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Vermont Community Garden Network
June 2016 Newsletter
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| The 8th Annual Sweet Potato Slip Sale at Red Wagon Plants in Hinesburg is June 11 and 12. |
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All of a sudden it's feeling more like summer than spring in community and school gardens all over Vermont. The peas, carrots, beets, and potatoes are up; tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants are transplanted; we're enjoying the first harvests of radish, lettuces, and baby greens; and it's the perfect time to plant
sweet potatoes! VCGN's program season is in full swing and we're enjoying getting to know the new crop of gardeners, families, seniors, and summer staff. Read on for garden
resources and opportunities and upcoming
events.
We need your help to keep spreading the joy and practice of growing food in community. The Vermont Community Garden network is part of
Vermont Gives Day, a local, people-powered campaign on June 7 to support Vermont nonprofits. Please make a
donation today to show your support and help more families, youth, adults, and seniors grow more food in community and school gardens!
Thank you for helping grow more gardens, gardeners, and garden leaders!
- Jess, Libby, Carolina, Trish, Kate, Kaila, Emma, and Bowen
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 Garden Resources & Opportunities
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Thank you bouquets at Chester-Andover Elementary School. |
June Toolshed Tip
VCGN Statewide Network Coordinator Libby Weiland and Garden Expert Charlie Nardozzi just finished up the spring round of Grow It workshops all over the state. They compiled "Top Ten Ideas Worth Sharing: Supporting Garden Volunteers" from workshop participants and other Vermont community and school garden leaders. Check out the June Toolshed Tip for a sampling of all of the creative and successful practices happening around the state to support the work of garden volunteers and keep them interested and involved.
Read the full Toolshed Tip.
- Garden-Related Job Opportunities:
- 37th Annual American Community Gardening Association Conference: Aug. 4-7 in Cleveland, Ohio
The ACGA annual conference brings together hundreds of individuals from across the United States, Canada, and abroad who are engaged in all aspects of gardening and greening. The conference includes hands-on workshops, presentations, poster sessions, keynote speakers, and visits to community gardens, urban agriculture sites, food security projects, and other green space in Cleveland. Scholarships and volunteer discounts available. More info.
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VCGN's Membership Program
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Sign up or renew your membership now
and get a discount on Grow It workshops, among other special benefits, including a discount to Gardener's Supply, half-price ACGA membership, and a snazzy sign for your garden. Visit our website or call us at (802) 861-4769 for more details.
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Events
The well rooted Orleans sweet potato plants thrive in Vermont gardens. Proceeds support VCGN's garden-based education and outreach programs. VCGN staff will be at Red Wagon Plants on Saturday to answer questions and give out free samples of sweet potato dishes.
Click here
or call (802) 861-4769 for more info and bulk orders.
MORE EVENTS:
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VCGN will be the featured nonprofit at the Burlington Farmers Market on Saturday, June 18.
Stop by our info table to say hello and learn about how YOU can get involved with this growing movement!
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We're excited to be part of the NEW
Eat More Kale Festival on June 25 at Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks in East Montpelier.
Tickets are only $15 in advance for a full day of music, food, fun activities, workshops, and more! VCGN will be doing demos and taste-tests of our famous kale garden pesto and present a workshop on gardening with kids. Come join the fun!
- Burlap Bag Sale: Pre-order your bags and pick them up at the June 11 Sweet Potato Slip Sale at Red Wagon Plants in Hinesburg or the VCGN office in Burlington.
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Garden Education Programs
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HANDS in the Dirt!
There are still spots open for seniors in a FREE intergenerational gardening program in Burlington's Old North End. Join
Vermont Community Garden Network and
HANDS (Helping And Nurturing Diverse Seniors) on Mondays from 10am-11:30am at the Archibald Neighborhood Garden for garden-based activities, shared gardening space, snacks, and stories in the company of a small group of preschoolers. Transportation and interpretation is provided. To learn more and register, call Megan Humphrey at 802-864-7528.
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VCGN News
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Meet our Summer Apprentices and Interns!
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#DirtyWeekendVT community celebration and volunteer event a huge success!
On a gorgeous Saturday morning, hundreds of volunteers at 16 community and school garden sites around the Burlington area came together for Day in the Dirt. The fun day of work and community building was part of the Dirty Weekend, a celebration of soils, spring and community spirit. The three-day event also included the Dirt Ball Karaoke Contest and Green Mountain Compost's CompostFest.
The city-wide volunteer day was a product of months of hard work and planning by VCGN staff, a student team from the UVM Public Communications Capstone class and several other UVM service learning classes
(read more about them here), event partners Green Mountain Compost, Burlington Parks Recreation and Waterfront, the Intervale Center, and more than 280 volunteers who were willing to get their hands dirty.
This great day would not have happened without the support of our many generous sponsors who provided employee teams, supported community teams and donated food and volunteer prizes including: title sponsor Gardener's Supply, University of Vermont Medical Center, City Market, ArtsRiot, Burton Snowboards, Dealer.com, Red Wagon Plants, Redstone, Seventh Generation, UVM Rubenstein School, Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shop, Bibens Ace Hardware, Urban Moonshine, Vermont Edible Landscapes, UVM Living Well, American Flatbread, Burlington Hearth, ArtsRiot, Boloco, Rhino Foods, Farrell Distributing, Seven Days, and many others.
Read more and check out photos from the day!
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HELP GROW GARDENS, GARDENERS & GARDEN LEADERS
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We need your support to meet the growing needs of Vermont's garden communities. These gardens feed tens of thousands of people and are rich social and educational sites!
Please make a donation today to help more people grow food for themselves, their families, and neighbors. Thank you!
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Since 2001, the Vermont Community Garden Network (formerly known as Friends of Burlington Gardens) has worked with hundreds of community and school groups to start, sustain, and grow gardens, building strong local food systems and vibrant educational sites.
Contact us:
Jess Hyman,
Executive Director
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Vermont Community Garden Network | 802-861-4769
12 North St., Suite 3
| Burlington VT 05401
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