Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Summer is when things start to slow down. The frenzy of planting is over and gardeners have settled
into routine maintenance tasks. People are no longer required to be together at a specific time to ac-
complish a goal—the gardens are planted, beginners have been educated and assisted, and volunteers
have pitched in to get the garden in prime shape. Summer is when it is wise to plan social events in the
garden, to keep people engaged, and to make the garden a community hub for activities and socializing.
Gardens seem to attract artists of all kinds, so think of summer as a time to let the creative energy of
your community come out to play.
In each of our Peterson Garden Project spaces, we build a stage. In its simplest form, the stage is a
gathering place for kids in the garden to create their own nightly dramas and comedies, often perform-
ing for themselves and anyone who cares to watch. One garden space shows movies on a wall, using
electricity from the next-door auto center. Visitors have told us the garden has changed the area from a
dangerous place to people walking around, enjoying events, and gardening night and day.
We also invite acoustic musicians to perform in the garden, which led to a brilliant idea! If people
are coming to the garden for music, why not have local Master Gardeners on hand to answer questions?
This gave birth to our award-winning Music and Master Gardener series that we have offered every
year since the project began. Fourth of July is the unofficial end to the frenzy of spring planting. We
find this to be a great time to start the Music and Master Gardener series. One night of music a month
is enough to bring people together to enjoy each other's company and enjoy all the garden has to offer
on a beautiful summer night.
Fall
The gardens are winding down, at least in the north, and the gardeners in your community might start to
feel melancholy because the season is over. It is always nice to have a big event in the fall to celebrate
your collective accomplishment. It can be a time to recognize super volunteers or potential leaders for
next year. It can also be an opportunity to reinforce your end-of-season, or winter, gardening rules. If
you have a garden cleanup scheduled for the near future, make a volunteer recruitment announcement.
Or, better still, if you decide to get together for a meal, talk to people while their mouths are full so they
can't say no!
SPRING: VOLUNTEER GET TOGETHER
People
love
to be acknowledged! A program like this builds a culture of appreciation in your garden and sets
the tone for a positive community focus. It's also an added opportunity to expand your community; to com-
municate with the public, local businesses, and other organizations.
Before
Determine what the desired outcome of your volunteer event should be. Is it merely social or to thank
people? Will you be outlining project goals for the next season, or soliciting ideas or assistance?
Be prepared to answer questions beyond those related to your volunteers. Depending on how widely you
advertise your volunteer event, you might have people showing up who have neither volunteered nor
gardened with you. This is an opportunity to provide information about your program. You might also find
