How does this thing work?

Improving Communication and Enhancing Involvement

at your Community GardenBill McKelvey - MU Extension – Healthy Lifestyle Initiative

Community Gardening ISEJuly 14 and 15, 2009

Presentation Overview

• Introduction to the Gardeners’ Welcome Packet – part of the Community Gardening Toolkit (University of Missouri Extension Publication MP906)– On-line in PDF and RTF versions

Gardeners’ Welcome Packet

What is it?• A tool for creating written

materials that explain how your community garden operates and how gardeners can be involved

• Electronic format that can be revised to suit your needs

Gardeners’ Welcome Packet

Purpose• Get organized• Communicate clearly• Increase gardener involvement

Disclosure: The Packet does not take the place of personal communication

Gardeners’ Welcome PacketFoundation – Core Beliefs

1.“Community” is the most important word in community garden.

2.There are many ways to start and manage a community garden.

3.In order for a garden to be sustainable as a true community resource, it must grow from local conditions and reflect the strengths, needs and desires of the local community.

Gardeners’ Welcome Packet

Foundation – Core Beliefs4.Diverse participation and leadership, at

all phases of garden operation, enrich and strengthen a community garden.

5.Each community member has something to contribute.

6.Gardens are communities in themselves, as well as being a part of a larger community.

(CB #1 from Mark Winne, Closing the Food Gap; CB #2-6 from Growing Communities Curriculum)

Gardeners’ Welcome Packet

Contents• Introduction• Table of Contents• Welcome to Community Gardening• Success and Security at the Garden• Community Garden Job Descriptions• Contact List• Garden Roster

Gardeners’ Welcome Packet

Contents• Garden Map• Calendar• FAQs• Gardener Guidelines• Gardener Application• MU Extension Resources for Planting,

Harvesting, Composting, Pests, Disease

Introduction

• Written to garden leaders and organizers• Explains how the Welcome Packet works

• Written to gardeners• Brief introduction• Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Welcome to Community Gardening

• Responsibilities of community gardening

• Rewards of community gardening

Success and Security at the Community Garden

• Success– Plan to visit your garden two to three

times a week during the growing season. – Attend scheduled meetings and

workdays. – Make friends with other gardeners. – Volunteer for a garden job or committee. – Educate yourself.

Success and Security at the Community Garden

• Security– Know your neighbors. – Harvest produce on a regular basis. – Consider growing unpopular, unusual, or

hard to harvest varieties. – Grow more than you need.– Put a boarder or fence around your plot.– Use common sense. – Report theft, vandalism and unusual

activities to garden leaders and the police.

Community Garden Job Descriptions

Contact List for Garden Jobs• Job• Name(s)• Phone• Email

• Name• Phone• Email• Plot #

Garden Roster

Garden Map

Calendar

Frequently Asked Questions

• How much does it cost to garden here?• What kinds of tools, equipment and

supplies are available at the garden?• Can I leave a sprinkler or soaker hose

“on” if I am not at the garden?• What do I have to do stay in good

standing with the garden?• Can I bring fruit and vegetable scraps

from home to compost in the bins at the garden?

Frequently Asked Questions

• How are plot sizes determined?• How many plots can I get?• Is this an organic garden?• Who do I contact for gardening

advice?• How much time should I expect to

spend at the garden?• What should I do if I experience or

see theft or vandalism?• What should I do if I am threatened

or harassed at the garden?

Gardener Guidelines

• Application• Membership Fee• Plot Maintenance• Garden

Maintenance• Planting Restrictions• End of Season• Composting • Materials and Tools

• Pesticides• Other people’s plots• Water• Pets and Children• Alcohol and Drugs• Unwanted Activities• Violation of Garden

Rules

Gardener Application

• Basic contact information• Sign up for garden job/crew• Procedure for dealing with violations• Photo permission• Phone and email list permission• Hold harmless clause

MU Extension Resources for Planting, Harvesting,

Composting, Pests, Disease• Links to MU Extension Publications

Where can you find the Gardeners’ Welcome Packet?

http://extension.missouri.edu/publications/DisplayPub.aspx?P=MP906Contact Bill McKelvey with questions or

suggestions at McKelveyWA@missouri.edu or 573-

882-3273

Thank you.