Showing posts with label community garden. Show all posts
Showing posts with label community garden. Show all posts
Thursday, February 2, 2012
How to Start a Community Garden
Don't miss out on the 5th Annual Orange County Eco-nomic Living Expo this Saturday, February 4th at the Orange County Extension Education Center (6021 S. Conway Rd, Orlando, 32812). Ed Thralls will be presenting a 30 minute presentation in the Magnolia Room where he will address the 9-steps to starting a Community Garden. There will be other great presentations too so don't miss out. This is a FREE event. For more information, download this PDF file http://orange.ifas.ufl.edu/ocs/pdffiles/2012/program.pdf
Friday, February 11, 2011
Community Garden Accounting Practices
A community gardener comments: “I am looking for advice/guidelines on correctly setting up our account for a new community garden I'm involved with. We have applied and received our first grant and are looking for the best way to deposit these funds and access them that is legal and ethical. We hope to become a 501(c) (3) in the future, but are not ready for that just yet.”
Suggestions include this one from a fellow community Gardener: “Do you have a separate bank account? Do you have a 501(c) (3) that can act as a fiduciary for you? How much money is it?
You can probably set up an account at your local bank or credit union. Set it up in the name of the Garden or whoever the check is made out to. You will need two signing officers at least, 3 is better, you will all have to go to the bank, with ID (two pieces, one with address, one with photo) and sign the papers, order the checks and there you go.”
Another community gardener suggested “Until you get an account in the name of your garden group, you can ask some other 501(c) (3) group to act as your "fiscal sponsor" and accept the check on your behalf. They would then release the funds to you. They would probably ask you to document the transaction and what/how you spend the money because once a group becomes a fiscal sponsor, they are also responsible to the original funder for the proper use of the money. Many non-profits will do this for free; some charge a small administrative fee. Some are more "hands-on" about managing this than others. Maybe there is some other local greening or environmental group, community service organization or even a local church/temple, etc., that would be willing to be your fiscal sponsor.”
My advice is for you to contact a lawyer and get real legal advice.
Suggestions include this one from a fellow community Gardener: “Do you have a separate bank account? Do you have a 501(c) (3) that can act as a fiduciary for you? How much money is it?
You can probably set up an account at your local bank or credit union. Set it up in the name of the Garden or whoever the check is made out to. You will need two signing officers at least, 3 is better, you will all have to go to the bank, with ID (two pieces, one with address, one with photo) and sign the papers, order the checks and there you go.”
Another community gardener suggested “Until you get an account in the name of your garden group, you can ask some other 501(c) (3) group to act as your "fiscal sponsor" and accept the check on your behalf. They would then release the funds to you. They would probably ask you to document the transaction and what/how you spend the money because once a group becomes a fiscal sponsor, they are also responsible to the original funder for the proper use of the money. Many non-profits will do this for free; some charge a small administrative fee. Some are more "hands-on" about managing this than others. Maybe there is some other local greening or environmental group, community service organization or even a local church/temple, etc., that would be willing to be your fiscal sponsor.”
My advice is for you to contact a lawyer and get real legal advice.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Where has the year gone?
It is now December. Hurricane season has officially ended. Gardeners new to the area want to know what to plant. We are in our "Cool Season Crops" time of year. Most leafy vegetables are appropriate such as Swiss chard, collards, cabbage, lettuce, kale and the like. Also, the root vegetables are excellent choices at this time of year including beets, turnips, radishes, kohlrabi, carrots and onions. Don't foget that many herbs are excellent at this time of year too.
Water is most critical at this time of year with every plant slowing down, we want to keep our Cool Season vegetables growing. MODERATELY MOIST is the key and with the winter winds blowing over the top of our plants there will be a great deal of moisture taken out of the ground; more that you can anticipate. Use a microirrigation system on a timer if you wish; they are exempt from Water Management District rules for irrigation. Otherwise you will need a hose near the garden with a positive shut off. When is it moist? When it feels moist --- put your hand on the soil.
Pests can be problems at this time of year too. Read and follow all instructions on the pesticide label. Most of your problems can be hand picked and tossed into a bucket of soapy water. Insecticidal soap will take care of the aphid, white fly and spider mites. Chilli thrips will need a shot of the natural control "Spinosad". Small cateripllars on your cabbages and collards can be hand picked or killed with the natural control "Bt" which is found as Dipel or Thuricide.
