Garden Start-Up Training
The Community & School Garden Development Institute (CSGDI) is a series of practical and hands on sessions for groups interested in starting and maintaining organic gardens in community settings. The Institute covers key aspects of developing and sustaining gardens, emphasizing how garden teams can effectively plan, start and maintain a community garden. Sessions will only briefly touch on horticultural skills outside of basic garden design. Growing Hope will stay in contact with graduates of CSGDI to offer assistance in the construction of the garden. These garden stewards are responsible for the management of their own community garden.
Institute sessions cover information on how to start and sustain community gardens, including:
- Developing SMART goals
- Group leadership
- Site design and garden construction
- Asset-based community organizing
- Recruiting community involvement
To qualify for the Institute interested groups must have at least 6 dedicated garden team members, at least 4 of whom must attend all six Institute sessions. Meeting once a week, each session runs for two hours and includes interactive group activities that will facilitate the garden planning process. We welcome any group such as neighborhood or community groups, faith-based organizations, non-profit agencies or service clubs, schools, groups of neighbors, or businesses.
In 2010-- our fourth year of CSGDI-- our class had a record 14 garden teams-- over 87 total attendees came out weekly in January & February, preparing to start or expand gardens in the spring. We'll offer CSGDI again in 2010. If you'd like to be in touch about connecting your existing garden to Growing Hope, or joining CSGDI in the future, start by filling out this garden partner survey!
