1. Planting Community Seeds February 2, 2013 COMMUNITY GARDEN NETWORK of Sonoma County Sunrise Community Garden, PetalumaWindsor Community Garden

2. About CGNSC Connecting and strengthening community gardens throughout Sonoma County Networking Education Material and technical assistance Outreach Partnerships with complementary organizations Seed funding from Sonoma County Department of Health Services Fiscal sponsor Daily Acts Guided by volunteer Standing Committee: Zuli Baron, Heidi Fantacone, Arlie Haig, Wendy Krupnick, Sara McCamant, Lynn Renn Kawana Community Organic Garden, Santa Rosa

3. About Our Community Gardens 80+ community gardens in Sonoma County Variety of garden types: individual/plot-based (allotment) or collective; public or private property; open to public or for limited group; personal, donation, or educational Variety of sizes, layouts, and locations Our garden specifics Allotment -- 27 Resident/Member -- 23 Educational -- 12 Charitable/Donation -- 10 Other -- 13 Mostly < ¼ acre, volunteer coordinators, minimal resources McNear Community Garden, Petaluma

4. Gardens Needs Assessment What are the most common challenges that our CGs face? (Assessment from site visits, survey, Standing Committee experience) Engaging garden members to take on responsibilities and follow rules Lack of information and resources, connection to other gardens Gardening knowledge/experience: Pest/disease ID and control; amending garden beds; year-round gardening; composting; irrigation; crabgrass! Public outreach and volunteer recruitment Insufficient funds for soil, plants, seeds, tools, fencing, etc. Short-term or no written agreement for the property Windsor Community Garden

5. Ways CGNSC Can Help Networking Opportunities and Infrastructure—events, website and online resources, subregional groups, facilitation of mentoring and partnerships Information and Education Resources—funding and event notifications, e-newsletter, website, articles and manuals Public Outreach—notify and educate the public about importance of CGs, gardening and volunteer opportunities, garden events Juilliard Park Community Garden, Santa Rosa Policy—promote community gardening to decision-makers and support related policy, program, funding changes

6. Ways CGNSC Can Help Training/Education—Promote and facilitate class, workshop, and other educational opportunities; gardening and leadership/management training Material and Technical Assistance—Consultation with gardens, work with property owners, assistance to new gardens, linking to low/no cost materials, fundraising assistance Lydia Commons Community Garden, Rohnert Park

7. What You Can Do Give us feedback and suggestions Network with other gardeners today and in future Visit tables of organizations here today for resources, learning opportunities Contact CGNSC for garden visits, more information and resources Share your garden photos and documents with us Take our online survey: http://bit.ly/SCCGN-Survey Visit our website: www.communitygardensonoma.org Check your garden’s info in the online directory for accuracy Sonoma Garden Park

8. What you Can Do Attend meetings of the Standing Committee, 2 nd Wednesdays of each month, 6-8pm Volunteer for Standing Committee workgroups—fundraising, policies and procedures, website, programs and services, 350 Garden Challenge Run for a seat on the Standing Committee Riverside Community Garden, Monte Rio

9. Breakout Groups Approximately ½ hour to share challenges & successes in 4 groups Choose a notetaker (notes will be posted on CGNSC website) Breakout Groups: Recruiting and Sustaining Volunteers (for donation/charitable gardens and others relying on volunteer labor) Sustaining Gardener Enthusiasm and Participation (for plot-based or collective gardens oriented toward personal food production) Maintaining Soil Fertility (how to care for your garden’s soil) Irrigation Management (best watering practices and how to implement them) Oasis Community Garden, Cloverdale

10. Community Garden Network of Sonoma County (CGNSC) Contact Autumn Buss CGNSC Coordinator 707-623-0239 autumn@ecobunny.org www.communitygardensonoma.org