Grow Food Grow Hope

Garden Toolkit
Compiled by: Tony Staubach- Project Manager 2/18/2014

This toolkit was compiled from records and projects completed by the AmeriCorps VISTA members who served with Grow Food Grow Hope from the creation of the project in the Summer of 2009 to the completion of the AmeriCorps VISTA grant in the Summer of 2013.

Contents
What is Grow Food Grow Hope .............................................................................................................................................. 2 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................ 2 A Brief History of GFGH....................................................................................................................................................... 2 Types of Gardens ................................................................................................................................................................ 2 How Do I Start My Project ...................................................................................................................................................... 4 14 Action Steps ................................................................................................................................................................... 4 How to Recruit Gardeners .................................................................................................................................................. 7 Garden Growing Guide ........................................................................................................................................................... 9 Basic Gardening .................................................................................................................................................................. 9 Gardening Hand tools ....................................................................................................................................................... 10 Building a Bed ................................................................................................................................................................... 10 Breaking it Down ............................................................................................................................................................... 12 Composting ....................................................................................................................................................................... 13 Planning............................................................................................................................................................................. 15 Seed Starting ..................................................................................................................................................................... 19 Weeding, Watering and Mulching .................................................................................................................................... 22 Season Extension .............................................................................................................................................................. 23 Appendix 1 GFGH Standard Operating Procedures .............................................................................................................. 24 Title: Friends of Hope Garden ........................................................................................................................................... 24 Title: Garden Recruitment ................................................................................................................................................ 26 Title: Mentor Recruitment ................................................................................................................................................ 28 Title: Garden Night Planning ............................................................................................................................................. 30 Title: Community Garden Cooking Demo ......................................................................................................................... 32 Appendix 2: Online Links ....................................................................................................................................................... 34 Applications....................................................................................................................................................................... 34 Digital Resources ............................................................................................................................................................... 34 Selected Past News Letters ............................................................................................................................................... 34

What is Grow Food Grow Hope

Introduction
Thank you for your interest in Community Gardening. Grow Food Grow Hope seeks to raise awareness of the benefits of local food production, backyard and community gardening, and increasing self-sustainability in our daily food habits. It is our hope that this toolkit will serve your organization well, and will result in the creation of a Grow Food Grow Hope garden. What makes a Grow Food Grow Hope garden different from a regular community garden? A Grow Food Grow Hope garden grows hope in a community. In our Grow Food Grow Hope gardens we work with a blend of people who have a need (psychological, social or economic) as well as those local growers with an understanding or expertise in gardening. These experts serve as mentors to our less equipped gardeners. The hidden goal of Grow Food Grow Hope is to create a community of growers that take care of one another. A community where there is a mutual respect and interest in the success of neighbors. For example, if a low income or recently laid off gardener needs a place to work another gardener might be able to offer an idea or assistance with resume construction. We hope that you will consider taking a plot of land and turn it into a community garden. In addition to the social concerns addressed by the garden there are obvious environmental benefits- which include healthier food, increased air quality and a deeper understanding of our connection to the natural environment. People who garden understand the important course of nature and develop a respect for all living things. Gardeners understand that everything has a purpose and place, nothing is a simple accident.

A Brief History of GFGH

Grow Food, Grow Hope (GFGH) began in 2009 through a generous grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service which provided funding for nine AmeriCorps VISTA members. GFGH programs are under the direction of Wilmington Colleges Center for Service and Civic Engagement. Grow Food, Grow Hope began as a response to an economically devastated community following the massive layoffs which resulted after the closing of DHL, the international shipping giant headquartered in Wilmington. Capitalizing on the regions rich agricultural heritage, GFGHs original mission was to inspire, educate and bring hope to this community through the benefits of community gardening. In the first year, GFGH established 20 community gardens and began exploring and implementing thematic programming for involved families. During the second year, in 2010, the program doubled the number of community garden beds and introduced weekly cooking demos, started 27 gardens through the Backyard Garden Program, and established the Read and Seed program for pre-school aged children and began developing curriculum targeting preschoolers. In year three GHGH experienced an increased demand for all programs, but especially for the expansion of its Youth Outreach program beyond the pre-school setting. It responded by introducing a new program for K-5 grade students, Learn + Grow, as well as two one week summer day camps Seed, Seed, Sprout for ages 3-5 and Junior Master Gardener Day camp for ages 6-12.

Types of Gardens
Community Garden Community is broadly defined. In some cases it is geographic and in others it is defined as a group of people with similar interests. Some of our community gardens work with low income individuals in a specific geographic area while others are designed for a church or synagogue. In any case all of our gardens seek to identify a need or inequality in a community and use gardening to address that concern. Our gardens are meaningful, they are not just created to grow

food, but rather to grow hope. A Grow Food Grow Hope garden is intentional. Our flagship garden, housed at Wilmington College is a blend of our Community Garden Model and our Educational Garden Model. In our traditional community garden model success is measured by social, nutritional or economic success. Gardeners make new connections, increase their annual income, or become healthier. Educational Garden Educational and School Gardens are created to teach people about growing and to intentionally link people to the environment. Most of these gardens are at schools and full time therapeutic residences. Some of our gardens are nursing homes could also be considered educational gardens, as our gardeners at these locations are often teaching new gardeners. These gardens often follow a predetermined curriculum and connect with a course in some way. In most of these gardens a teacher will bring a class to the site and use educational standards to validate success. While in a traditional community garden success is evaluated by the success of its gardeners financially or nutritionally in an educational garden, gardeners succeed when they learn.

How Do I Start My Project

14 Action Steps
Step 1: Form your Community Garden Team This is an essential piece to the success of your garden. Youll need a point person or Garden Manager, Resource Manager, Mentor Recruiter, Gardener Recruiter and a Grower. Garden Manager: This person will be ultimately responsible for the success of your program. Resource Manager: Manages needs and solicits donations and purchases resources. Mentor Recruiter: Recruits mentors and other people with garden knowledge to assist with your project. Gardener Recruiter: Recruits people to be community gardeners. Grower: Provides expertise and assists with recruiting the teams to build and set up the garden site.

Step 2: Hold a community meeting Hold a meeting at a public location to get input from the community on whether or not a community garden would be supported. Invite local leaders as well as the population you would like to serve.

Step 3: Select Your Site The length of the garden is up to you and how much space you will need to plant what you want 6 to 8 inches deep is ideal, but if you can do more, 10 to 12 inches is best.

Step 4: Determine the size and shape of your garden Make sure you can access all sides of the bed. It is a good idea to keep the garden bed around four feet wide so that you can access all sides of the bed.

Step 5: Identify resources and potential funders You will need to prepare a budget and identify people who can provide the following. Lumber (if choosing to do raised bed gardening) Seed (if it is not donated or provided by the college agriculture dept.) Transplants (if not donated or provided by the college agriculture dept.) Fencing or pest repellents if necessary Tools and Equipment o Shovels o Rakes o Lawn Mower o Tiller o Compost

Step 6: Recruit and Manage volunteers/ gardeners. Distribute garden application (Check out the GFGH App online) Choose applicants with desired qualifications

Step 7: Set up your community garden agreement: You will want to include information on establishing a garden meeting night How unkempt the beds can become before you can ask a gardener to leave Do you want to use chemicals or do you want to use sustainable methods Check out our gardener agreement.

