named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Community Garden Plots
Provides access to gardening plots (full or half) for individuals and households in Ithaca, with fees based on plot size and requirement to contribute service hours or payment.
Compost and Mulch Program
Provides garden-generated compost and limited manure-compost mix from Cornell; accepts only garden-generated plant debris for composting.
Education and Workshop Series
Offers gardening orientations, seasonal workshops, and educational materials on topics such as invasive weeds, composting, and beneficial plants.
Volunteer Workday Program
Monthly Saturday workdays from April to October where members contribute to garden maintenance, composting, mowing, and other shared tasks.
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Horticultural Education and Community Gardening 5 activities
- Foster inclusive community engagement through gardeningStrengthens community by creating an inclusive environment that actively encourages participation from all individuals interested in gardening, regardless of background or income.
- Operate community gardens for food security and self-sufficiencyProvides gardening space and resources to individuals and households in Ithaca regardless of income, using organic and environmentally sustainable practices. Maintains community garden plots averaging 280 square feet, with full and half-plot options, across two sections along Route 13 divided by Cayuga Park Lane and the railroad.
- Promote physical and mental health through gardeningSupports community health by providing opportunities for physical exercise, social connection, relaxation, and stress relief through access to gardening space and activities.
- Provide gardening resources and support to membersOffers garden plots, tools, soil amendments, donated seeds, and locally donated plants to gardeners. Provides shade structures, printable and digital plot maps, parking access, and support for individuals with special needs.
- Support educational outreach and service learningHosts workshops, creates educational materials, and supports student projects and service learning opportunities focused on urban and community gardening.
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Organizational Governance & Leadership Development 1 activity
- Administer membership, registration, and governanceManages annual registration, waitlist, plot assignments, and member communications. Organizes annual member meetings, conducts board elections, and supports volunteer committees including Communication/Outreach, Education, Elections/Annual Meeting, Finance/Fundraising, Operations, and Membership.
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Digital Communications and Content Management 1 activity
- Conduct outreach and communicationsPlans and implements outreach events, manages website and social media, produces press releases, and conducts media outreach to strengthen community connections and promote the organization’s mission.
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Community Environmental Monitoring and Research 1 activity
- Conduct soil testing and produce educational materials on soil healthConducted soil and plant tissue testing in 2008–2009 and 2018, produced summary reports, maps of soil lead and PAH exceedances, and educational materials as part of the Healthy Soils, Healthy Communities project and ongoing soil quality initiatives.
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Food Distribution and Hunger Relief 1 activity
- Facilitate food donations to local food relief programsCollects surplus produce from gardeners via coolers at garden sites and maintains dedicated plots for growing food specifically for donation. Donated 850 pounds in 2018 and 700 pounds in 2019 to food pantries and meal programs, including through partnerships with Friendship Donations Network and Tompkins Community Action.
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Community Stewardship Volunteer Programs 1 activity
- Organize volunteer workdays and member service requirementsHosts regular group workdays on the last Saturday of each month from April to October and offers alternate Sunday and evening workdays. Requires members to contribute at least 8 service hours per season per plot or pay $10 per hour not worked, supporting collective garden upkeep.
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Community Composting & Organic Waste Diversion 1 activity
- Provide composting access and public educationHosts a composting site in partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Master Composters program, offering public access and education on composting practices.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Manage invasive species control in community gardensControls bindweed growth through manual removal of root systems and repeated pruning, with proper disposal of plant material in sealed bags sent to Solid Waste to prevent regrowth.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$32K
Contributions & grants$27K85%
Program service revenue$1K4%
Investment income$240%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$27K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
balance sheet
Total assets$176K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$176K
2 years on record · 2023–2024 · YoY revenue -62.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 9
- Cinder Lyon — Director, Plot Monitoring Coor
- Dan Hoffman — Director
- Joel Abrams — Director, Grant Writer
- Kris Haines-Sharp — Director
- Laurie Worrell — Director, President
- Lena Franklin — Director, Secretary, Donation Garden Coordinator
- Peter Fry — Director, Vice President, 2024 Renovation Proj Coor
- Sarita Charap — Director
- Sheryl Swink — Director, Treasurer, Raised Bed Construction Coor
relationships · 37
Who they work with
- Airtable Partner — Uses Airtable for garden plot applications and waitlist management.
- Board of Directors Partner — Oversees governance and operations of Ithaca Community Gardens; consists of up to 11 members serving two-year terms.
- Challenge Workforce Solutions Partner
- City of Ithaca Government — Owns the public land on which the community gardens are located and partners in site management.
- City of Ithaca Government — Partner in managing community garden sites and sharing liability considerations.
- Cooperative Extension Partner — Hosts the Compost Learning Collaborative at the gardens site for kitchen scrap composting.
- Cornell Partner — Source of composted manure delivered to the garden; historical provider of compost/manure mix.
- Cornell Partner — Supplies limited manure-compost mix used in the community gardens.
- Cornell Cooperative Extension Partner — Hosts the Master Composters program’s composting site, providing public education and composting access.
- Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County Partner
- Cornell University Partner — Board member Tobias Tillemans is a Cornell alumnus and the organization has ties to community engagement with academic institutions through board member Laurie Worrall.
- Cornell Waste Management Institute Partner — Collaborates on soil testing and provides educational resources on soil contaminants and healthy gardening practices.
- Cultura Ithaca Partner
- Dispositional Alternatives Program Partner
- Friendship Donations Network Partner — Partner organization focused on rescuing and redistributing surplus food; mentioned in context of shared mission and community food access.
- Friendship Donations Network Partner — Partner organization receiving produce donations from Ithaca Community Gardens.
- Friendship Donations Network Partner — Partnership to donate fresh produce from community gardens to food pantries and food-insecure individuals.
- Greenstar Partner — Participated in GreenStar’s reusable bag fundraising program in 2015, receiving donations based on customer participation.
- Home Depot Partner
- Ithaca College Partner — Board member Judith Barker taught at Ithaca College and has been involved with the garden since 2009.
- Ithaca Farmers Market Partner — Located in proximity to the Ithaca Farmers Market and linked as a related community resource.
- Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services Partner — Board member Doug Dylla previously served as executive director of Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services and brings housing and community development expertise to the board.
- Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency Government
- Loaves and Fishes Partner — Partnership to donate fresh produce from community gardens to local meal programs and food-insecure individuals.
- Lowes Partner
- Mutual Aid Tompkins Partner — Partnership to donate fresh produce from community gardens to mutual aid food distribution efforts.
- Northern Light Learning Center Partner
- Rainbow Healing Center of America, Inc. Partner
- Sustainable Tompkins Partner
- The Park Foundation Funder
+ 7 more
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community-Driven Food Self-Reliancemethodology: community_food_self-sufficiencyBy providing equitable access to gardening space and resources through a membership model with scholarships and long-term plot tenure, the organization increases food security and self-sufficiency because sustained engagement enables reliable food production and investment in perennial crops.
- Shared Responsibility and Community Stewardship Modelmethodology: shared_responsibility_modelBy requiring member labor contributions and using committee-based governance, the organization fosters shared responsibility and community ownership, because collective participation strengthens sustainability and inclusive engagement.
- Therapeutic and Holistic Community Health through Gardeningmethodology: holistic-community-healthBy integrating gardening as a form of physical activity, therapeutic social engagement, and access to healthy food, the organization supports holistic community health because participation in gardening improves mental, physical, and social well-being.