communities that are local and small.

And so we are really trying to bridge that gap and create a new system for local food.

I want to talk more about each specific thing that you just mentioned.

Let's start first with the community gardens.

I'm curious, how many community gardens are there?

I think we have 18 now.

And we started with one community garden in 2010.

MICHELE SKALICKY: And which one was that?

That would be in the Grant Beach neighborhood.

Yeah.

And we have just expanded.

So many people want community gardens.

And they want a place to talk about gardening and to talk about food and share their food stories around gardening.

So I think that's been the popularity with our gardens.

And of course, we also have the hospital farm at Cox South.

And that, actually, we have the farm school located there.

And then we provide produce to the orthopedic hospital.

And we also have an employee CSA.

So that's an example of where beginning gardeners and farmers can learn how to scale up to grow food for institutions so that we're all collectively working together for a happier and healthier community.

And that Amanda Belle's Farm, I know, on KSMU, we've done stories on that.

And it is a good place to not only find fresh food but also get that training.

And I know that you offer that in other ways as well.

There are other community gardens that you mentioned, 19 around the city, or 18. Who starts those?

Do other people start those and then you offer support?

And if that's the case, how long do you offer that support?

Sure.

So I think, last year, we had over 5,000, almost 6,000 volunteer hours logged.

So those community gardens have volunteer leaders and coleaders.

Sometimes those volunteers become staff, you know later, or farmers.

But we are very much volunteer led and volunteer run.

But when someone comes to us and they want to start a community garden, then we have a process, a protocol that we go through.

And we all talk about it as a team, make sure there's enough support in the community itself.

And then we bring in other volunteers to help.

So there is a process that we go through whenever someone wants to start a new community garden.

And there has to be a property, of course.

Where do the properties come from?

Sure.

So one of the reasons we got started is that people did need land and liability insurance to grow food and garden together.

So we have land that's been donated to us.

But we also have land leases.

We have land leases with Springfield Public Schools.

We have land leases with Cox.

We have land lease with Sweitzer Church.

There are many land leases that we have.

So we will provide a land lease and liability insurance and then the infrastructure to start the garden as well.

And if somebody is interested in starting a community garden, how can they reach you?

Super easy.

SpringfieldCommunityGardens.org.

And you just push the Contact button.

And let us know what you're writing to us about.

And we'll get back with you within 24 hours.

As those gardens have really grown and become established in the city, have you seen support for them and for adding additional gardens grow?

Yes.

I think the more gardens we get, the more gardens people see and want.

And our goal is to have our city full of pollinators and beautiful spaces and work in partnership with organizations that were doing this before we were, to provide, you know, technical assistance for gardening.

So yeah, I think that it's-- and I think just nationwide and even globally, with the changes in climate and food insecurity, you're going to see more and more of these types of programs, where we're-- all of us are put in a position to be good stewards of the Earth.

And you mentioned, you know, neighbors getting together.

That does seem like a good place where people can meet and create that sense of community.

Yes, very much.

In urban planning, they call those third spaces.

And they're just so important for the health of a community.

And when it comes down to it, we all want the same thing, which is walkable spaces, good food, healthy relationships with our neighbor.

And we can do that collectively.

It's really just a choice.

We make that choice to create these third spaces, if you will, where people can get together and talk and dream.

You mentioned you have some urban farms as well as there's a community food forest and a test kitchen.

I want to know more about those.

Let's talk first about the urban farms that you hadn't mentioned before.

Where are those?

And how big are they?

You said one is the one at CoxHealth.

Yes.

So CoxHealth is five acres.

But the actual land is 20 acres.

But we are farming five acres there.

And then we have the East Stanford market garden at Sweitzer.

That's two city lots.

And that is-- that garden's primarily for our Chin community.

And actually, we're expanding that garden to another church on Lone Pine because it's been so popular.

So that is a market farm.

We actually sell to Mama Jean's.

And we have other-- and restaurants from that farm.

And then we have the market garden at Drew Lewis Foundation, with Amy Blansit over there.

We have-- that's actually our first market farm.

So when you talk about market farms, you just mean a farm where the food is sold to area restaurants, for example, or grocery stores.

Yes.

And it's used as a training spot to train people how to grow and scale up.

OK.

I'm fascinated by the idea of a community food forest.

What is it?

What's the idea behind it?

And where is it located?

So we have that garden.

It's over right off of a division.

And that is-- the food forest is-- the idea for the food forest is more of a perennial crops and that you can literally walk and wander and grab an apple off a tree or some gooseberries, some things that are native to here.

And we'd like to see more of those food forests around town.

And that is volunteer managed as well.

Yeah.

I remember eating gooseberry pie when I was growing up, from the wild gooseberries out in the field.

MAILE AUTERSON: Yeah.

A concept-- well, let's talk first about the test kitchen.

What takes place there?

So Cox has graciously given us their old bakery at Cox North, a beautiful old kitchen but newly equipped.

And we use that.

And what we call it is a test kitchen.

And the reason for that is beginning farmers who are scaling up will come to that kitchen and practice larger batches of bottling, for instance, or packaging.

And so that is free.

We don't charge for that.

And we select farmers that we feel are ready to scale up.

