Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
taken to work through answering the mission questionnaire will give a jump-start to forming the mis-
sion statement.
On a blank flip-chart page, write out the following statements and then fill in the answers, guiding
the discussion toward consensus. You may want to pin up the original answer sheets. Work to blend the
answers until the right phrasing for each emerges.
We are in partnership with:
(question #1 or #2 if applicable or desired)
Impacts that apply to our garden:
(question #3 or #4 if applicable)
Our purpose is to grow food for:
(question #5)
Our gardeners are:
(question #6)
Our garden is built to help our neighborhood:
(question #7 if applicable or desired)
Our goal is to teach:
(question #8 if applicable or desired)
We are inspired by:
(question #9 if applicable)
Once all the responses are filled in, you'll have the basic elements to move toward a mission state-
ment. If things veer off course, bring everyone back to the answers you agreed upon as a group. The
closer you get to a final statement, the more you will likely have to fiddle with wording. Brace yourself,
this might take a while! But you will all feel a gratifying sense of accomplishment when you are finally
able to articulate your garden's mission statement!
TIPS ON HOW TO GET ALONG
Was that successful? I hope so. If not, you might have some more work to do to get to consensus within
your group. Have you heard that expression, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.”? As
your group works through issues big and small, it will get easier and faster as group norms start to take
shape.
Getting to Agreement
If, after the breakout sessions, you have a list of potential conflicts or sticking points, there's no option
but to talk them through, one by one. The discussion will be invaluable for the cohesion of your group.
Try to find common ground and then whittle away at an issue. You want to feel a sense of accomplish-
ment at your meetings, and work toward the attributes of a successful group. If you have a list of things
people disagree on, tackle the easiest ones first. As the group succeeds in coming to consensus, respect
builds; when you get to more difficult matters later, members will understand how the group thinks and,
hopefully, respect each other enough to listen to differing points of view.
If people become hot tempered or the conversation deteriorates, it is okay to put it on the bike rack
for another meeting. If you or the other organizers are ever uncomfortable, it is okay to ask the group
how to proceed—take a vote! Group consensus is the point, and a healthy group needs to deal with
all
matters—not just the pleasant stuff—collectively.
If you've gone through a session where you started with a mountain of disagreements and ended
up with a molehill, recognize this hard work. Discussion and consensus take time and are sometimes
uncomfortable for people. Acknowledge the effort put forth so far and take a moment to congratulate
yourselves, because this is real progress!
