BUILDING COMMUNITY IN A COMMUNITY GARDEN

 New member information packet; same basic information is sent/given to each  Garden rules/guidelines: read & sign  Orientation: official tour for each one  New member breakfast - fall, spring and summer  Garden workdays – schedule at least one in the spring and one in the fall.  Events – garden tours MEMBERSHIP

PLAN FOR SUCCESS Planting and harvesting committee chair Garden Buddy Master gardener connection

SUPPORT THE NEW GARDENER FREQUENT COMMUNICATION  Newsletter  constant contact  sign up genius   Facebook  website

CELEBRATE

All events have children involved Activity table Demonstration table Entrepreneur table  Two large fund raising events – April & December  Porch Party – March  Open to public  Members invite friends & family

WHO IS IN YOUR COMMUNITY? PRESCHOOL PROGRAM?AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM? Sponsored gardens Individual gardens Communal gardens Business gardens Accessibility (table top gardens & hardscape) Youth gardening program Adopted Senior residents Senior citizen residence? EVERYONE CAN BE INCLUDED

YOUTH GARDENING Intergenerational area Several youth gardens Tampa Garden Club sponsors a weekly program

YOUTH GARDENING - STUDENTS FROM THE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM  Plan  Plant  Tend weekly  ID pests/beneficial insects; learn methods of pest control  Harvest  Eat – fresh from the garden  Visit other sections of the garden; learn  Veggie tastings

WHAT DO THE KIDS SAY? Learned about bugs Learned how to water the plants Learned how to weed Learned about healthy eating! The garden is beautiful; keep clean, in rows, weed

The teens set up a little market and sold their collard greens. They opened a bank account.

KIDS IN THE GARDEN Butterfly count

ADD NEW FEATURES TO THE GARDEN What are our future plans? We recently were awarded a $10,000 grant (Allegany Franciscan Ministries) to expand the Tampa Heights Community Garden to include an AQUAPONICS GARDEN vegetables will be used by the culinary arts classes NEW GOALS FUTURE PLANS

Our community garden is not just a place with a sunny spot where you can grow your veggies. WE ARE ALSO GROWING A STRONG, HEALTHY COMMUNITY