The mentorship applications for 2019 are closed.

Thanks for your interest! 

If you are interested in signing up for next year, please send an email to Bee (@) Growing Hope (dot) net

Apply to be a Garden Mentor for New Home Vegetable Gardeners

We are excited to announce the launch of Growing Hope’s Garden Mentorship for Home Vegetable Garden Program participants . In order to uplift the many experienced and inspirational gardeners in our community we are starting a mentorship program to connect these folks to new gardeners and strengthen our gardening community. In addition, we aim to increase inter-generational connections through prioritizing new gardeners who have children, and prioritizing senior gardeners who may have grandchildren.

Since 2009, Growing Hope has worked with over 350 families, helping Ypsilanti residents to grow their own food. This year, we will work with 25 new sites and hope to find 10 mentors to  cheer them on and provide garden support.

Mentors will assist new gardeners in setting and reaching their garden goals through one-on- one coaching and sharing resources from Growing Hope. Gardening can be a venue for achieving many personal goals, from spending time with loved ones, changing your diet, reconnecting with cultural traditions and more. Growing Hope will pair up mentees and mentors based on shared interest and skills.

Mentor Benefits:

• Build garden leadership and teaching skills through our Mentor Orientation and workshops
• Access to Growing Hope farm and garden staff for technical support
• Be a part of a peer-to-peer support network
• Learn and practice building raised beds with Growing Hope  (this is optional)
• Receive free seeds and seedlings of vegetables, herbs and flowers for your garden during our 3 free seedling distributions
• Gift bag of gardening tools including gloves, trowels, weeders, etc.
• Small stipend for your time and energy

HOME VEGETABLE GARDEN PROGRAM

The Home Vegetable Garden Program seeks to increase access to healthy food for low income Ypsilanti residents through installing free raised bed gardens and providing one on one garden support at family homes, community centers, housing facilities, apartment complexes and religious institutions. Program participants are provided free garden beds, along with seedlings, seeds, and other necessary tools and supplies. Gardens provide participants with opportunities to build resiliency through increased community engagement, opportunities for inter-generational experiences, and improvements in their health from exercise and increased consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables.

This year new participants will be paired with a garden mentor to provide extra support to help them reach their goals, whether it be help with pest management, or spending more time with their family outside