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Community garden network o f S onoma C ounty. Planting Community Seeds February 2, 2013. Windsor Community Garden. Sunrise Community Garden, Petaluma. About CGNSC. Connecting and strengthening community gardens throughout Sonoma County Networking Education
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Community garden network of Sonoma County Planting Community Seeds February 2, 2013 Windsor Community Garden Sunrise Community Garden, Petaluma
About CGNSC • Connecting and strengtheningcommunity 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 Assessment What 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 • Policy—promote community gardening to decision-makers and support related policy, program, funding changes Juilliard Park Community Garden, Santa Rosa
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) Contact Autumn Buss CGNSC Coordinator 707-623-0239 autumn@ecobunny.org www.communitygardensonoma.org