One of the best way to deel with volunteers who "have an overwhelming sense of ownership of the garden," is to have an elected steering commitee WITH TERM LIMITS. And a few community gardeners who ask, "Listen buddy/lady - this place is called a "community garden," not YOUR GARDEN. We know that you've done it for years, and you know better - BUT WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU GET HIT BY A TRUCK? Who's going to keep this thing going? I mean, don't you want to see some of the younger ones get all sweaty while you sit back and drink an iced tea from time to time? It's like baseball - we've got to bring some of the young talent up...And we've had complaints, and while you're great, the garden needs the community and can't be held hostage because you work hard. We can't do a community garden alone - it's a team sport. We've got to bring up the new talent." Etc, etc, Adam Honigman A formerly overbearing volunteer who was talked to a while back.... . Clinton Community Garden -----Original Message----- From: Lisa Coven <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thu, 07 Jul 2005 14:24:50 -0400 Subject: RE: [cg] Fwd: Ashland community garden questions
Hi everyone, I had a question/concern that is somewhat related to gardeners that garden for many years. I was hoping to get some feedback about volunteers who have an overwhelming sense of ownership of the garden area and feel the need to be in control of every situation surrounding the garden site. I am battling trying to balance out the good and the bad. While I appreciate this volunteer who has been extremely active over the past ten years, there have been many problems that have arisen and I often get phone calls from other gardeners complaining about the military like conditions and favoritism that runs through the garden. This one volunteer definitely does a lot for the garden (he calls himself the head volunteer- there are about 10 other main volunteers that this site) but the site seems to be losing volunteers and gardeners. This is the first year that all the garden plots were not rented. How do I balance the good and the bad? Have other site dealt with this ownership issue and need for control? Thanks so much for any feedback that you can offer. Lisa Coven Conservation Legacy Program Burlington Area Community Gardens Burlington Parks and Recreation Department 645 Pine Street, Suite B Burlington, Vermont 05401 802- 863-0420 fax- 802-862-8027 www.enjoyburlington.com >>> "Sandy Pernitz" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 7/7/2005 2:06:17 PM >>> We battle this perception all the time with our Parks department and have made baby steps over the years getting them to understand gardening is recreation! Someone once said to me, what is the difference between plot holders and sports uses my recreation is not sport related and they "hold up" large plots of land for a very long time. I thought this a good come back to that concern so thought I would share and I totally agree about the community building element of those who are your elder gardeners they are the twine that binds. Thanks for your time, Sandy Pernitz Community Garden Coordinator P-Patch Program/Dept. of Neighborhoods "Human felicity is produced not so much by great pieces of good fortune that seldom happen, as by little advantages that occur every day." Benjamin Franklin The Department of Neighborhoods' Arctic Building offices are relocating to the Seattle Municipal Tower. We will be at our new location on Monday, July 25, 2005. City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods 700 5th Avenue Suite 1700 PO Box 94649 Seattle, WA 98124-4649 [EMAIL PROTECTED] 206-684-0284 Until the 25th we are still housed at 700 3rd Ave, Suite 400 98104 >>> "Alliums" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 7/7/2005 6:29:59 AM >>> Hi, Folks! Patrick wrote: > One of our park commissioners has expressed a concern that a gardener could > hypothetically hold a plot for decades thereby locking up public land for use > by others. Even though this could happen, I suspect that it is highly > unlikely. I agree with Adam -- with society as mobile as it is, the chances of someone tying up a plot for decadesis very small. HOWEVER, if you've got a person who is that embedded in the community that they are living there for decades and they are a dedicated gardener who maintains their plot year in, year out, you WANT that person in your garden badly because such a community-minded person will guide your newer gardeners not only in the ways of gardening, but in the ways of the community -- they will know everything about everyone and everyplace and be an incredible resource to everyone who comes to your garden. Community gardens are all about building social capital and if you've got such a resource, the information and stabilizing influence they will be in the community will far outweigh the "locking up" of public land because they've kept their same plot for 35 years! Have a few "open to the public" events per year -- work days in common areas, harvest festivals, whatever so that if folks think they want to garden, they have access -- 3/4 of them don't really want to put the time in gardening, but they want to feel like they COULD if they wanted to -- fulfill that need (and help spread your social capital) and you shouldn't have many complaints. Dorene Pasekoff, Coordinator St. John's United Church of Christ Organic Community Garden and Labyrinth A mission of St. John's United Church of Christ, 315 Gay Street, Phoenixville, PA 19460 ______________________________________________________ The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org To post an e-mail to the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: https://secure.mallorn.com/mailman/listinfo/community_garden ______________________________________________________ The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org To post an e-mail to the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: https://secure.mallorn.com/mailman/listinfo/community_garden ______________________________________________________ The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org To post an e-mail to the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: https://secure.mallorn.com/mailman/listinfo/community_garden ______________________________________________________ The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org To post an e-mail to the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: https://secure.mallorn.com/mailman/listinfo/community_garden