Step 8: Prepare your Site Once you know the dimensions of your bed, measure it off then till the site with a rototiller to loosen the soil and allow easier access for the roots of your plants. If using raised beds: o Plan out where beds will be placed and remove sod o Build raised beds and secure to ground o Fill beds with soil and manure o Use tiller or necessary tools to turn the soil and manure evenly o Build a compost bin o Secure water source o Fencing if necessary If doing a traditional garden: o Mark out area to be tilled o Use a tiller to turn sod and soil o Mix soil with manure o Mark out rows and what will be planted in each o Build a compost bin o Secure a water source o Fencing if necessary

Step 9: Level your Frames It is very important to level your frames because if your bed is not level, water will run off one side of the bed and sit in the other Step 10: Fill your garden You want to fill your garden with quality topsoil, and compost to give you rich and nutritious soil for your plants. Once you have done this, you are ready to plant your seeds and start the gardening process Step 11: Set up your Garden Kick off Event Friends of Hope Garden Nights are on Tuesdays at 6:30 PM at the Friends of Hope Community Garden. o Notify garden participants of first garden night (Typically between April 1 and April 15th. The first few garden nights will likely be indoor meetings.) Provide your members with a map of where plants will be located within the plot and the week they will be planted (see the garden creation section of this guide.).

Step 12: Pass out and share your weekly garden activity schedule. A weekly planting and lesson schedule as well as a cooking demonstration should be set up. You will want to plan 15 weeks in advance to ensure that you have enough flexibility to adjust as the weather changes.

Step 13: Start Your Seeds There are two ways to start your seeds: Direct Sowing or by transplanting. o Direct Sowing refers to planting your seeds directly into your garden space. o Transplanting is to start your seeds indoors, in trays or pots a few weeks before the last frost. o How to Start Transplants Gather Materials Fill Planting Area with Damp Soil Open Space for Your Seed Plant Your Seed Cover Your Planting Place in Well-Sunned Window Keep the seeds indoors until the external temperature is consistently above freezing. Make sure the plants receive 10-14 hours of light a day. Keep covered with plastic wrap or plastic lids to ensure a moist environment. Once the plants develop a small stem you can move them outdoors or use a fan to harden them off. This means exposing the seed to natural environments so that they arent weak when they are planted in the ground.

Step 14: Hold the First Garden Night Introductions Rules for being part of the community garden Provide guidance for planting Continue to hold garden nights and teach participants how to plant, weed, harvest and prepare produce (see garden night SOP). When garden season comes to an end, clean out garden beds of weeds/dead plants so they are ready for the following year.

How to Recruit Gardeners

Call a meeting with all key parties involved in the recruitment period. Program Directors College Students Garden Managers Community Leaders A pre planed agenda should be developed to keep the initial meeting focused. Agenda topics should include, but are not limited to: Dates outlining recruitment period (i.e. January 1, 20XX March 31, 20XX) Special focus being placed on the end date, as it also serves as the due date for all applications. Calendars should be required or provided and include important dates to help in the discussion of this agenda item. Application format o Provide example application from other garden projects o Bring the previous year application, along with any notes regarding its effectiveness. (The Grow Food Grow Hope Application is available on our website.) Develop an updated application for participation. Ensure all important information is incorporated, possibly including, but not limited to: o Logos o Head of Household information o Name o Date of Birth o Address o Phone Numbers o Other Contact Information (e-mail) o Household members information o Household Information Income level Rent or Own Availability o Participation Area o List the different areas in which a household can participate. o Include any stipulations/requirements to participate. These might be: Families may only participate in one of the following projects. Families must be available during specific times. o Signature o Due Dates/Turn in Locations o Contact Information for Questions Be sure to include a type of interesting graphic or set up to draw possible families to the program. These can include, but are not limited to: o Pictures o A full color front page Make sure to get approval from the Director for Service and Civic Engagement.

Printing and Publications Make copies of application for distribution Order any supplement materials (i.e. Hard cover flyers) Upload application on your website Distribution/Recruitment o Ensure all contact information is correct and up to date.

Write a letter to Agencies, past gardeners, Businesses, Faculty, Staff, Students and Newspaper. outlining: Introduction of Self Your mission and purpose Project description Their role in the process Relaying information to possible participants. Contact information Address Phone Number Email Address Contact person Website Any attachments that are needed in the agencies role. Potential attachments may be: o Garden application o Support documents for the application o Poster/flyers o Return envelops o Mail Out Letters Evaluate the effectiveness of each agency and their relation to the population that is being targeted. Monitor the intake of surveys to determine if further actions must be taken Recruitment is an active process and must be micromanaged to ensure success. Notification of Acceptance

Garden Growing Guide

Basic Gardening
Vocabulary 1. Amending: repair your soil quality by adding in compost, manure or another natural fertilizer. 2. Annual: An annual plant is one that completes the life cycle in one season. They must be planted each year from seed and will die at the end of the season. 3. Biannual: Important for seed savers. A biannual is a plant that doesnt go to seed until its second year of growth. Carrots and most root crops are a good example. You can still harvest the vegetable in the first year. 4. Bolting: Is when a plant goes to flower and begins to produce seeds. This is what we want for our fruit producing vegetables, but not for our leafy greens, herbs and lettuces. Once a plant bolts, the flavor of the plant can become bitter and unappetizing. 5. Compost: Compost is organic fertilizer composed of decomposed organic plant matter. 6. Deadheading: Refers to pinching of flowers and stalks on a plant to prevent it from bolting. 7. Suckers: Are shoots that grow from a plants stem or roots that do not produce flowers or fruit. Suckers can be easily pruned to encourage productive plant growth. 8. Direct Sow: Direct sowing involves planting seeds outdoors directly into your garden bed. 9. Germination: Is the process of a seed becoming a plant. A germination rate usually refers to the time it takes from a seed to be planted before it emerges through the surface of the soil. 10. Heirloom: Are special variety seeds that are handed down from generation to generation. 11. Humus: Decomposed organic matter that helps to improve soil structure and moisture retention. 12. Organic: At its most basic, organic means derived from organic matter. For an organic gardener, that means that all the processes we use to grow healthy plants are taken from decomposed living matter and natural systems rather than from chemical sources 13. Ornamental: non-edible plant varieties grown for their looks and not their use. 14. Perennial: Perennial plants are planted once and survive for many seasons while still producing a harvest. 15. Pollination: Pollination is the method by which plants reproduce. Pollen from the male anthers of a flower is captured by the female ovary of the plant. Once this fertilization takes place, the flower will begin to produce seeds. The seeds develop inside a fruit or a pod which grows from the flower. Many vegetables are selfpollinating but wind, weather, bugs and other animals all play their part in the process. 16. Pruning: To cut back unnecessary parts of a plant to encourage more productive growth. 17. Staking/Caging: Staking and Caging is when we tie larger plants to a stake or a cage to improve their stability and encourage good growth. Commonly Staked and Caged plants include tomatoes, cucumbers, some squash, pole beans and peas. 18. Transplant: Are plants started indoors or in a seed starting area and later transplanted into the garden bed when they become more mature. 19. Thinning: Is when we remove seedlings that are growing too close to one another. Often times when we plant seeds, we plant more than we actually need to ensure a good growth. Its important to thin these numbers as they start to grow so that your plants have enough space. A good rule to follow is to allow for a space between your sown plants that is about equal to the distance between your forefinger and pinky. 20. Zone: Refers to the Growth Hardiness Zone, that is, the temperature range where certain plants will grow. The Zone for Southwestern Ohio is 6a. A map on the back of most seed packets will allow you to see what plants fall within our zone and when they should be planted.

