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Presentation given by Elizabeth Ayers, Madison County Extension Agent at the 2011 Master Gardener Conference in Raleigh, NC on May 10
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Children andCommunity
Gardening inMadison County
Elizabeth Ayers
Madison County Cooperative Extension
Introduction
• America Community Gardening Association
Community and School Gardens
• Environment to work with teachers, parents and neighborhood resident volunteers
• Learning the relationship between people, plants and wildlife
• Lessons are limited only by one's creativity
Community and School Gardens
• School Gardens are like libraries
• Responsible and knowledgeable people to maintain
• Children can and will learn
• Permanent additions
• Utilized year-round
Step 1--Form a Garden Committee
• No one person can coordinate
• Finding funds to support the garden
• scheduling educational activities
• finding and training volunteers
• researching and disseminating information
Step 1--Form a Garden Committee
Where do you find such people?
• School staff
• Parents
• Local residents
• Gardeners
Step 1--Form a Garden Committee
• Determine if there really is a need and desire for a garden
• Who will the garden serve--kids, seniors, special populations, schools
Step 1--Form a Garden Committee
• If project meant to benefit a particular group - essential they be involved in all phases
• Organize a meeting of interested people
• Make a list of what needs to be done
• Obtain lease or agreement from owner
Step 1--Form a Garden Committee
• Find a garden site but consider past uses of the land. Is there any contamination?
• Is insurance something you need to consider?
Step 1--Form a Garden Committee
• Decide on a mailing address and central telephone number(s). Try to have at least 3 people who are very familiar with all pertinent information.
• Form a telephone tree
Step 1--Form a Garden Committee
• If your community garden has a budget, keep administration in the hands of several people.
• Choose a name for the garden
Step 2--Define the purpose and objectives of your garden
• Every garden fulfills some need or objective
• Each garden is unique • All gardens are a learning aid or teaching
tool• What kind of garden--vegetable, flower,
trees, a combination?
Step 2--Define the purpose and objectives of your garden
• Some teachers may utilize the garden across all curriculums.
• Whatever your needs are, by addressing these issues, you will have a better understanding of the work involved in this stage.
Step 3--Layout your students gardening activities
• Determining your objectives allows your next step to be lesson plan.
• You will need to determine which groups of students will be doing what and when
• Opportunity to schedule specific activities at specific times or assign certain tasks to your volunteers.
Step 4--Define a year-round garden plan
• Identified what your garden will be like while school is in session.
• Summer break? • Who is going to keep this garden
maintained until school starts? • How do you want the garden to look on
the first day of school?
Step 5—Choose garden site and design your garden
• Garden site should be in an area that receives– Plenty of sunlight – Good drainage– Close proximity to water – Electricity – Accessible to students, volunteers, and
teachers
Step 5—Choose garden site and design your garden
• Site should have enough room for • Garden • Tool storage • Students • Maintaining a large garden will use up all of your
time and energy so select a relatively small area.
Step 6--Build your Garden according to plan
• This is the big moment when teachers, volunteers, students and their parents pool their resources and build this permanent addition to the school.
HOW SHOULD THE GARDEN BE ORGANIZED?
• Are there conditions for membership (residence, dues, agreement with rules)?
• How will plots be assigned (by family size, by residency, by need, by group- i.e., youth, elderly, etc.)?
• How large should plots be (or should there be several sizes based on family size or other factors?
HOW SHOULD THE GARDEN BE ORGANIZED?
• How should plots be laid out? • If the group charges dues, how will the money
be used? • What services, if any, will be provided to
gardeners in return? • Will the group do certain things cooperatively
(such as turning in soil in the spring, planting cover crops, or composting)?
HOW SHOULD THE GARDEN BE ORGANIZED?
• When someone leaves a plot, how will the next tenant be chosen?
• How will the group deal with possible vandalism?
• Will there be a children's plot? • Will the gardeners meet regularly? If so, how
often and for what purposes? • Will gardeners share tools, hoses, and other
such items?
HOW SHOULD THE GARDEN BE ORGANIZED?
• How will minimum maintenance (especially weeding) be handled both inside plots and in common areas (such as along fences, in flower beds, and in sitting areas)?
• Will there be a set of written rules which gardeners are expected to uphold? If so, how will they be enforced?
• Should your group incorporate and consider eventually owning your garden site
INSURANCE
• Difficult to obtain leases from landowners without public liability insurance.
• Garden insurance is a new thing for many insurance carriers
• Work with an agent from a firm which deals with many different carriers
• Better success with one of the ten largest insurance carriers
Sample Guidelines and Rules• I will keep weeds down and maintain the
areas immediately surrounding my plot if any.
• I will keep trash and litter cleaned from the plot, as well as from adjacent pathways and fences.
• I will plant tall crops where they will not shade neighboring plots.
Sample Guidelines and Rules• I will not use fertilizers, insecticides or weed
repellents that will in any way affect other plots.
• If my plot becomes unkempt, I understand I will be given 1 week's notice to clean it up. At that time, it will be reassigned or tilled in.
• If I must abandon my plot for any reason, I will notify the manager.
Most Important
• Have fun
• Education
• Relationships
• Exercise
• Healthy Eating
• Stewardship
My Experiences In Madison Co.
• 4H Mini-gardens
• Hot Springs School Garden
• Seven Glenns Community Garden
• Victory Garden at The Veteran's Restoration Quarters
4H Mini-Gardens
• 4H Project Book
• Record keeping
• Educational resources
• 2 site visits with Master Gardeners
• End of Year celebration
Hot Springs School Garden
• 4th Grade Teacher and classroom
• 4H curriculum following standard course of study
• School and Cooperative Extension
• Spring and Fall Garden
• School and Community
Victory Garden
• ABCCM - The Victory Garden
Seven Glenns Community Garden
• Housing Development
• Gardening Club
• Educational Resources
• Row for the Hungry
• Fields of Hope
Summary
• Whether it’s a community garden or a school garden remember:– Purpose of garden– Guidelines and Rules– Invite everyone– Build community– Grow
Thanks
• North Carolina Cooperative Extension
• American Community Gardening Association
• North Carolina 4H
• ABCCM – Video
• aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu
Any Questions?