Just because it is winter does not mean we give up vegetable gardening. There is no need to give up until June when it is too hot to stay out in the garden.
Water is most critical at this time of year with every plant slowing down, we want to keep our Cool Season vegetables growing. MODERATELY MOIST is the key and with the winter winds blowing over the top of our plants there will be a great deal of moisture taken out of the ground; more that you can anticipate. Use a microirrigation system on a timer if you wish; they are exempt from Water Management District rules for irrigation. Otherwise you will need a hose near the garden with a positive shut off. When is it moist? When it feels moist --- put your hand on the soil.
Pests can be problems at this time of year too. Read and follow all instructions on the pesticide label. Most of your problems can be hand picked and tossed into a bucket of soapy water. Insecticidal soap will take care of the aphid, white fly and spider mites. Chilli thrips will need a shot of the natural control "Spinosad". Small cateripllars on your cabbages and collards can be hand picked or killed with the natural control "Bt" which is found as Dipel or Thuricide.
Just because it is winter does not mean we give up vegetable gardening. There is no need to give up until June when it is too hot to stay out in the garden.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Pine Hills Community Garden - Grant Approved
A ReNew Grant was approved on July 30, 2010 to assist the Pine Hills Community Garden program to move to the next step. Construction of raised beds and access to irrigation water will commence during the week of August 16th. Congratulations for completing this most important step.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Organization - Key to Successful Community Gardens
Who will help my find a place to plant my corn?
Who will help me plant my corn?
Who will help me care for my corn?
Who will help me harvest my corn?
Who will help me eat my corn?
Even the Little Red Hen knew she could not grow the best garden by herself.
Find 9 more friends and contact the Orange County Extension Service Office at (407) 254-9200 to learn why "Organization is the Key to a Successful Community Garden".
Who will help me plant my corn?
Who will help me care for my corn?
Who will help me harvest my corn?
Who will help me eat my corn?
Even the Little Red Hen knew she could not grow the best garden by herself.
Find 9 more friends and contact the Orange County Extension Service Office at (407) 254-9200 to learn why "Organization is the Key to a Successful Community Garden".
Friday, February 26, 2010
Community Garden Program
Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve a Community Garden Program in Orange County, Florida.
Groups of interested County Citizens should contact me at the County Extension Education Center (407) 254-9200 to discuss the possibility of establishing Community Gardens at County Parks and County Community Centers in the neighborhoods. These Community Gardens are for the purpose of growing vegetables for self consumption using organic methods.
Educational material and other assistance is available to help you through the process of creating your Community Garden Organization.
Educational classes and hands-on demonstrations will complement your progress toward creating your Community Garden.
Contact me at (407) 254-9200
Groups of interested County Citizens should contact me at the County Extension Education Center (407) 254-9200 to discuss the possibility of establishing Community Gardens at County Parks and County Community Centers in the neighborhoods. These Community Gardens are for the purpose of growing vegetables for self consumption using organic methods.
Educational material and other assistance is available to help you through the process of creating your Community Garden Organization.
Educational classes and hands-on demonstrations will complement your progress toward creating your Community Garden.
Contact me at (407) 254-9200
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Community Gardeners Learning Centre at Mead Garden
Successful Community Gardens do not just happen. Starting a new Community Garden can be very challenging. There is help available for *** FREE ***
The Theodore L. Mead Community Gardeners Learning Centre at Mead Garden in Winter Park is ready to assit you with a place to learn "How to Start a Community Garden".
Learn leadership skills to keep the Community Garden "growing" and learn gardening skills including building raised beds, finding free compost, what kind of vegetables, when and how to plant vegetables from seeds and transplants and lots more.
Contact Ed Thralls at (407) 254-9200
The Theodore L. Mead Community Gardeners Learning Centre at Mead Garden in Winter Park is ready to assit you with a place to learn "How to Start a Community Garden".
Learn leadership skills to keep the Community Garden "growing" and learn gardening skills including building raised beds, finding free compost, what kind of vegetables, when and how to plant vegetables from seeds and transplants and lots more.
Contact Ed Thralls at (407) 254-9200
Community Gardens in Orange County, Florida
Welcome to the Community Gardens Blog in Orange County Florida. Let us know about your Community Garden so we may all learn and share as we "grow" Community Gardens together.
Contact me at (407) 254-9200
Contact me at (407) 254-9200
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