Gardening Hand tools

1. Round Shovel: Has a long handle and a rounded head that comes to a point so that it looks like a shield. Good for digging into wet or moist soils and for moving materials in your bed space. 2. Garden Spade Shovel: Has a flat, rectangular head. Use this shovel to bust up hard surfaces or to edge around your bed to prevent weeds. 3. Square Shovel: Has a short, square head with rounded edges. Good for moving loose materials like compost or manure, or for digging into soft surfaces. 4. Hard Rake: A long handled rake with short metal tines. Good for smoothing out the surface of your bed or for raking out hard debris or patches of weeds. 5. Trowel: A trowel is a small handled tool with a sharp point that is typically used to dig holes or trenches for planting seeds or seedlings. This is also a valuable tool for removing weeds from your bed by digging out the root. 6. Draw Hoe: A long handled tool that helps with weeding, turning soil and drawing soil around the plants. It has a flat head with sharp corners that allow for an easier job chopping at weeds and for unearthing their roots. A draw hoe is also a good tool for removing debris from your bed space at the end of the season. 7. Stirrup Hoe: A long handled hoe with head that looks like a cowboys stirrup. Use to draw across the surface of your bed and cut down smaller weeds without disturbing your plants root structures. 8. Garden Fork: A short handled fork with four hard, long and sharp tines. Use this for loosing compacted soil and for turning and aerating soil in your bed. 9. Pitch Fork: A long handled fork with narrow tines spaced a few inches apart. Use to move bulky loose materials like manure, compost, hay or mulch. 10. Hand Pruners: A short pair of clippers used to prune and trim plants. Substitute a short, sharp knife if hand pruners are unavailable. 11. Wheelbarrow: Wheelbarrows are used to move soil, compost, dead plants and mulch with little effort. They have a front wheel and two back resting legs. Simply, load the tub space with as much material as you can handle, lift the two handles and move forward at a regular walking pace.

Building a Bed
Building a simple raised bed is the easiest and most effective way for beginning gardeners to learn the trade. Here at Grow Food Grow Hope, we recommend starting out with a 12x4 raised bed. You can build walls for your bed using cedar boards or you can simply till an area and start mounding up your soil. Heres how it works: Plants thrive in loose, moist and nutrient rich soils. A raised bed allows you to control your soil quality by building a healthy medium for your plants over a couple of seasons rather than planting directly into the hard, clumpy and compacted soil of your lawn and hoping for the best. Compacted, clayey and sticky soils simply do not provide enough room for plants roots to develop completely. Rather than having a plant that uses its roots to reach every bit of nutrient throughout a bed, you end up with stunted plants whose roots cant grow out much past their base. That can severely limit the amount of food they can take in and inhibit a plants ability to grow healthy fruits or stalks. A raised bed will also have better drainage and protect your young plants from drowning during a hard rain. And, while every gardener has to deal with weeds at one time or another, a raised bed will help you keep them under control. A 12x4 bed will give you almost 50 square feet of growing room, enough for an experienced gardener to grow about 150 lbs. of vegetables, or about half of what the normal person eats in fresh produce in a year. You probably wont reach this goal in your first year, or first couple years of growing, but keep that goal in mind as you work to develop you skills as a gardener.

As you continue to work and develop your skills as a gardener, you can begin to experiment with more intensive and more advanced techniques. But even then, its important for every gardener to remember that nothing beats a good raised bed for keeping your garden well organized, easily accessible and very productive. The Scoop Do you want a wood frame? Wood Frame Looks Nicer Easier to Manage Less Weeds More Permanent Better Drainage Protected from Mowing Steps for building a wood frame bed. Wood Frame Raised Bed Gather your Materials o Material List: 4 wooden stakes, string, 2 twelve foot 2x6 cedar boards, 2 four foot 2x6 cedar boards, 8 galvanized screws, drill, shovel or tiller. Pick a Good Location o Pick a location: Pick a spot that is accessible, receives good sunlight, is not under large trees or near competing plants, has good drainage, and which is near a watering source. o Measure Your Plot Measure your plot: Measure out the four corners and the center point for your bed. 12x4 is large enough to meet your needs without being too much to handle. This size bed will allow you to be able to reach all the way across it without having to step in the bed and squish your soil or disturb your plants. Dig out Your Area o Dig your space: Next, dig or till out the area where your bed will sit. This will allow for better drainage and encourage worms and beneficial microbes to travel up into your bed. Lay Your Frame o Build your frame: Lay your boards out so that they line up end-to-end. Have a friend hold the ends of the boards as you screw them together. Use at least 2 screws for each corner. Clear the Space. o Clean it! Set the frame over the area you prepared and place it how you need. If you want to reinforce your frame, you can hammer in rebar or metal stakes on all four sides to keep it from shifting. No Frame (Open Raised Bed) Cheaper Less Upkeep Easy to Expand Tillable Moundable

*For building a no frame raised bed, follow the same instructions simply skipping step number 5.

Breaking it Down
Breaking your bed down for the winter is the last act that youll make in your garden during a season. However, that does not mean that you have to be finished growing. Breaking down a garden bed means that mostly you are focusing on repairing your soil so that you can to have a productive growing season next year. Typically, we break our beds down into a compost casserole. All of the organic matter still in our bed (old plants) we take down and chop up to form the first layer of our casserole. Next, we top this layer with another layer of fresh compost. Then, if we can we top our compost with a layer of ready-to-use manure. Finally, we top it all with a layer of leaves. These layers will work to cook each other. Over the winter, they will break down and encourage microbial life in our garden beds while adding much needed nutrients back to the soil. In the spring, we can simply turn this mixture and be ready to plant. Cover Crop Another option you have is to plant a cover crop. A cover crop is a plant that grows though the winter and works actively to add nutrients back into your soil. Adding a cover crop to your casserole mix will help improve soil quality, loosen compacted soil and prevent weeds from settling in your bed over the winter. Most cover crops are quick growing and easily applied. Just sprinkle it on the surface, rake it in and watch it grow! Over-Wintering The final option for a gardener is to plant an over-wintering crop. Over-wintering crops are root and bulb crops that grow through the winter and can be harvested in the spring or early summer. The most common, over-wintering crop is garlic. Garlic cloves are planted late in the fall (October-November) and typically harvested in June. The Scoop Cover Crops Field Peas Clover Fava Beans Cow Peas Oats Barley Buckwheat Winter Rye Black or Brown Mustard Radishes Over-Wintering Crops Beets Carrots Turnips Onions Garlic

