#2022-reportEnhancing urban public spaces
through community supported agriculture
Established in 2020, the HUG is a project of Livability 22202 and the Friends ofUrban Agriculture, generously sponsored by Arlington County, National Landing
BID and the Crystal City-Pentagon Rotary Club.

980 lb donatedThat’s a lot of veggies!

1,270 volunteer hours
We have the best team!

$27,872

Estimated economic impact returned
3#recap* 11/2020 - 11/2022

#celebrate

Team kick off meeting:strategizing for 2022

Workday with the Arlington
Rotary Club. Harvestedgreens and planted turnips.

Over 1000 hours
volunteered!

MarchMay

September

2023

2022

5

#timeline

AprilAugustOctoberSocial Media Launch:@highlands.urban.garden
debuts on Instagram!

Study Japan Arlington andTokyo Metropolitan
Principle Naoto Namikawa
visit the HUG!

Urban Agriculture Monthopen house and bagelsocial.

#seed2022 VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCETeam building was a major focus of the year with attention paid to retention of the volunteers.
Leadership development naturally arose out of greater level of responsibility and comfort working independently.
Communications within the team also was dramatically improved by adopting the use of Slack ap.
Recruitment efforts were less of priority due to strength of core team, this allowed safe exploration of new VOLGISTICS system.

2022 SITE DESIGN IMPROVEMENTS
Chairs were added to give visitors and passers by a place to sit and enjoy the space.
Signs were printed and fixed to the perimeter fence with information about the project.
Storage shed was added to store long handled tools, donation coolers and sunshade.
New tools purchased and kept onsite for volunteer use.
Pop-up tent easily provided shade and protection from the elements to volunteers.
Grow bags were added behind the metal containers providing additional 88 sq ft (52%) area.
Metal Trellises went up over the water tanks capturing important vertical growing area.

7#system-design

Now registered as USDA People’s Garden!

#grow

KEY LESSONS
Balance in system design is essential to care for the needs of thevolunteer team (people) as well as the plants and animals in thesystem (nature)

QR
CODES
Internal use
Volunteers scanned a code
to record their hours.
External use
Code was included on
printed yard signs hung on
exterior of fence to redirect
visitors to web page withmore information aboutproject.

9#summary

Harvest can be defined in terms as more broadly than just the weightof produce, and should include the benefits to the individuals,
community at large and ecosystem.
Outreach to the community, both locally and around the world, bydemonstrating commonality and connections. Our #setagaya project
showed how much we shared with urban farmers in Japan.
Model use of marginalized space can be replicated as principle, andscaled. New grow bags were able to fit into unused space, metal trellis
was able to make use of vertical space above water tanks, andmagnets made use of lid of the storage box.
Connections with members of the public repeatedly showed value
appreciation of project. People liked what we’re doing! Need to tap into
this for 2023 to increase public participation and education.

SOCIAL MEDIA
Instagram@highlands.urban.garden
Active weekly postings andin fun quick video format
drew in almost 200 new
followers in 2022
Slack
Volunteer team groupedinternal communication,scheduling and chats
together in one location.
Significant improvement incommunications!

#harvest

Goals for 2023

We have a lot of work to do next year!

2,000 volunteer hours total
Increasing participation by 30%$40,000 impact

Measurable, meaningful lifetime ROILeadership development
Ensuring future of HUG project11#2023-goals

With grateful thanks to our partners