Propagating Gardens - a new Citizen Gardener movement

[Dover]

I got this announcement in my email.

This is happening locally and thought I'd share. There is a real momentum building around
gardening and this program is one result:

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I'm so excited to announce the launch of the new Citizen Gardener program. It was inspired by the Edible Estates exhibit this spring and grew (pun intended) into a bunch of ideas to motivate people to convert lawns (problematic on so many levels) to gardens, produce more of our food locally and connect people of all ages to the earth and healthy food.

The fabulous Dick Pierce stepped up to be the first instructor to pilot the program. The short version - take some classes, volunteer/apprentice with an existing gardening program and then go propagate gardens - in your yard, in others' yards (a la barn-raising style) and community gardens.
The pilot starts this Saturday and he has room several more folks! You can pay the $50 tuition or take advantage of Dick' generosity to waive the fee for anyone who agrees to complete at least 10 hours of volunteer gardening before the end of the year, which would make you a Citizen Gardener!!!
If you are a gardening educator and want your programs listed in the options for new gardeners, run a gardening program that needs volunteers, or just want to help make this happen in a big way, please back and we'll get you plugged in!

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Attend yourself, tell friends, family, associates. If you never gardened or....never in Austin,....or if you've tried and the Austin climate/soil/water won,....or if you want to beat higher food/gas prices and become a part of Austin's Local Food Movement.

You can become a charter member of the Citizen Gardeners - just attend the two Sat AM classes at Sunshine Gardens, 8:30 - 12:00, on August 23 and Sept 6, and the discussion under a tree at the Triangle Farmers Market on Wed., August 27 at 7:00, and pledge 10 hours of volunteer time. We hope that each Citizen Gardener will help other individuals, neighborhoods, churches, schools and restaurants get into gardening and local food production. It's the safest, most nutritious, most oil/energy efficient, most environmentally friendly and,.....soon to be the least expensive way to grow our food. The movement has started thanks to Edible Austin, Green Corn, SFC, community gardens, the Austin area Farmers' Markets, and others - you can now join the army!

[asdjrocky]

1. What a great idea!

I'm enrolled in the local master gardener program that starts here locally in Feb. I can't wait to find out all the things I've been doing wrong. (And some of the things I've done right, as well.)

[hippywife]

2. I haven't taken those classes

because I really don't have the time but please bear in mind that, from what I've heard anyway, some of those Master Gardener classes can lean heavily toward teaching the conventional methods using synthetic fertilizers, etc.

Should be interesting, at any rate. Let us know how it goes. :hi:

[asdjrocky]

3. Well, they can try to get me to use synthetic fertilizers all they want.

But I won't do it. Not a single chemical has touched my garden this year, and they never will.

[Dover]

4. Lol! I took the class many years ago (when they were first getting going around here).

It was kinda funny actually. There was really just one "Aggie" speaker (Texas A&M is heavily funded by chem companies) who became so frustrated by all the questions about the 'organic alternative' to the things he was recommending be done with chemicals, that he literally stormed out of the room. The class was not trying to irritate him, they sincerely wanted to know and weren't familiar with this foreign mindset. Of course the class was a bunch of 'radical hippies' from Austin which are sort of the bane of the very conservative folks in aggieland. This was years ago though, and now even the aggies are preaching the virtues of organic or low-chem ways of gardening, water conservation, sustainability, permaculture, xeriscaping, etc., and have done a lot to educate people around the state. It just took a little time...:hippie:

Even then, though, the classes were invaluable. So much valuable information.
And it's a great way to meet others of like mind, connect with the community, etc. I don't think there is anything to lose by going that route, and much to gain.

[hippywife]

5. Well, if nothing else

we hippie radical types are persistent. LOL

First they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win, eh? ;)

[Dover]

6. Or, as they say....if you wait long enough

things have a way of coming round again. Nothing so basic as gardening without chemicals
could ever truly die out. Universal laws of nature and all that stuff...


Spoken like an old hippie.
:hippie: Peace.

[asdjrocky]

7. Too funny.

Yeah, this is in coronation with the UC Stanislaus in Modesto Ca. They have an extension in my home town so I'm taking advantage.

Yes, the main reason is to meet like minded people, and to learn what I can. The truth is, I see very little value in the chemicals for my little urban farm. I had not given them a single thought and by the time someone brought it up I all ready had quite a bounty going. If it ain't broke, why fix it>

[Dover]

8. Well Feb. sounds like the perfect time to take a gardening class.

You can go home and start applying things right away to your own garden, or soon thereafter.
And who knows, you might find yourself teaching others or joining in community garden activites, or just hanging out in other's gardens sharing a little labor and chit chat., etc. Have fun with it!

I thoroughly enjoyed my experience and met so many terrific people.
Gardeners are the salt of the earth.