Composting
Compost is a gardeners best friend. There is real reason why its so often called Black Gold, and most gardeners will say that there is no better, cheaper or more accessible option when it comes to creating a healthy soil in your garden than compost. Compost is an organic fertilizer made up of decomposed plant matter that helps plants unlock the nutrients in the soil by encouraging the development of microbial life. Throughout the garden season, this microbial life is depleted as plants grow and take more and more from the soil. In addition, compost improves soil structure and moisture retention and warms the soil to release nutrients that plants can access. By composting, we can replace what weve taken from the soil directly back into our garden plots without any added steps. By building an effective compost area of your own you are taking the first step toward having a totally sustainable garden of your own. Instead of becoming reliant on chemical fertilizers which can be extremely expensive and dangerous to the environment, you will be able to keep your garden healthy and productive by only using the plant waste that comes out of your garden plot and the food scraps that come out of your kitchen. Though it takes some time (a couple months) before your compost breaks down enough to be usable, youll be happier for the wait. Youll have a system that works by put putting what you took to grow your plants and vegetables directly back into the earth. No middle man needed! How it Works Good compost is made up of a 50/50 mix of greens and browns. Greens work to carry Nitrogen back into the soil, while browns replace the Carbon. Along with Oxygen these are the two most critical nutrients that you garden needs to be healthy and productive. The Scoop The method that we teach at Grow Food Grow Hope is all organic. For us, it comes down to three key factors: price, productivity and the environment. Bulk farmers often use chemical fertilizers to grow an enormous amount of a few crops. That can work for growing a couple crops on a large scale but it is not a good way of supporting the diversity of crops that you may want to see in your gardens. Most chemical fertilizers are a combination of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium. The variety of vegetables in our gardens means that our plants need much more than these three elements to be healthy and productive on a smaller scale. Our goal is the total health of our garden and not just the production of a single crop. Compost is a much more effective option for a gardener. Since compost is made up of decomposed plant materials its a much more stable source of plant nutrients. It means that all of the nutrients that that plant needed to grow are put right back into the soil. In other words, compost allows you to put back directly what you just took out. Compost is also much cheaper. Not only can you make it yourself but you wont require multiple and costly applications that can make your garden soil dependent on more and more chemical fertilizers to be successful. Finally, chemical fertilizers can be extremely dangerous if not used properly. Not only can they harm our own health, but they can also damage our water system and the environment. In fact, chemical fertilizers from agriculture are one of the leading pollutants in our water ways today, harming aquatic life and making our water sources unsafe to drink. If we can keep new gardeners from becoming dependent on chemical fertilizers we are not only helping people live healthier lives, we are also helping our communities and our environment become healthier too.

Establish Your Own Compost Area Pick a Space Dig out a Space Gather Your Materials Establish Your Frame Add Your Materials

Incorporating Compost into your Bed Turning compost: At the beginning of the garden season, top dress your bed with compost and turn it in with a spade or a garden fork. Mulching with Compost: While your plants are growing, surround the area around their bases with compost. Studies show that mulching with compost can dramatically improve productivity. Compost Tea: When we make compost tea, we steep our compost overnight (or up to a week) in a watering can and pour it directly over our plants just like we would normally water.

Planning
Before you put any seed into the ground, you are going to want to make sure that you have a good growing plan for your garden. A growing plan is your blueprint for a successful garden season. A growing plan will make you mindful of the space that you have to work with while also keeping you on top of your plantings and harvests; two things that can sometimes get overlooked. All too often, beginning gardeners can be so unsure of themselves that they can either under plant and end up with underutilized plots full of big empty spaces or they can over plant and lose everything in an overcrowded mess. Either way, you end up somewhere where you dont want to be. A growing plan will help you find a healthy balance. A plot that is full and productive but not so crowded that your plants choke each other out and sap the nutrients from your soil. There is no right way to plant your garden plot, but there are some useful tips to keep in mind. What do I want to grow this season? How many plantings do you want to do in a season? Do you want to garden in just the summer months or do you want to grow into the fall? What plants do I want to grow that need time and space and what plants grow quickly? What are cool weather crops that I need to plant early in spring? What plants are too big for my space? And so on. Large vs. Small Plants Large plants take a while to mature. Make sure that you plant them in a space where they get plenty of sun throughout the growing season. Also, remember, that the tiny seed or transplant that you plant is not going to stay that way forever. Make sure that all of your large plants are spaced at least 18 apart from any of your other plantings. Smaller plants can mature quickly. Be sure to keep them thinned and well-spaced. You dont want plants that are too bunched up to grow. Think about putting at least 4-6 between your small plants and your other plantings. Think about a good spacing as about the distance between your forefinger and your pinky finger Large Plants vs. Smaller Plants Large Plants (A foot or taller, sprawling or vining) Tomatoes Squash Peppers Broccoli Cabbage Brussels Sprouts Eggplant Melons Pole Beans Peas Cucumbers Smaller Plants (Shorter than a foot, not sprawling or vining) Lettuce Radishes Beets Turnips Carrots Onions Spinach Swiss Chard Greens Bush Beans

Common Planning Many of the plants in our gardens have working relationships with one another. Some plants add valuable nutrients to the soil that other plants can use. Others put of scents that deter bugs and pests and some can even help with pollination. When we put plants together that benefit one another, we call this Companion planting. One of the best examples of companion planting is the Three Sisters; beans, corn and squash. The corn grows quickly and allows a stalk for the beans to climb. In return the beans put nitrogen into the soil that the corn and squash need to grow. Finally, as the squash vines begin to branch out they help to keep weeds down and maintain moisture levels in the soil. Incredible, right? Here are some examples of companion plantings that can work for a small-plot garden

Good Companions Beans & Carrots, Corn, Radishes, Peas and Lettuce Beets & Cabbage and Onions Cabbage & Beets, Onions and Tomatoes Carrots & Beans, Lettuce, Peas, Radishes and Tomatoes Cucumbers & Beans, Lettuce, Onions and Radishes Lettuce & Carrots, Cucumbers, Radishes and Strawberries Melons & Radishes Onions & Beets, Carrots, Cucumbers, Peppers, Tomatoes and Squash Peas & Beans, Carrots, Radishes and Turnips Peppers & Onions Radishes & Beans, Carrots, Melons and Lettuce Spinach & Onions and Radishes Herbs & Cabbage, Peppers and Tomatoes Strawberries & Beans, Lettuce, Onions and Spinach Tomatoes & Cabbage, Carrots and Spinach Zucchini & Onions and Radishes

Bad Companions Of course, there are some planting combinations that do not work well together too. Pairing these vegetables together will hamper growth and hurt your crop. Beans & Onions Cabbage & Strawberries Cucumbers & Herbs Onions & Beans and Peas

Succession Planting Succession planting allows you to harvest continually throughout the growing season without getting overwhelmed. Instead of planting everything all at one time, you space your plantings over a couple of weeks so that by the time your first harvest is ready, you still have plants growing to harvest later. For example, I decide to plant some spinach but instead of planting all of my spinach at once I space it over a three week period. That way, I know that when its time to harvest the spinach from week 1, the spinach from week 2 will be a week away from being ready and the spinach from week 3 will be two weeks away from being ready. That way I dont have to worry about a huge harvest all at once that I cant handle.

Succession planting also means that as soon as something is harvested, I am planting something in that empty space. That way I can keep my continuous harvest going all season long. A Garden Plan for Beginners As a beginning gardener you know you want to start out nice and easy in the spring, develop your skills in the summer and reap the benefits in the fall. You want a garden that is low maintenance, easy to care for and which has a little bit of wiggle room for mistakes and experimentation. Below is an example of a plot layout which might serve you well.

Here is a list of things you could grow below that youll find information about planting in the Spring, Summer and Fall: Spring Lettuce Radishes Beets Turnips Carrots Spinach Swiss Chard Summer Tomatoes Summer Squash Zucchini Peppers Bush Beans Cucumbers Herbs Fall Broccoli Cabbage Winter Squash

Spring o I know that I can plant all of my spring crops early in the spring, in mid-April or after the last frost and that most of them are harvestable within 4-6 weeks. I can plant about half of my bed in with my Spring Crops in simple rows. o I can start most of my Summer Crops (tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers) as transplants indoors the same time that I plant my Spring Crops Outside. That way, I can start to move them into my plot as soon as I start to harvest my Spring Crops. o Most of my Spring Crops will also work well through the summer so I plan to succession plant my lettuce and spinach too. Summer o Around Mid-May, I also plant to plant some of my Summer Crops (zucchini, summer squash and beans) as seeds directly into the empty spaces I left in my bed. o In late May or early June, once Ive planted my transplants, Ill also sow my herbs in and around them because they make good companion plants. Fall o In Mid-July, I start my Fall Crops as Transplants. I know that after 6-8 weeks, in late August, they will be ready to move into my plot just as my squash, beans, peppers and cucumbers stop producing. o I can re-plant any of my Spring Crops as a succession planting in the fall too. o By following this plan, we expect you to have a manageable but continuous harvest from late May until October.

