REBUILDING BCG PLOTS PROJECT

Lumber & Materials Needed to Rebuild Garden Plots

The Benson Community Garden started in 2011, as a place where individuals and families of all walks of life could gather in the heart of Omaha to grow their own fruits and vegetables. Volunteers from the community came together to build a fence and 36 individual plots from lumber donated by a fence company in Omaha.

Over the years the Garden has grown to include a pollinator garden, a food pantry (for people in the area facing food insecurity), a common area for gatherings, and a stage for live music performances and movies.

When we designed the Garden, we decided on using a wooden border around the gardeners’ plots. These borders show the size of the space, help to create an obvious walking path between the plots, and even assist in more efficient use of water. However, after having been exposed to the elements for the past 11 years, most of the lumber has decayed to where it is no longer able to perform its function, so it must be replaced. [See photos below]

One of the goals of the Garden has always been to “just break even”. Since we operate on such a tiny budget, we are reaching out to the community to request donations of lumber or cash to help rebuild the plots in time for the coming season. We have already been contacted by a group of volunteers willing to help rebuild the plots.

Our total project budget is $2,361 (in February ’22 lumber prices). If you are able, please consider donating lumber and/or money toward our rebuilding project. A link to our VENMO account can be found by clicking HERE.

Delivery of 4×4 posts and/or 2×6 boards should be delvered to and checks can be made out to: Benson Community Garden, c/o 6004 Lafayette Avenue, Omaha, NE  68132-1234

Thank you for your time and generosity. Please help us spread the word via social media or word of mouth.

PROJECT BUDGET

72 quantity of 4″ x 4″ x 8′ Pressure Treated Posts
72 @ $14.78 each = $1,065.00

18 quantity of 2″ x 6″ x 12′ Pressure Treated Boards
18 x $17.30 = $312.00

54 quantity of 2″ x 6″ x 8″ Pressure Treated Boards
54 x $15.98 = $895

Auger – 4 Hour Rental at Home Depot = $59

Box of Deck Screws = $30

TOTAL PROJECT ESTIMATE: $2,361.00

 Our operational revenue comes from gardeners’ plot fees totaling $1,440.00. Expenses include: annual insurance policy, taxes, new gardening hand tools, replacement of broken tools, fuel for equipment, equipment repair, yard waste bags, materials (as needed), and other expenses.

COMMUNITY GARDEN OPERATIONS
TOTAL ANNUAL REVENUE (BUDGET)

18 plots x $35 fee = $630
18 plots x $45 fee = $810
TOTAL ANNUAL BUDGET:  $1,440

Our goal each year is to break even.

We are THRILLED to have reached our goal to get the lumber and hardware to rebuild the garden plots. This will make a HUGE impact on our garden!

We are still accepting lumber and/or monetary donations to further rebuild the garden. If you would like to donate, please do so online by clicking the button above or contacting us.

Help Us Rebuild the Garden!

Thank you to the generosity of the following individuals, we EXCEEDED our fundraising goal! We are at 129% ($3,040.58) of our project fundraising goal of $2,361 [as of 03/19/22]. Additional funds will replace our shed’s roof, fence posts that are rotted, and other things we find needing repair.

  • $1500 – Tony Wingate
  • $250 – Nancy Novotny
  • $100 – Jason Bartz
  • $100 – Celann LaGreca & Tim Crowley
  • $100 – Danielle Lemon
  • $80 – Karen Gould
    & Jason Bartz
  • $75 – Patricia Hemphill
  • $75 – Kenneth Westenburg
  • $65.58 – James Bilodeau
  • $55 – Hanna Maksymova
    & Travis Campbell
  • $50 – Linda Armstrong
  • $50 – Allison Dye
  • $50 – Abigail Heithoff
  • $50 – Abby Lehmer
  • $50 – Marilee Philen
  • $45 – Dessi Price
  • $35 – Vivian Hollimon
  • $35 – Daniel McDowell
  • $30 – Laura & Zach Myers
  • $25 – Julia Harney
  • $25 – Julie Selk
  • $20 – Tom Luke
  • $20 – Amy Niles 
  • $20 – Laura Bautista Marquez
  • $20 – Steve Paschang
  • $20 – Joyce Van Horne
    & Mike Johnson

 

  • $15 – Andrea & Aaron Egelkraut
  • $15 – Maegan Woolf
  • $10 – Marlo Lundak
  • $10 – Jeff Matuella
  • $10 – Lindsey RP
  • $10 – Johsette Witt & Emry Davis
  • $5 – Alyssa Baldridge
  • $5 – Ashley & Tony Brown
  • $5 – Daphne Goetzinger & Owen Larmon
  • $5 – Katie & Don Taylor
  • $5 – Ingrid Thomsen