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                               In the Spotlight
 ... Highlights from District X

 
COMMUNITY  GARDENING ... It's all about PEOPLE!

Dear friends and fellow 'TENers',

 Community gardening is having a wonderful resurgence across the nation and we have a unique opportunity to be a part of this here! Although it is an ancient agrarian concept and a cooperative effort of many to cultivate a specific area for food production, it has now evolved into being more than just harvesting and sharing edible produce.  

Community gardening has become an opportunity for social change and intergenerational cooperation and interaction through awareness, education, experience, example, friendship and socialization. The more diverse group of individuals involved, the greater the opportunity to create a truly cohesive, self-sustaining (very important) ongoing community project that provides a specific sense of ‘place’ within a neighborhood or town… urban, suburban, or rural. It brings PEOPLE together and empowers them with a new sense of pride accomplishment and ownership as they learn about environmental issues, water conservation, organic gardening alternatives, pest control, and nutrition.

Community Gardening is high on the list of priorities within the National Garden Clubs agenda. Beautify Blight is the NGC President's Project. Check out this link on NGC website: http://www.gardenclub.org/SpecialProjects/BeautifyBlight.aspx

FFGC and District X have been inspired by this NGC Special Project initiative, and are reaching out into our communities to see where we can dig in and 'Grow Green' together.

Florida is unique in that its climate allows us to ‘plant’ and ‘grow’ for most of the year. Here in District X our members, especially some of our more senior members, have a wealth of knowledge, experience, and resources to be at the forefront of expanding this new directive to include growing a community and its PEOPLE from the roots up. By lending a helping hand and reaching out and MENTORING as well as physically participating with people in the community FFGC clubs and circles not only encourage community involvement, but bring a greater awareness of the mission of  FFGC and the many other diverse and exciting educational opportunities, programs, events, and projects that are available through membership.
  • A Community Garden creates a specific sense of 'place' within a neighborhood or town. It offers a defined area for gardening, food production, learning, play, socialization, and interaction.
  • It brings people together, lifts the spirit, and strengthens the individual and the community.
  • Gardening is an inclusive and intergenerational activity. Whether young or a senior; able-bodied or challenged; working or retired, there is something for everyone in a community garden.
  • Community Gardening is people working together to cultivate a community, and harvest new friends along the way.
Where and How Does MY Garden Grow?
As we expand our objectives for Community gardening we will :
  • Supply extensive resource and reference materials including books and Internet links.
  • Provide direction in recognizing what ‘is’ and ‘is not’ considered a community garden.    
  • Encourage you to create interest in Community gardening as you set goals, organize and identify resources that may already exist within your neighborhood or community.
  • Help you to target, and utilize the unique talents and skills that exist within the membership of your own individual clubs and circles.
  • Create a ‘networking’ system that will allow for questions, feedback, sharing (including photos), and communication among all of the District X Clubs and Circles as well as other FFGC Districts
So get ready to plant the seeds of a Community Garden in your area today! The possibilities are endless, and each garden will be unique to its location. Community Gardening can be a tool for neighborhood revitalization, youth learning, recreation, and even therapy for seniors and the disabled.

I look forward to working with, and hopefully meeting many of you in the near future.

Warmest regards,

Joan Black, (also known as your District X Webmaster)
Member of the Garden Club of Indian River County and Allamanda Circle
For information and resource material, or to schedule a program on Community Gardening contact:

Joan Black, FFGC Committee Chairman/District X Committee Chairman for Community Gardening at:
email:joan.black@att.net or telephone 772-778-6831

Information and Resources for establishing Community Gardens is also available from the American Community Gardening Association at: http:/communitygarden.org

FYI, in District X Visit the Garden Club of  Indian River County Community Therapy Garden listing on the ACGA website at: http://acga.localharvest.org/garden/M724