So for instance, the elderberry syrup would be something that they would get good at bottling and creating that recipe and refining the recipe.

So that's what a-- that's a test kitchen.

OK. A concept that's been talked a lot about in recent years is regenerative agriculture.

What is it?

And how can it benefit both farmers and the ecosystem?

And what is your role in teaching people about it?

Sure.

So we work actually in partnership with Rodale Organics.

They have coined the word "regenerative ag," I believe.

I know that they're working on a certification with the USDA.

So if you think about USDA organic certification, regenerative ag is one level above that because it's thinking more about the welfare of the animals and the people, making sure the people are getting a living wage, right, and making sure that the animals are being cared for in a-- more of a natural setting.

And so the welfare of the animals and the people are equally important in regenerative ag.

And then it's really about regenerating, thinking about 30 years from now, what will the soil look like?

What is the nature of this soil, for instance?

Is it going to have microplastics in it?

Or maybe we're going to keep those things out that are toxic to our bodies, keep it out of the soil.

So regenerative is a more holistic way to look at growing food.

OK. As CG works to facilitate the growth of new farmers-- and, you know, when I think of a farmer, as many people may, I think of someone who grows and harvests on many acres.

I'm curious what you consider a farmer to be.

So we're finding that small city lots are actually-- can actually be more productive than a large farm that has acres of land.

So for us, when we think about farmer versus gardener, we think about maybe a person going to market.

And so again, that might be on the size of a city lot or even a half of a city lot.

And so when I hear "farmer," we're thinking about urban ag too.

We're including urban ag and the rural communities around us.

OK.

Your farm incubator program, according to your website, seeks to address the needs and enhance the success of young underrepresented and veteran individuals learning how to be a farmer in rural and urban areas of the Ozarks.

Tell me more about that program.

Yes.

That's our farm school that you're talking about with the EPA?

Yes, yes.

So we have a four-week and a 16-week internship program.

And that is paid.

The 16-week internship program, we pay $15.50 an hour.

And you can receive a regenerative ag certificate with that program.

And so that takes-- most of that training takes place at Amanda Belle's Farm.

And we do reach out to the underserved community and work with refugees and people of color, veterans, and a lot of women.

Women, in some instances, are considered underserved.

And so that's what that program is about.

We also have a four-week certificate.

What does a typical internship look like?

Working beside the farmer who knows the most daily in the field but also doing some classroom work, learn, and quizzes in the classroom.

And an apprenticeship, is it a little bit different then?

The apprenticeship program, really, we-- we have gone to internships that are paid as opposed to the apprentice.

So we have-- MICHELE SKALICKY: I see.

Yeah.

So then we have-- a field assistant would be maybe the next step up from an internship.

OK. And how can somebody find out more about those apprenticeships and internships and apply for them if they're interested?

Yes, absolutely.

SpringfieldCommunityGardens.org.

And push that Contact button.

And then we have a whole page also on farming and the internship program.

OK. Springfield Community Gardens, as you said, has a 4-H club.

And it looks like you do some fun activities.

So I was kind of looking at that on your website.

MAILE AUTERSON: Yeah.

How many members do you have?

And who can join?

I think we have 19 members now.

And anyone is welcome to join.

Again, we emphasize serving those who are most underserved.

But we do-- and we do have a great 4-H camp, I have to say.

And our club meetings are great.

They're over there at 1471 North Benton.

And we talk about food systems and gardening and natives and pollinators.

We have the camp.

We actually ride horses.

It's just a really fun time for kids who are environmentally conscious and really educating the use around our environment.

What age range is that for?

7 to-- I believe it's 7 to 12.

OK. And what do you-- kinds of things do you hope kids will learn from being part of the 4-H club as they grow up?

Yeah.

So just as I mentioned, where their food comes from and how food systems work, stewardship of the Earth, the soil, and really community service, and then food insecurity.

How do we address, as a community, food insecurity?

We have projects about that.

What else should we know about Springfield Community Gardens that we haven't talked about yet?

Well, it's a group of hundreds and hundreds of people who are community minded and really want to work together to just make Springfield a better place.

Tell me a little bit about why you started Springfield Community Gardens.

What is your background in gardening?

And why did you decide to start the organization?

Sure.

I actually started here in the planting department at MSU.

And I went back to school in my 40s.

And this thing started as a class project with a bunch of kids I was in class with.

And it just grew, really, out of that.

And so that's really how we got started.

And that was when, did you start?

MAILE AUTERSON: 2010.

2010.

I'm curious, what does gardening mean to you?

Why is it such a passion of yours?

Sure.

My mother was a very good gardener.

And my father-- I'm a fourth-generation Ozarks farmer.

Our family came from New Zealand.

And I grew up in the field working with my dad.

And we had a dairy farm and a huge vegetable garden.

So really, that farm and that garden became a part of who I am.

And so I really don't know any different than to do what I'm doing.

What do you think the future is for SCG?

I see us continuing with those four programs, not growing for growth's sake but being just really good at what we already do and really playing a key part in relocalizing our food system.

Well, thank you, Maile, for joining me tonight.

Thank you.

We want to leave you with where you can find out more.

I'm Michelle Skalicky.

Thanks for watching the program.

And until next time, good-bye.

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