Biye: A Sustainable Commented [TW1]: Very good

Community Plant-ry
Proponents:

November 24, 2021

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I. Introduction Commented [TW2]: Very good

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, governments have been forced to implement

lockdowns and restricted preventive measures to prevent the further spread of the virus. As a result,

many individuals lost their jobs and livelihoods, forcing them to stay at home while struggling

financially to put meals on their tables. It is undeniable that people, specifically the less fortunate,

have suffered from food insecurity, hunger, and malnutrition due to the lack of income and

shortages of resources available within their community. Food insecurity is the lack of availability

of food and the insufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food. Moreover, it is the root of

hunger and malnutrition that occurs and flourishes among people in the community. Thus, the

purpose of “Biye: A Sustainable Community Plant-ry” is to provide fresh and nutritious food

produced in the community garden to individuals who are food-insecure and have a low income

in the community. The proponents aim to help people attain the necessities of life by creating a

sustainable community garden and pantry wherein the residents could receive nutritious food

through plants they cultivated and donations from the community pantry.

II. Project Description

A. Goals and Objectives

The proponents aim to attain their overall goal of reducing food insecurity in the community

by concentrating on the following specified objectives:

1. To reduce hunger and food insecurity in Barangay San Roque, Mexico, Pampanga;

2. To produce and supply food with the help of donations for the residents of Barangay San

Roque;

3. To help citizens stay healthy, especially during a pandemic; and

4. To reduce food expenses for the people in the community, specifically for the less

fortunate.

B. Stakeholders/Beneficiaries

The proponents assumed that the following were the beneficiaries of this project:

1. LESS FORTUNATE RESIDENTS – They are the ones who will benefit the most since

they will receive free food to meet their daily necessities, and therefore, they can save their

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 money for other expenses. Through gardening, they can also find time to enjoy themselves

by socializing and serving others, which aids in reducing stress.

2. RESIDENTS OF THE BARANGAY - The residents of the barangay will benefit from

this initiative since they can get food in line with what they need from the community

garden and pantry. As a result, experiencing food insecurity will be less common. In

addition to the food they take, they can have the opportunity to engage and connect with

others since some of the residents are gardeners, making it a wise way for them to spend

their free time.

3. CHILDREN – As the COVID-19 pandemic has occurred, most minors are not yet

vaccinated. Hence, considering their health by giving nutritious foods that can boost their

immunity and improve their diet is a must. This project is beneficial and vital for the

children since they can get the right amount of nutrients for their bodies to gain at a very

young age through the free vegetables and fruits that their parents receive from the

community project.

4. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS – This project is beneficial for government officials since

it can help them gather some insight for their upcoming projects, allowing them to conduct

programs more efficiently. Government officials can also use the government funds

allocated for people's assistance "Ayuda" to fulfill other important matters or projects.

Furthermore, the community garden and pantry help decrease their expenses and minimize

hunger problems for which government officials are responsible.

5. POLICE - Since each resident in the community is satisfied with the food they receive,

the criminal rate will be reduced. As a result, the police will arrest fewer fugitives for

criminal offenses such as stealing money or products from businesses or people in the

community.

6. FUTURE PROPONENTS - The existence of this project will be beneficial to future

proponents who require or desire sources to gain some insights. Moreover, they can

improve or eliminate things they believe can be improved or eliminated for their project to

be successful.

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III. Methodology

1. Planning

- The proponents will allocate a month for planning on how they should carry out this

project. During these weeks, they will gather the necessary information about the

community that will function as their prior knowledge of the area and its residents, who

will be their recipients. Additionally, the proponents will create a list of all the

necessary things that need to be done for the project.

2. Site Locating

- For the next month, the proponents will seek a location that is widely accessible to the

community. The proponents will also take into account the soil, water, and sun

conditions, as these are significant factors to consider in choosing a site. After finding

the best possible location, the proponents will now ask the owner for permission to use

the land for a community project.

3. Funding Agencies

- The following month, the proponents will find sponsors that will fund the project. First,

the proponents will use various social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and

Twitter to promote the project. Word of mouth will also be a tremendous help because,

in general, it is the best form of publicity. Next, an online fundraiser will be created to

accumulate monetary support or donations from people online. The proponents will

also ask government officials and businesses within the community to fund or provide

materials needed for the project, such as seeds, fertilizer, and gardening tools.

