2024 Community Garden Toolkit Series
Each community gardener plays an important role in the success of the garden. Join Garden Project for a dynamic series of free seminars to learn practical skills and tips to help your community garden thrive.
This series is open to all community gardeners and designed for small groups from each garden, but individuals are also very welcome. Each training will have four breakout sessions: coordination, membership, community building and maintenance. This series has something for everyone — please plan to join us!
Thursdays, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
In-person at Foster Community Center, 200 N. Foster Ave., Lansing, MI 48912
Saturdays, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Virtual, hosted via Zoom
February toolkit kickoff: Welcome to the Garden Project Network!
- Saturday, Feb. 3, 10 – 11:30 a.m. via Zoom OR
- Thursday, Feb. 8, 6 – 7:30 p.m. at Foster Community Center
This session covered:
- Key resources available for local gardens
- Committee roles that make gardens thrive (coordination, membership, maintenance and community building)
- Latest updates for the 2024 season
Preseason jump-in: Community building success
- Saturday, March 2, 10 – 11:30 a.m. via Zoom OR
- Thursday, March 7, 6 – 7:30 p.m. at Foster Community Center
This session will cover:
- Creating a multicultural garden space
- Coordinating a successful workday
- Creating easy member registrations
- The “sandwich” communication method
Spring opening: Garden administration
- Saturday, April 6, 10 – 11:30 a.m. via Zoom OR
- Thursday, April 11, 6 – 7:30 p.m. at Foster Community Center
This session will cover:
- Welcoming gardens: Orientations, guidelines and community building 101
- Plot assignments and working the wheel (garden mapping for everyone)
Resource Center orientation for garden committee members
- Friday, May 3, 3:30 – 5:15 p.m. at Garden Project’s Resource Center (2401 Marcus St., Lansing, MI 48912)
This session will provide a tour of the Resource Center and review what is available to garden committee members.
Summer breakdown: Garden maintenance and community building events
- Saturday, June 1, 10 – 11:30 a.m. via Zoom OR
- Thursday, June 6, 6 – 7:30 p.m. at Foster Community Center
This session will cover:
- Planning summer maintenance
- Managing funds
- Garden hospitality and hosting fun events
Fall look-ahead: End-of-season activities
- Saturday, Aug. 3, 10 – 11:30 a.m. via Zoom OR
- Thursday, Aug. 8, 6 – 7:30 p.m. at Garden Project’s Resource Center
This session will cover:
- Recording your season’s successes
- Sharing excess produce — and growing more!
- Planning improvements and cleanup
Harvest happy hour
- Thursday, Oct. 3, 5:15 p.m. at Garden Project’s Resource Center
Come relax and let us know how your season went! The garden committee harvest happy our will be followed by the Harvest Potluck, open to the community, at 6 p.m.