planting community seeds february 2, 2013 community garden network of sonoma county sunrise...
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Planting Community Seeds
February 2, 2013
COMMUNITY GARDEN NETWORK
of Sonoma County
Sunrise Community Garden, Petaluma
Windsor Community Garden
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
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
Gardens Needs AssessmentWhat 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
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
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
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
What you Can Do• Attend meetings of the Standing Committee, 2nd 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
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
Community Garden Network of Sonoma County (CGNSC)
ContactAutumn Buss
CGNSC Coordinator707-623-0239
www.communitygardensonoma.org