4. Preparation

- In the fourth month, the proponents will prepare and purchase the materials they will

need to begin the project. The proponents will then assemble the necessary tools and

split the seeds and fertilizers in preparation for planting. They will also create a

gardening schedule for every street in the barangay, informing the recipients and

volunteers about the said activity. In addition, the proponents, along with the

volunteers, will clean the chosen location before totally setting up the garden.

Following that, the proponents, with the help of the barangay officials, will proceed to

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 assemble and build the station at their chosen site, where they will set up the community

pantry.

5. Seminar and Orientation

- The proponents will conduct a seminar and an orientation in the fifth month of the

project. They will find a volunteer professional speaker who will discuss his or her

views and ideas about the importance of the project. Then, the proponents will decide

on a date and time when the orientation will happen. The location should be easily

accessible, and the date should be on the weekends, as most inhabitants are only

available on weekends. Furthermore, the orientation is all about the proper execution

of the project and showing the possible responsibilities of each gardener and volunteer.

6. Gardening

- In eight months, the gardening portion of the project will occur. Together with

volunteer residents, the proponents will start by creating plots and planting seeds in the

community garden. Then, they will do their assigned tasks and maintain the garden by

following their set schedule per barangay street to prevent overcrowding. The tasks

include watering, weeding, cleaning, and fertilizing, which can be done in different

cycles depending on the needs and types of vegetables and fruits planted. To ensure the

safety of everyone, the proponents will carefully instruct every gardener to comply with

the restricted preventive measures implemented by the government.

7. Harvesting and Distributing

- In this part, the proponents will start to harvest the vegetables and fruits depending on

their maturity. The residents are also allowed to harvest crops on their own, in line with

what they need. After harvesting, the proponents will then pack the fresh produce and

donations into the community pantry to be distributed to all the recipients.

Subsequently, they will approach the barangay officials to ask if they can conduct a

patrol throughout the community, informing residents about the upcoming community

pantry. Additionally, the proponents will allot a week for food distribution and two to

three days for harvesting fresh produce. To be organized, every street in the barangay

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 will have its own set of schedules for when the residents will come to the designated

location to get their supplies.

8. Monitoring and Checking

- In this step, the proponents will monitor the progress of the community garden and

pantry. Monitoring will be done every other month to ensure that it remains in proper

working order. Along with monitoring, the proponents will also check if the project is

achieving its objectives. Additionally, they will keep an eye on whether the protocols

and instructions are being followed. Furthermore, the proponents will assess whether

the gardeners have any concerns or additional needs. They will also track the progress

of the project to determine if more manpower or resources are necessary.

9. Documentation

- Starting in the fifth month until the end of the project, the proponents will carry out the

documentation to ensure and examine the flow and progress of the said project. By

having documentation, they will be able to see the flexibility of the garden and pantry

in their chosen community; and if the primary goal has been met or even exceeded their

expectations. Additionally, this will show transparency and consistency to the funding

agencies and sponsors of the project.

10. Evaluation

- At the end of the project, the proponents will conduct an evaluation through a survey

that will be given to the recipients. These will determine the effectiveness of the project

and if the community is somehow improving. After this part, the proponents would be

able to recognize if they have met the set objectives.

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IV. Gantt Chart/Timetable

Process/Steps 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

1. Planning
2. Site Locating
3. Funding Agencies
4. Preparation

5. Seminar and
Orientation
6. Gardening

7. Harvesting and
Distributing
8. Monitoring and
Checking
9. Documentation
10. Evaluation

V. Conclusion

Food insecurity is a critical issue and must be addressed with urgency and seriousness as it

affects most individuals in the community. Due to the alarming rate of food insecurity and lack of

income in Barangay San Roque, creating a community garden and pantry, which intends to provide

fresh and nutritious food for the residents, is the primary objective of this initiative. Utilizing the

provided solutions that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound, the project

will sustain the needs of residents, specifically the less fortunate, by providing them with food

from the community garden and pantry in a sustainable and orderly manner. The significance of

lessening food insecurity through generating a community garden and pantry derives from its

ability to provide necessities for residents while also enhancing the local environment by analyzing

and giving what the community needs. In particular, providing for the needs of the less fortunate

in the community will have an extraordinary impact since it will allow them to live a healthy yet

contented life. By all counts, this initiative will crucially reduce the negative implications of food

insecurity by implementing efficient and effective solutions.