Managing the Garden

Types of Volunteer-Run Garden Teams

• Mostly retirees, a few working folks. 3-person team each day, an hour or so.
• Special-needs young adults & their teachers/aids. 2-3 days a week, an hour or so.
• Retirees, working folks, special-needs adults. 6 days a week, an hour or so.

Special Projects Team

There are tasks besides gardening, good for non-gardeners.

• Shopping
• Hauling things
• Building things - trellises, etc.
• Fixing things
• Refurbishing beds

Advance Planning Team

Need to plan ahead, so an advance planning team may be a good idea.

• When will the current crops be done?
• What will be planted next?
• When do seeds need to be ordered?
• When do seedlings need to be started?

Administrative Tasks

• Raise funds; manage finances
• Recruit, process, place volunteers
• Set up / manage web site
• Coordinate with other groups
• Prepare and distribute newsletter
• Set up / coordinate meetings

Who Makes Gardening Decisions?

Everyone has an opinion!

• What to grow?
• When to plant?
• How fertilize?
• When to harvest?

Therefore, may want to appoint a Lead Gardener for each garden who listens then decides

Team Communication

A big issue in a volunteer garden!

• The daily teams don’t see each other
• They need to know:
  • What’s already been done?
  • What else needs to be done?
  • Who is responsible for what?
  • Without communication, it’s chaos.

Setting up Team Communication

Two way communication:

1. Give directions to the volunteers:
   1. What needs to be done?
   2. Who is assigned to do it?
   3. How is it to be done?
2. Get feedback from the volunteers:
   1. What was done on your day?
   2. Observations / feedback
   3. Questions / concerns / requests

Communication Methods

• White board at the garden
• Email messages
• Web site where everyone can make entries
  • Lead Gardeners post instructions
  • Daily teams report in
  • Everyone can read and stay in tune

Training

• Most daily teams have both experienced and new gardeners
• New volunteers get on-the-job training from teammates
• Veteran gardener advises and mentors
• Garden-wide seminars are open to all

Repairs/Maintenance-Reporting/Resolution

• Daily teams report problems in their on-line daily report
• Special Projects team picks up on the report
• Special Projects reports back when the job is done

Tools and Resources - Sharing/Storage

• Most of our tools were donated by volunteers
• Stored in garden-side tool boxes, plastic bins
• Each gardens has its own tools + shared tools
• Soil amendments / fertilizers are acquired in bulk and shared as needed by each garden

Compost Pile / Recycling / Trash

• We compost our garden waste
• The three gardens share
  • One composting operation
  • One trash can, recycle can for non-compostables

Working with a Food Bank

• What crops do they want?
  • This determines what you grow
  • May differ from gardener wishes
• How will the produce get there?
  • We have to harvest AND deliver
  • What days / times will they accept delivery?
  • Do you need a cooler / refrigerator / storage?

Reporting to Funders / Volunteers

You can use a monthly newsletter to:

• Report to volunteers, funders, and other supporters
• Announce upcoming events and developments

Challenges

• Regular gardening challenges
• Ensuring a good experience for the volunteers
• Raising sufficient funds
• Maximizing production

Rewards

• Learning new things
• Feeling of camaraderie
• Sense of accomplishment

Adapted from the Backyard Produce Project in Poway, CA