Vegetable Planning Guide Earliest Planting Early March Early-March Early-March Mid-March Mid-March Mid-March Mid-March Late March Late March Late March Early April Early April Early April Early April Early April Early April Mid-April Mid-April Early May Mid-May Mid-May Mid-May Early May Mid-May Late May Late May Latest Planting Early August Mid-July Late August Late August Early September Mid-August Mid- July Early August Early August Early August Late July Late July Early August Early August Mid-August No Fall Mid-July Late June Early July Mid-June Mid-July Mid-July Early May Late June Late June Mid-June

Peas Cabbage Spinach Lettuce Radish Turnips Beets Broccoli Cauliflower Brussels Sprouts Carrots Chard Collards Mustard Kale Onions Beans Herbs Cucumbers Tomatoes Squash Okra Eggplant Corn Melons Pumpkins

Proper Spacing for a Square Foot Garden Vegetable Per-Square Foot Peas 8 Cabbage 1 Spinach 9 Lettuce 4 leaf 1 head Beets 9 Radish 16 Turnips 9 Beans 9 bush 8 pole Herbs 1-5 Cucumbers 1 Carrots 16 Chard 4 Corn 3

Vegetable Tomatoes Squash Okra Eggplant Melons Pumpkins Collards Mustard Kale Onions Broccoli Cauliflower Brussels sprouts

Per-Square Foot 1 per 4 square feet 1 per 3 square feet 1 1 1 per 4 square feet 1 per 4 square feet 1 16 1 5 storage 16 green 1 1 1 per 2 square feet

Seed Starting
Starting seeds and the first planting are among the most intimidating things that a new gardener has to do. Many are so worried that what they put in the ground will never come up that they opt to buy a flat of starts from a hardware store or a garden center instead. You shouldnt be so worried! Sure, starting seeds can be scary, but its also one of the most exciting times that a gardener can enjoy. And, there are some real benefits that come along with starting your own seeds too. Starting seeds and nurturing them into maturity is very important step in creating a relationship with your garden. Not only do you get to experience the miracle of life first hand but you get to see the role that you have in making it all happen. You to get see the tiny little seeds start from specks, sometimes so small that you can hardly even see them at all, and grow into lively green plants that will provide food for you and your family. Growing your own seeds will also help you add some variety to your garden. There are many heirloom variety seeds grown for their flavor that you just cant find as starts. Finding varieties that you like, that you cant find at the store, is one of the best ways to personalize your garden. That way, you really can brag about having the best tomato on the block! Starting from seed is also more affordable. For the same amount of money that you spend on a single start you can buy a whole range of seeds. Even the most exotic variety of seeds rarely cost more than a couple of bucks. With more plants and money saved, its easy to see how you could expand your garden space and grow more vegetables. Direct Sow vs Transplants There are two ways to start your seeds: Direct Sowing or by transplanting. Direct Sowing refers to planting your seeds directly into your garden space while Transplanting is to start your seeds indoors, in trays or pots a few weeks before the last frost. Typically, more hardy root crops and leafy greens are sown directly, while fruit bearing plants like tomatoes and peppers are started indoors to get a jump start on the growing season. Transplants Tomatoes Peppers Squash Melons Eggplants Whats On a Seed Packet? Transplant or Direct Sow? How Do I Space My Plant? When Should I plant My Seeds? Direct Sow Plants Radishes Carrots Lettuce Beets Swiss Chard

Greens Turnips Beans Peas Herbs

On most seed packets, youll find all the information that you need to know how to plant your seeds. Some seed packets may even include special instructions to improve germination. But always be sure to check the back of your seed packets for information about, direct sowing or transplanting, when to start, how to start and spacing. How to Start Transplants 1. Gather Materials

2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Fill Planting Area with Damp Soil Open Space for Your Seed Plant Your Seed Cover Your Planting Place in Well-Sunned Window

Tools and Items to Know Seed Starting Mix: Your growing medium is always important. You want to start with a clean and sterile mix. You can buy a bagged mix from the hardware or garden store, or you can make your own mix, but dont use garden soil or potting soil as they can contain pathogens that can harm your new plants. Lights: Simple fluorescent bulbs (the long ones like you buy at the hardware store work great. These lights can be easily moved and adjusted to ensure that they are only a few inches from the seedlings. Containers: Use plastic peat flats for starting several seeds. You can purchase many plastic flats at grocery stores. You can also use recycled items like yogurt containers, pop bottles and even tin cans. Egg cartons or egg shells make excellent containers as well. Covering: When starting plants they will need high humidity to ensure germination. The best way to achieve this is by covering your plants. You can buy plastic coverers but you can also use clear plastic which will create a mini greenhouse. You can buy kits at the grocery store that come with a plastic bottom and lid but plastic wrap or even plastic bags work well. Watering: You can use a spray bottle or watering can, but a shallow tray for dipping also works well. Watering can is difficult when you first start your seeds. You need to provide just the right amount of moisture. You dont want your seeds to float away but you want the soil to remain moist. Its best to simply mist your plants with a spray bottle or set container in a pan of water. Once roots have been established, you can water your seedlings like any other plant. Common Issues Lighting: Your seedlings need consistent light for 12-16 hours a day. That means you may need some artificial light. Watering: You dont want to over water but your soil needs to remain moist. Youll want to cover your containers to ensure a moist warm environment. You can also water the seedlings from the bottom using a drip tray. You will need to check on your plants once a day. Dont start too soon: Most plants will be ready to plant in the ground in 4-8 weeks. Youll want to keep this schedule in mind as you begin planting your seeds. Plants dont like cold weather, so youll want to keep the plants warm but treat them like they would when they are outside. Depth: You want to check the seed packet for planting depth, typically no more than twice the width of the seed. Hardening Off: Youve got great seedlings but you take them outside and they die? You need to begin hardening off your plants a few weeks before planting. This means you need to take them outside and let them get used to the blowing wind and the natural environment. Step By Step Instruction to Seed Starting 1. How to start your seeds a. Direct Sow- refers to planting your seeds directly into your garden space. b. Transplant- Transplanting is to start your seeds indoors, in trays or pots a few weeks before the last frost.

2. Gather Materials a. Seeds b. Seed Starting Trays c. Soil d. Hand Trowel 3. Fill Planting Area with Damp Soil a. Your tray should contain damp, but not wet, soil. b. It should be loose and not clumpy c. Go ahead and start your seeds in small trays, youll only need to use a little bit of soil to get started. d. As the plants grow you may need to transfer them to larger containers. 4. Plant your seed. a. On your seed packet youll find information about planting b. You will likely plant your seed no deeper than twice times the height of the seed c. Planting is easy, you take your index finger and make a dimple in the soil d. Put the seed in that dimple e. Cover over with soil f. Watering: You can use a spray bottle or watering can, but a shallow tray for dipping also works well. 5. Cover Your Planting a. Covering: i. When starting plants they will need high humidity to ensure germination. ii. You can buy plastic coverers but you can also use clear plastic which will create a mini greenhouse. 6. Place in Well Lighted Area a. Lights: i. Your seedlings need consistent light for 12-16 hours a day. That means you may need some artificial light. ii. During the day time place your seedlings in a well list room or window to ensure germination from natural light. 7. Hardening Off a. You need to begin hardening off your plants a few weeks before planting. b. This means you need to take them outside and let them get used to the blowing wind and the natural environment. c. In the early spring move them outside for a few hours a day d. In the mid spring move them outside permanently 8. Plant in the ground a. Remove your seed from the seed starting container. b. Dig a hole big enough to accommodate the new plant. c. Fill the hole with water d. Put the plant in the hole e. Cover with soil f. Water g. Treat like any regular plant.

