Citizen Gardener
As the wisdom of eating locally-grown food is spreading, so is interest in growing one’s own food. Many would-be gardeners don’t know much about Austin’s growing seasons, how to design and orient a garden, what to plant where, how to build a functioning compost pile, and other useful topics.
Out of the fertile minds of Brandi Clark (Austin EcoNetwork, EcoNetworking, Austin CarShare and more) and Marla Camp (Edible Austin) grew a broad plan to get more gardens growing in Austin. One component of that plan is called Citizen Gardener. Modeled after TreeFolks’ successful Citizen Forester program, a companion to the more comprehensive Master Gardener Program, Citizen Gardener provides a framework for getting 10 hours of instruction, completing 10 hours of service apprenticing with a more seasoned gardener, and becoming an official Citizen Gardener.
Brandi pitched the idea of “Citizen Gardener” during her Citizen Foodie talk at the Downtown Farmer’s Market Green 4th of July celebration and got enthusiastic responses. Dick Pierce, Master Gardener as well as veteran Permaculture and gardening instructor, volunteered to offer his Introduction to Fall Gardening class (normally $50) for free to those who would make the service hour commitment to become Citizen Gardeners–and the program was born. The first class of future Citizen Gardeners completed their instruction last Saturday at Sunshine Community Gardens.
EcoNetworking Associate, Michelle Star, has been stitching together various educational programs that are available around Austin, lining up organizations, like Green Corn Project, as well as school and community garden partners that can host volunteer/apprentices, and creating an online community for those who go through the program and want to share their experiences, challenges and joys. Marla Camp has volunteered to build a website that will facilitate all this soon. Stay tuned to the Austin EcoNetwork, EdibleAustin.com, Sustainable Food Center and Green Corn Project for new developments.
Those interested in becoming Citizen Gardeners in future classes can email Michelle Star at “mlstar74″AT”gmail”DOT”com” (website coming soon!).
-Excerpted from Edible Austin
