Setting up of a Gardeners Group

[keene2]

Early summer I organised a basic Horticulture Course. It was attended by over 25 people. Enjoyable and informative.
At end of 8 week course it was suggested that we meet once a month over the winter. I took the job of organising this. HELP... Nedd suggestions, topics and activities for this group!!! No idea what to do, some suggestions included - Sharing of seeds, bulk buy plant plugs, this group was for both veggies & flowers.
Please help with suggestions, ideas. Thinking of having theme meetings e.g. Kitchen Gardening, Winter Gardening etc.
All suggestions welcome!!!! Keene2 ;D

[keene2]

[1066]

sounds like you have a few good ideas already - how about gardening for wildlife (bird & bug boxes), or pruning fruit bushes (always a good one), but I like the idea of a seed swap most  ;D  Also I was thinking of trying to organise something for our site, but not really sure where to start. Do you have any ideas as to how you will organise it keene2 ?

1066

[Susiebelle]

How about the topic of raised beds versus tradition,
or growing the more unusual - I am always being told I can't grow blueberries in the open ground but I do, and successfully, so I like the idea of tackling things of a more unusual/difficult nature - even tackling all that lovely produce once it arrives!

[elvis2003]

great idea,will you be doing this on your allotment site? if so,maybe have plotholders give a talk about any thing they feel expert on! or have a cooking demo....you could invite a local bee keeper to give a talk. above all,make sure you have tea and biscuits.good luck and keep us posted as to how its going
R x

[PurpleHeather]

Well you have several dates to fill

Mostly It is about what THEY want and it would be simple to ask.

I would think of topics

Such as

Organic composting, weed and pest controll

Saving water with mulching and how to create mulch.What is mulch even.

Examples of annual, biennial and perennial plants. What is the difference.

How to create a pretty garden using only edible plants, herbs and flowers

How can a small pond enhance a garden and spread it's benefits?

Insects..the good the bad and the ugly. How to identify and attract the good, distract the bad and identify the rest.

Winter work on the vegetable plot.....Flower beds......Or just in the garden.

You may like to know that we have been given one or three trees and srubs. The parents are first class. In fact when the difficulties we have with marketing were brought to light. One person raised his head wanong to buy he house.

[keene2]

thanks everyone, great suggestions, keep them comming, everything is of help 8) keene2

[GodfreyRob]

Last year I set up 'Otley Home Grown' and its quickly got itself known and established in the town (we get invited to local events, etc). Initially it involved posting hundreds of leaflets through letterboxes and posters in local shops (we still do this).

There is more about us here:
http://www.vegplantsonline.com/home_grown

We now have 50+ members and at our monthly meetings we have a regular 25+ each time. We have organised:

Bulk buying of seeds, mushroom compost, seed trays, garlic, etc.
Sow-Ins - in the group and a larger 'Big Otley Sow-In' to encourage more people to sow and grow their own
A couple of sub-groups into chutney/jam making and home brewing
Guest speakers at our monthly meetings
Visits to local food producers
Workshops (beginners veg growing and backyard chicken keeping)
Stalls at the local shows
Cooking demos in our meetings
monthly newsletter
website
quiz & mini-market at the meeting
plant trials (for all year round salads on a windowsill)
End of year social - bring a dish banquet (home grown/made/brewed of course) - this was a real success.

A couple of months ago we got the opportunity to use a half-acre field with fruit trees and bushes already established. Also it has 2 huge raised beds that we have divided up amongst those who have little or no garden (lots of terraced houses in Otley and a 2 year waiting list for allotments).

One thing I have learned is that its really important not to do too much yourself!
I was of the habit of thinking of something and just doing it and found that soon I was the only one doing just about everything. I think i had put people off somehow despite repeatedly asking for people to join in and come up with suggestions for what to do.

In the end I had to say to everyone - I can't do this all and if no-one else can join in then some things will have to stop.

This seemed to get people's attention and now we have different people looking after:
money
seeds
mini-market
the quiz
publicity

It's amazing just how busy people already are - this has sometimes made it hard to get a group of interested people in the same room at the same time to plan different activities - we have twice failed to apply for a local community development grant as we just could not get enough of us together to fill in the forms :(
So its often not the case that people aren't interested its just that they can't make all the meetings/events - sometimes people don't show for 3 months but come back when they can.

Each month it seems to feel more like a group as we slowly get to know each other - but it has taken over a year! Have to say that its great working together with people (who I would have never met otherwise) and there is a good collective feel to the events and meetings now.

I still have to sometimes stop myself jumping in with new initiatives though - I guess I am just too impulsive ;D

But it has and is great fun and I look forward to each meeting (the next is monday September 6th).

[1066]

Godfrey - that is a remarkable achievement! And very inspiring. I've saved the details so I can crib from them at a later date  :)

What you say about not doing it all yourself is important, and the same applies to committees on allotments, if people want a service, like a shop, then everyone should volunteer!

Thanks for the info
1066

[shirlton]

I think that your first step should be to find out what the folks want before you go ahead and organise anything.