Weeding, Watering and Mulching

Weeding, watering, and mulching are three of the most basic steps that a gardener can take to have good garden upkeep. They are also three of the most important. Having a good weeding, watering and mulching routine will not only help your plants be the most productive, it will also deter pests, protect your soil and prevent plant borne disease. Weeding: You dont need me to tell you to keep weeds out of your garden. While having weeds is not the end of the world, a weed free garden plot can be the difference between having a good yield of tomatoes and having a great yield of tomatoes. Weeds compete with your plants for the valuable nutrients they need to grow. They need these nutrients not only to produce the fruits and vegetables we eat, but also develop resistance to blight, disease and pests. Weeds can also suffocate your plants or shade them out from the sun. When your plants are young, it might not be easy to tell the difference between your plants and the weeds invading your garden. Here are some signs to look for: Are these plants growing in a regular row or space like I planted them? Do I see a lot of this plant scattered throughout my plot? Does it have thorns or spines that a vegetable plant shouldnt have? Do I see any plants like this outside of my garden that would tell me that its a weed? When it comes to removing weeds, try as much as possible to remove the entire root as well as the plant growing on the surface. Leaving the root means that it is more than likely that the weed will just regrow in the same spot within a couple of days. Your best bet is to use a hand trowel to dig around the base of the plant until the roots come free. That way, you can easily lift it out of your garden bed without breaking off the root base or disturbing any nearby plants. Watering Regular watering is also very important. Your garden plot should receive about one hour of water every week. Some weeks more, some weeks less, depending on how much it rains. A good rule of thumb is not to let your garden go more than two days without watering, Its also important to remember to water your garden in the morning or in the evening, not the afternoon. Watering during the hottest part of the day can cause your plants to get scorched by the sun as the water droplets heat up and evaporate. If you have to water during the day, soak the soil around their bases. Mulching Mulching is another gardeners tip to protect your soil and improve your yield. Mulching will put a protective layer over your soil, protecting it from the sun and helping it to retain moisture. This will let your plants have a slow healthy drink of water rather one thats rushed and not all that satisfying. Mulching will also help to suppress weeds. Your mulch will make it harder for weed seeds to reach the soil of your garden bed. So, instead of finding a nice cozy, cool bed of soil to grow in, theyll more than likely get caught in the mulch and burn up in the sun. Studies also show that mulching can double your yield. Good Sources of Mulch: Straw: A Simple bale of straw will be more than enough to keep your garden bed well mulched for a year. Compost: You just cant get away from it. WARNING! Dont use hardwood mulches. Hardwood mulches steal nitrogen from your bed as they decompose.

Season Extension
By moving hardy plants into your bed as your summer crops start to wither, you can eat fresh vegetables for at least 9 months out of the year. A well planned garden with regular successive plantings will allow you to have a steady harvest well into November. A poorly planned garden will leave you with an irregular and sporadic harvest that is not very satisfying. Youll find yourself sometimes taking home a lot but most of the times taking home nothing at all. A fall garden can be one of the most productive of the growing season. Cooler temperatures will allow plants like lettuce, leafy greens, root crops and the brassicas to thrive. Better yet, fall crops dont need as much care. They get by on less water, have less weeds to deal with and, often times, most of the bugs that give us fits in the summer have died off. We can even add things like winter squash and pumpkins to our plots as move out our larger summer crops as they become unproductive and start to die out. The secret for a good fall garden is in the timing. With our smaller leafy greens and lettuces, we can simply continue to succession plant like weve been doing all season. But with our larger plants, (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, squash and pumpkins) we are going to need to start them as transplants in mid to late-July and move them into our beds as the space begins to open up. What is the best thing about a fall garden? Impressing all your family members gathered around the Thanksgiving table with your specialty greens harvested just that morning! Beating the Frost Most hardy plants can tolerate temperatures just above freezing without a problem. But, sometimes even a light early frost can burn your plants. Here are some of simple solutions that any gardener can use to keep the cold out and help extend their season as long as possible. Hoop Houses Hoop Houses, or low tunnels, are made up of plastic sheeting stretched over PVC pipe or a mesh cage and made to arch over your bed. A Hoop House allows you to keep your bed, well insulated, well managed and aerated long into the fall growing season without any worry of frost damage. 2-liter bottles Most of the time plants can tolerate cooler air. Its the frost settling on their leaves that causes the most damage. The worsts frosts occur when mild day time temperatures plunge in the evenings causing the moisture in the air to freeze. Thats the kind of day when scraping your windshield is the worst. If we think one of those days might be coming and that some of our smaller plants are in danger, we can cut a plastic 2-liter bottle in half and place it over our plant in the evening. That should preserve the humidity within the bottle and protect it from overnight frost damage. Frost Cloth/Floating Row Cover There is definitely nothing fancy about a frost cloth. Most frost cloths are cotton bed sheets that are laid overtop larger plants to protect them from overnight frost damage. The cotton collects the moisture in the air so that it doesnt settle on your plants and freeze. Only use a frost cloth if your plants are mature enough to stand on their own. Even a light sheet will get heavy as it picks up moisture overnight and if your plants arent sturdy enough, it might cause them some damage.

Appendix 1 GFGH Standard Operating Procedures

Title: Friends of Hope Garden

Description: This S.O.P. is intended to provide step by step instructions on establishing the Friends of Hope Garden Site

1. Establish your Friends of Hope Garden Team a. This is an essential piece to the success of your garden. Youll need a point person or Garden Manager, Resource Manager, Mentor Recruiter, Gardener Recruiter and a Grower. b. Garden Manager: This person will be ultimately responsible for the success of your program. c. Resource Manager: Manages needs and solicits donations and purchases resources. d. Mentor Recruiter: Recruits mentors and other people with garden knowledge to assist with your project. e. Gardener Recruiter: Recruits people to be community gardeners. f. Grower: Provides expertise and assists with recruiting the teams to build and set up the garden site. 2. Find a location (Wilmington College provided space next to the Heiland House in 2009, use this space unless directed to use another space by the Director for the Center for Service and Civic Engagement.) a. Assess site for suitability (sunlight, water source, slope, wildlife) 3. Create a garden application a. Distribute garden application b. Choose applicants with desired qualifications 4. Create a proposal and budget including: a. Lumber (if choosing to do raised bed gardening) b. Seed (if it is not donated or provided by the college agriculture dept.) c. Transplants (if not donated or provided by the college agriculture dept.) d. Fencing or pest repellents if necessary e. Tools and Equipment i. Shovels ii. Rakes iii. Lawn Mower iv. Tiller v. Compost 5. Prep land for gardening a. If using raised beds: i. Plan out where beds will be placed and remove sod ii. Build raised beds and secure to ground iii. Fill beds with soil and manure iv. Use tiller or necessary tools to turn the soil and manure evenly v. Build a compost bin vi. Secure water source vii. Fencing if necessary b. If doing a traditional garden: i. Mark out area to be tilled

