An Adaptive Framework to Assist in the Co-Creative Development of Sustainable Community Food Systems By Jason Tibbetts & Eden Institute- Spring 2019 Project Partner: • 20+ years experience in the landscaping industry in the Phoenix area. • Goal: Beautiful yards that produce food and pay for themselves • Emphasis on ecological design • In the process of a rebranding transition What I set out to do • Compare existing community intervention strategies. • Identify leverage points where a community food system could be introduced. • Create a “Frankenstein-type-protocol” for building community food systems. • Address Food Insecurity and Unsustainable Landscapes. Comparative Assessment of Existing Strategies • Assessment of 17 community engagement strategies • Strengths? • Weaknesses? • What phase of the intervention process does it belong? The Intervention Framework Phase I: Observation & Inspiration Phase VI: Intensification & Escalation Phase II: Formation & Mobilization Phase V: Calibration & Iteration Phase III: Organization & Preparation Phase IV: Implementation The Phases 1. Observation & Inspiration • Initial Contact • Build Relationships of Trust • Listening Sessions 2. Formation & Mobilization Phase I: Observation & Inspiration • Organize Focus Groups • Visioning Workshops (what they want) 3. Organization & Preparation • Asset Inventory (what they have) • Pilot Project Planning (how to get there) Phase VI: Intensification & Escalation 4. Implementation Phase II: Formation & Mobilization • Pilot Project Fulfillment • Collect Data 5. Calibration & Iteration • Systems Dynamics Model • Build Relationships of Trust • Listening Sessions 2. Formation & Mobilization The Phases • Organize Focus Groups • Visioning Workshops 3. Organization & Preparation • Asset Inventory • Pilot Project Planning Phase III: Organization & Preparation Phase V: Calibration & Iteration 4. Implementation • Pilot Project Fulfillment • Collect Data 5. Calibration & Iteration • Systems Dynamics Model • Fine-Tune Process 6. Intensification & Escalation • Scale Community Projects • Scale Projects to Other Communities Phase IV: Implementation Nested Systems Transportation System Governance & Institutions Environmental Services & Recreation Tangible Assets Infrastructure & Design Distribution/ Cooperative Business & Economy Community System Food System Intellectual Capital Waste & Recycling Human Capacities Natural Materials Energy Water Food Vendors & Markets Funding Sources Community Spaces Harvesters Maintenance Professionals Marketing Product Edible Landscaping Food System Installers & Contractors Consultants Nurseries & Suppliers Garden Coaches Designers Educators & Local Knowledge Observation & Planning Sun & Microclimates Following Regenerative Cycles Maintenance & Harvesting Understanding of Plants Sustainable Design Edible Landscaping Water & Irrigation Sourcing Materials Composting & Nutrients Installation Cultivating Soil Earthworks & Hardscaping Transportation System Governance & Institutions Business & Economy Environmental Services & Recreation Tangible Assets Whole Community System Infrastructure & Design Community Food System Intellectual Capital Waste & Recycling Human Capacities Natural Materials Energy Water Distribution/ Cooperative Food Vendors & Markets Funding Sources Community Spaces Harvesters Maintenance Professionals Edible Landscaping Community Food System Installers & Contractors Consultants Nurseries & Suppliers Garden Coaches Designers Educators & Local Knowledge Marketing Product Observation & Planning Sun & Microclimates Following Regenerative Cycles Maintenance & Harvesting Water & Irrigation Knowledge of Plants Residential Edible Landscaping System Composting & Nutrients Sustainable Design Sourcing Materials Installation Cultivating Soil Earthworks & Hardscaping Based on Eden Institute’s existing field experience Essential Aspects of Resident Relationships • Love and an open heart • Open mind- identify existing knowledge • Humble disposition- build trust • Set expectations upfront • Maintain a co-creative environment • Always seek to forfeit control of the process Accomplishments! • Reviewed and analyzed existing frameworks and protocols • Identified effective community intervention strategies • learned what goes into building a holistic community intervention framework and protocol. • Designed frameworks that represented each of the 3 systems • Identified my own strengths and where my skills can be applied • Post-engagement relationship building, rather than initiating foundational contact. • Fine tuning existing community development work Lessons Learned ✓Acknowledge limited timeframe ✓Recognize community system complexity ✓Reporting demands attention ✓Focus on the basics ✓Co-design custom community protocols with residents. The Future Use of the Framework • This framework will be used as a foundational process to follow and to develop custom protocols for community intervention • The non-profit arm of Eden Institute (The Backyard Garden Foundation) will use the framework to guide the process of micro-loan financing for low-income community members to install edible landscaping projects. • Provides a foundation to work in communities at different scales What can be built upon • The completion of the Community Assets Map Workshop Game. • Community Protocol Baseline Format • Custom community protocols Community Assets Map Workshop THANK YOU!