Teacher Background

Want to make 2007 the best year ever for your youth garden program? Use the winter months to get organized! Begin by reviewing existing goals and brainstorming new ones for your program, and formulate them into a list of New Year’s resolutions. Here are a few ideas to help you get started:

Resolution 1: This year we will increase kids’ involvement in the planning process.
We all know it’s crucial to involve youth in garden installation, maintenance, and planning in order to secure a strong buy-in for the program, but the time and means for soliciting their feedback often eludes us. Coordinators are sometimes hesitant to ask for kids’ suggestions fearing they may be difficult to incorporate into a garden already faced with limited space, resources and time. This year, make a point to set aside time for your youth gardeners to share their ideas. Start by explaining existing constraints, and then let the brainstorming begin. If possible, develop a youth leadership team, and have one or two team representatives attend your regular planning meetings and provide input throughout the year. At the very least, place a suggestion box in the garden and take time to review submissions during garden committee meetings.

Consider hosting a community planning event to kick off the new year. See Activity 1 for step-by-step guidelines and ideas.

Resolution 2: This year, we will strengthen our garden committee. Although it can sometimes feel like it’s easier to do all the work yourself, in the long run, growing a dedicated garden committee will increase your harvest tenfold. Youth gardens are sites of constant activity and present more work than a single person can keep up with. For sustainability, it’s essential to build a strong committee of members willing to shoulder their share of responsibility.

Just establishing and maintaining an effective committee takes effort! It is important to communicate regularly to maintain volunteer interest and involvement. Establish a weekly or monthly e-mailing or a Web page that you can update frequently.

Always be on the lookout for new members to avoid volunteer burnout. This year, make a pledge to recruit three to five new members. Give them proper orientation/training and assign them jobs that make them feel like an important part of your team—don't just send them out to weed all the time.

Resolution 3: This year we will put our goals into writing. Writing down your short- and long-term goals and posting them for all to see can have seemingly magical results. When everyone involved and touched by your garden program can actually see the big-picture vision, it is easier to work together to achieve it.

Resolution 4: This year we will continue with existing environmentally sound practices and implement new ones. Use your youth garden to teach kids the importance of environmentally sound landscaping practices, such as planting native species and avoiding invasive plants, conserving water, and composting waste. Involve them in the research of new practices and encourage them to find ways to share their knowledge with family and friends.

 

Resolution 5: This year we will find new ways to connect to our community. You probably enlisted the help of many organizations in the beginning stages of your youth garden project, including schools, governmental agencies, and nonprofit organizations, but have you kept in touch? Continue to network with existing community partners and reestablish ties with those you may not have heard from in a while. Make it a priority to connect to organizations that don’t at first glance seem to “fit.” School gardens, for example, can reach out and find ways to involve a local senior center, food bank, or library. If your program is at a community garden, see if you can integrate your activities with what your young gardeners are learning in school.

Resolution 6: This year we will develop a way to evaluate the impact of the garden program. Those of us who work with kids in the garden on a regular basis witness the benefits of a garden first hand, but it is important to find a way to capture the garden's impact in a more concrete way for those who may not be personally involved (administrators, parents, funders, etc.). Here are some ideas for collecting data:

Resolution 7: This year we will maintain detailed records. Keeping detailed records about your garden program provides two main benefits 1) It helps show the impact your program has on youth gardeners and the community (see above); 2) An archive is the foundation for future planning and sustainability. It’s much easier to recruit a new volunteer coordinator if you approach them with a scrapbook of records they can use as a guide. Some items to include:

Resolution 8: This year we will increase publicity for our garden efforts. Find new ways to share your garden program's success with your community. Create a garden newsletter or Web page, make presentations at parent meetings, write articles for newsletters and newspapers, and ask local TV news crews to film at a planting day! Read Extra! Extra! School Gardens in the News for more ideas.

Resolution 9: This year we will find new ways to express our appreciation to our volunteers, sponsors, and supporters. There is no right or wrong way when it comes to thanking your volunteers and garden supporters, just make it a regular activity. An end-of-year recognition ceremony or reception is a wonderful idea, but don't isolate your thanks to an annual event. Write thank-you notes (see Lesson 2), share your garden harvest by making fresh salsa or flower bouquets, and recognize people in newsletters and at meetings. Trying new ways to say "thank you" this year will grab the attention of long-time supporters and renew their energy and support for your program.

Resolution 10: This year we will have even more fun in the garden! After all, the garden is there to be enjoyed! Remember to give youth gardeners plenty of opportunities to experience the magic of nature and whimsy of the garden. Introduce activities to engage kids and allow time for them to explore on their own.

Happy New Year from NGA!