ii. Use a tiller to turn sod and soil iii. Mix soil with manure iv. Mark out rows and what will be planted in each v. Build a compost bin vi. Secure a water source vii. Fencing if necessary 6. Friends of Hope Garden Nights are on Tuesdays at 6:30 PM at the Friends of Hope Community Garden. a. Notify garden participants of first garden night (Typically between April 1 and April 15th. The first few garden nights will likely be indoor meetings.) 7. Map of where plants will be located within the plot and the week they will be planted (see attached). 8. Start Seeds a. There are two ways to start your seeds: Direct Sowing or by transplanting. i. Direct Sowing refers to planting your seeds directly into your garden space. ii. Transplanting is to start your seeds indoors, in trays or pots a few weeks before the last frost. b. How to Start Transplants i. Gather Materials ii. Fill Planting Area with Damp Soil iii. Open Space for Your Seed iv. Plant Your Seed v. Cover Your Planting vi. Place in Well-Sunned Window vii. Keep the seeds indoors until the external temperature is consistently above freezing. viii. Make sure the plants receive 10-14 hours of light a day. ix. Keep covered with plastic wrap or plastic lids to ensure a moist environment. x. Once the plants develop a small stem you can move them outdoors or use a fan to harden them off. This means exposing the seed to natural environments so that they arent weak when they are planted in the ground. 9. Hold the first garden night a. Introductions b. Rules for being part of the community garden c. Provide guidance for planting 10. Continue to hold garden nights and teach participants how to plant, weed, harvest and prepare produce (see garden night SOP). 11. When garden season comes to an end, clean out garden beds of weeds/dead plants so they are ready for the following year.

Title: Garden Recruitment Description: This Standard Operating Procedure is intended to provide step by step instructions on implementing a Recruitment Period for Community Garden/Backyard Garden programs participants.

1. Call a meeting with all key parties involved in the recruitment period. a. Key parties would include, but are not limited to: i. Director for the Center for Service and Civic Engagement ii. Student Associates iii. Wilmington College G.F.G.H Manager b. A pre-planned agenda should be developed to keep the initial meeting focused. Agenda topics should include, but are not limited to: i. Dates outlining recruitment period (i.e. January 1, 20XX March 31, 20XX) ii. Special focus being placed on the end date, as it also serves as the due date for all applications. iii. Calendars should be required or provided and include important dates to help in the discussion of this agenda item. c. Application format i. Provide example application from other garden projects ii. Bring the previous year application, along with any notes regarding its effectiveness. d. Develop an updated application for participation. e. Insure all important information is incorporated, possibly including, but not limited to: i. Wilmington College Logos ii. Head of Household information iii. Name iv. Date of Birth v. Address vi. Phone Numbers vii. Other Contact Information (e-mail) viii. Household members information ix. Household Information 1. Income level 2. Rent or Own 3. Availability x. Participation Area xi. List the different areas in which a household can participate. xii. Include any stipulations/requirements to participate. These might be: 1. Families may only participate in one of the following projects. 2. Families must be available during specific times. xiii. Signature xiv. Due Dates/Turn in Locations xv. Contact Information for Questions f. Be sure to include a type of interesting graphic or set up to draw possible families to the program. These can include, but are not limited to: i. Pictures ii. A full color front page g. Make sure to get approval from the Director for Service and Civic Engagement.

2. Printing and Publications a. Make copies of application for distribution b. Order any supplement materials (i.e. Hard cover flyers) c. Upload application on the www.growfoodgrowhope.com d. Distribution/Recruitment i. Ensure all contact information is correct and up to date. ii. Write a letter to Agencies, past gardeners, Businesses, Faculty, Staff, Students and Newspaper. outlining: 1. Introduction of Self 2. G.F.G.H mission and purpose 3. Project description 4. Their role in the process 5. Relaying information to possible participants. a. Contact information b. Address c. Phone Number d. Email Address e. Contact person f. Website g. Any attachments that are needed in the agencies role. Potential attachments may be: i. Garden application ii. Support documents for the application iii. Poster/flyers iv. Return envelopes v. Mail Out Letters 6. Evaluate the effectiveness of each agency and their relation to the population that is being targeted. e. Monitor the intake of surveys to determine if further actions must be taken f. Recruitment is an active process and must be micromanaged to ensure success. g. Notification of Acceptance See Garden Family Selection Standard Operating Procedure

Title: Mentor Recruitment Description: This Standard Operating Procedure is intended to provide step by step instructions on implementing a Recruitment Period for Community Garden mentors.

1. Call a meeting with all key parties involved in the recruitment period. a. Key parties would include, but are not limited to: i. Director for the Center for Service and Civic Engagement ii. Student Associates iii. Wilmington College G.F.G.H Manager b. A pre-planned agenda should be developed to keep the initial meeting focused. Agenda topics should include, but are not limited to: i. Dates outlining recruitment period (i.e. January 1, 20XX March 31, 20XX) ii. Special focus being placed on the end date, as it also serves as the due date for all applications. iii. Calendars should be required or provided and include important dates to help in the discussion of this agenda item. c. Application format i. Provide example application from other garden projects ii. Bring the previous year application, along with any notes regarding its effectiveness. h. Develop an updated application for participation. i. Insure all important information is incorporated, possibly including, but not limited to: i. Name ii. Date of Birth iii. Address iv. Phone Numbers v. Other Contact Information (e-mail) vi. Gardening Experience vii. Years viii. Description of work ix. Last year participation? x. Availability xi. Description of program xii. Signature xiii. Due Dates/Turn in Locations xiv. Contact Information for Questions d. Be sure to include a type of interesting graphic or set up to draw possible mentors to the program. These can include, but are not limited to: i. Pictures ii. Logos iii. A full color front page iv. A different type of paper v. Make sure to get approval from the Director for Service and Civic Engagement. 2. Printing and Publications a. Make copies of application for distribution

b. Order any supplement materials (i.e. Hard cover flyers) c. Upload application on the www.growfoodgrowhope.com d. Distribution/Recruitment i. Ensure all contact information is correct and up to date. ii. Write a letter to Agencies, past gardeners, Businesses, Faculty, Staff, Students and Newspaper. outlining: 1. Introduction of Self 2. G.F.G.H mission and purpose 3. Project description 4. Their role in the process 5. Relaying information to possible participants. a. Contact information b. Address c. Phone Number d. Email Address e. Contact person f. Website g. Any attachments that are needed in the agencies role. Potential attachments may be: i. Garden application ii. Support documents for the application iii. Poster/flyers iv. Return envelopes v. Mail Out Letters 6. Evaluate the effectiveness of each agency and their relation to the population that is being targeted. e. Monitor the intake of surveys to determine if further actions must be taken f. Recruitment is an active process and must be micromanaged to ensure success.

