I am a non-gardener who joined the list to listen. A need in my
community is for a community greenhouse and when I have some time and
have learned some community garden-speak, I plan to write a grant to get
one established.
There were a couple of posts in the latest community garden digest that
inspired me to add some comments.
On Tuesday, October 15, 2002, at 12:00 PM, community_garden-
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Subject: [cg] Need some major advice....
My first question is how can we successfully recruit more individuals to
become members at large, board members etc. ... Is it more incentives
from merchants? Or more garden talks that members can attend for free?
What am I missing here?
Boards are resume items regardless of the size of the organization.
The best way to get people on your board of directors is to ask them in
a flattering way. When they ask what they will have to do, the first
thing you will respond is that they must join. Then go on to describe
the actual commitment you want each person to make.
Are you a member of other groups? Are there people that you have
visited with on a casual basis that think you are doing a great job and
have given you (maybe on reflection) some good advice? Call, ask them
to serve on your board. Some will be too busy, others will be flattered.
Also, become clear in your mind whether board members need to be
gardeners. Gardeners-only will narrow your field because some people
you meet will be more interested in promoting your results. However,
too many non-gardeners could distance the board from the workers. Along
the lines of this suggestion:
So, here's my suggestion - have you considered contacting groups for the
disabled?
Civic-minded people are often more interested in the outcomes than
the means. Junior League, League of Women Voters are two examples where
some individual members could be very interested - and could likely be
casual gardeners. Offer to speak at a meeting focusing on your success,
apply to the Junior League for funding - volunteers and board members
usually come with this.
Our individual that represents the "environment" and "greening groups"
(never seen him anywhere else in the community, hmmm) doesn't even give
me
the time of day even though I have the reputation as our community
gardening
activist.I was never asked to be a part of this committee. I wonder why?
Did you ask to be on the committee? City committees here require
connections with a city council member or key staff person that will be
handling the committee. You have to let that person know over and over
that you want to serve on committees that are related to your project
(be specific) and have an application on file. Unfortunately they
rarely seek out local activists you have to be a "committee seeker."
<br> group home garden
To your questions - I'm not sure how to get people involved in this
gardening project of mine, so if you figure that out, I'd be thrilled
to learn it.
On a project for a specific group home, my inclination is that the
people who will support the garden are the same as those that will
advocate for people with similar situations as your ward. Parent groups
are great. I would start with a workday and advertise it in the
newsletters several months in advance and have them announce it at their
meetings - and serve food.
Some communities have a volunteer center. Church groups and
business often contact this center/agency for projects. If you have
such an agency in your area, get this project on the list. They are
often seeking one day projects so do the planting digging etc and hope
that someone from your supporting groups will step forward to "manage"
the project maintenance.
Good luck! I'll have to try this advice on my community when I get to
the actual grant planning stage!
Bonnie Bowman
