Trellis for Tomorrow proposes community‑garden partnership to Upper Providence board

David Ryle, a representative of the nonprofit Trellis for Tomorrow, outlined at the meeting a proposal for community gardens and described the group’s Food for All program.

Ryle said Trellis has worked in the region for more than two decades and supports partner sites with design, seedlings, irrigation, training and ongoing agricultural expertise. He told the board Trellis’s usual agreement requires partners to allocate at least 50% of harvests to community agencies or people in need; in practice the organization often sees much higher shares go to local pantries and neighbors.

Ryle described a fee‑for‑service model: Trellis can deliver turnkey installations and an optional annual support package that covers seed production, seasonal planting and education. He said annualized regional output for Trellis partners is typically in the tens of thousands of pounds of produce and emphasized that ongoing volunteer capacity and clear maintenance plans are essential to long‑term success.

Board members asked about costs; Ryle said upfront installation costs vary by size and materials (for example, deer fencing and raised beds increase initial cost) and that annual fees are typically a fraction of installation. The Director of Parks and Recreation said bringing the proposal forward would likely require budgeting conversations with the Board of Supervisors and suggested a formal presentation during budget season to explore funding options.

No budget or commitment was approved at the meeting; staff and interested board members discussed follow‑up site visits to existing Trellis projects and next steps for assembling a proposal.