Title: Garden Night Planning

1. MONDAY a. Meet with Community Garden Team b. Speak with Director for the Center for Service and Civic Engagement to see what the recipe is that night and what food items you will need. c. Gather food items for the recipe except for items that will be harvested Tuesday night from the garden. d. Create recipe posters and nutrition posters i. Recipe Posters- make it a bigger version of the card. Make sure to include title, recipe, ingredients, and directions. ii. Nutrition Posters- make sure its only black and white, just a bigger version of the actually nutrition facts label. 2. TUESDAY (aka Community Garden Night) a. Gather materials from the GFGH Shed i. List of materials 1. Checkered fold-up table 2. Black fold-up table 3. Recipe cards (ones for that night) 4. Recipe holder 5. Box of clipboards 6. Digital Scale 7. Propane(if necessary) 8. 2 tubs of cooking materials 9. Food items gathered from yesterday 10. 2 Easels (for recipe and nutrition posters) 11. Gather food from the demo garden that will be used in the cooking demonstration b. Set up tent and place Kitchen items under the tent c. Place tent in between the Welcoming sign and the first garden on the right when you are facing the gardens. Make sure picnic table is close to the tent more towards the welcoming sign. d. For kitchen set up see SOP for Kitchen Set Up e. Place easels facing the parking lot, out to the left of the tent as youre facing the gardens. Place recipe posters and nutrition facts on them. f. Grab a clipboard and the scale from the GFGH Shed. i. The scale is used to weigh produce ii. As gardeners leave they need to weigh what they grew and document that weight on the clipboard. iii. This will entered into the GFGH database. g. Once Garden Mentors get there explain to them what needs to be harvested and what else needs to be done in the gardens (what you and Monte talked about in your meeting the day before). h. Families should start to arrive around 6:30, some may come earlier. i. Talk, help and mingle with families i. Things to ask: 1. How theyve been. 2. Compliment or ask about garden

j. k. l. m. n. o. p. q. r. s. t.

3. What they do for a living 4. Casual Conversation Through the night check with cooking advisor to see when she will be ready so you can let the families know. Announce a 5 minute warning for when the demo will be ready. The cooking advisor will ask someone to help and during the demo they will be her assistant. Help pass out food once its done. Also pass out recipe cards. Families begin to leave after demo is over. Collect all dirty dishes after passing out food. Place all dirty dishes from plates to actual cooking utensils into trash bag/extra empty tub and bring back to Service house to be cleaned. Tear down rest of set up Place all clean cooking materials and left over food into tubs. Make sure to bring anything that needs to be refrigerated back to Service House to put in fridge. Fold tables Take down tent Gather clipboards Bring everything back to the GFGH Shed.

Title: Community Garden Cooking Demo Description: This Standard Operating Procedure is intended to provide the step by step procedure for a successful cooking demo at the Community Garden.

1. Before Cooking Night a. Meet with Community Garden Team b. Find out what plants will be harvested and used for the demo for that particular week c. Discuss and decide on recipes to be made d. Create a list of ingredients that will be needed for the demo to be successful e. Make recipe cards and send them to the copy center f. Make recipe poster g. Make nutrition poster h. Make a list of items needed (utensils, kitchen equipment, set-up, serving dishes, etc.) i. Go through bins to make sure the equipment needed is there and to discover what ingredients are available without needing to buy them j. The bins are located at the GFGH Shed k. Make sure grill equipment is available if needed l. Check that there is enough propane m. If ingredients are needed, go to grocery store and buy ingredients 2. Day of Cooking Night a. Gather everything at service house(subject to change week to week) and the GFGH Shed i. Bins ii. Wash Station/Table iii. Food/Produce/Ingredients iv. Cooking utensils and equipment v. Cleaning supplies (i.e. wet rag to wipe down tables) vi. Posters vii. Easels viii. Recipe Cards ix. Extension Cords x. Checkered fold-up table xi. Black fold-up table xii. Recipe holder xiii. Propane(if necessary) xiv. 2 tubs of cooking materials xv. Food items gathered from yesterday 3. Food Prep a. Harvest and wash what is needed from the gardens planted for demos b. Make sure to harvest only what is needed c. Bring back to CSCE to wash d. Prep any ingredients that will be needed for recipe i. Examples would be peeling garlic, grating cheese, chopping off leaves, etc. e. Pack everything into bowls or Tupperware to be transported to gardens and mobile kitchen. 4. Cooking Night (Meet at Center for Service and Civic Engagement an hour before garden night is scheduled to begin) a. Transfer all materials needed to Community Gardens

b. Take everything in bins even if not needed to keep everything together and nothing is lost c. Get ice from Sodexo for water cooler, and cooler for food if needed. ( This will require a call ahead of time to let them know you are coming x.218) d. Set-up (Be aware that set-up takes time and some food may need to stay cool) e. Set-up near Community Garden sign(wooden showcase) on the side of the gardens f. Move picnic table in between the Community Garden sign and demo for children to sit on during the cooking demo g. Set-up tables for cooking demo & preservation station h. Black table on Northern side so that it is the front of the demonstration i. Put mobile kitchen perpendicular to black table on East side with opening towards the inside. j. the end of the wire rack needs to meet the end corner of the black table k. Arrange ingredients in a way to allow easy access for the Chef, mainly on the black table l. Arrange display of extra ingredients in an aesthetically pleasing way m. Get needed equipment out of bins and organize on the previously set-up tables n. When everything that is needed is out of bins, the bins are closed and hidden under the tables o. The stove (if needed is placed on the wire rack of the wash station) p. Any serving trays are placed on the wash station table q. Spatulas, serving spoons, measuring cups/spoons, etc. are hung on the hooks on the wash station r. Cutting board, mixing bowls, food processor are set on the black table s. Recipe card holder along with recipe card for Chef set on black table t. Place holder for recipe cards on the front of the black table and place recipe cards to be given out inside of the holder u. Get out a trash bag and place where trash can easily be thrown 5. Cooking Demo a. Chef cooks b. Be there to assist Chef in whatever way possible while cooking c. Dish cooked food onto serving trays, plates, or whatever is appropriate 6. Samples a. Pass around samples of food as well as recipe cards(make sure people also are given proper utensils to eat with) 7. Clean-Up a. Separate the dirty dishes into a bag/bin for dirty dishes b. Put other equipment that is not dirty back into bins c. Throw any trash into trash bag d. When all trash is collected, throw-out trash into the dumpster located nearest the Community Garden site e. Wipe down tables and fold them f. Gather everything together to be transported g. Move everything back to the Center for Service and Civic Engagement and GFGH Shed. h. Put water in dishes as needed i. Wash dishes j. Organize equipment into proper places to be stored for next use, wash/wipe equipment as needed k. Put everything away in its proper place

Appendix 2: Online Links

Applications
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GFGHGardenApplication https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Mentorsandvolunteers

Digital Resources
http://www.scribd.com/doc/155704609/Wilmington-College-Grow-Food-Grow-HopeSummer-2013 http://www.scribd.com/doc/138891266/Planning http://www.scribd.com/doc/138891262/Healthy-Soil http://www.scribd.com/doc/138891239/Basic-Bed-Building http://www.scribd.com/doc/138891205/More-Gardening-Resources http://www.scribd.com/doc/138891152/Basic-Garden-Tools-and-Vocabulary

Selected Past News Letters

http://www.scribd.com/doc/143234724/May-June-Newsletter-2013 http://www.scribd.com/doc/177153201/Copy-of-Fall-2013 http://www.scribd.com/doc/202516238/Grow-Food-Grow-Hope-Winter-2014 http://www.scribd.com/doc/141198265/july-2012-newsletter http://www.scribd.com/doc/141198235/August-2012-Newsletter http://www.scribd.com/doc/141198164/December-2009-Newsletter http://www.scribd.com/doc/141198157/April-2012-Newsletter http://www.scribd.com/doc/141198132/August-2011-Newsletter http://www.scribd.com/doc/141198093/december-2011-newsletter http://www.scribd.com/doc/141198053/january-february-2012-newsletter http://www.scribd.com/doc/141198016/July-2011-Newsletter http://www.scribd.com/doc/141197998/June-2012-Newsletter http://www.scribd.com/doc/141197976/March-2012-Newsletter http://www.scribd.com/doc/141197949/May-2012-Newsletter http://www.scribd.com/doc/141197898/November-2011-Newsletter http://www.scribd.com/doc/141197860/october-2011-newsletter