Day of Service 2010

Name of Organization:

Birmingham, Alabama Stake

Location and Time:

Establish model/Demonstration garden in each major population center in the Stake boundaries from which to demonstrate & teach highly productive sustainable gardens:
Garden to be near a Classroom for video presentations
Create and plant gardens using “students” who have been trained at previous seminars
Build greenhouse and grow seedlings in at least one location
Request seedling donations from wholesale growersso supplement those we grow
Assist families to replicate model gardens in their own home gardens

Train LDS Members (10+ per location) as “experts” (invite others to participate)
Gardening Seminars to train experts – multiple during Feb, Mar, April
Work with Members in Model gardens and greenhouse(s)
Assist local Members with greenhouses and gardens

Pre-event Promotion – Press Releases:  Announce and promote gardening workshops for April 24 through media
Early – begin excitement & education on methods, etc.
In process – provide pictures & stories on greenhouse & gardens
Invite other churches & community groups to participate
Neighbors and friends

Day of Event - On April 24:
Big announcements in media inviting the public to the Model/Demonstration gardens
Have group of trained LDS gardening experts at each location
Gardening Videos playing at all locations
Conduct multiple short seminars/workshops
Tour Model gardens
Conduct training and work in model gardens with community participants
Get sign-ups – requests/commitments for personal gardens with assistance
Provide seeds/seedlings, and instructional materials

Follow-up throughout the growing season, with regular visits/assistance to all who request help
Members and other interested community experts
Missionaries

Activity/responsibility:

Each weekend except General Conference we will conduct gardening seminars/workshops in locations throughout the Stake, to which all Members and their neighbors will be invited.

Classroom instruction and work in the garden will prepare participants to build highly productive home gardens and maintain the local area Model/Demonstration gardens, including preparation of soil-beds, planting seeds and seedlings, watering, feeding, weeding, and pruning plants.  Also, seedling production and vertical growing will be taught and demonstrated, and participants will grow vertically in their home gardens as appropriate, to increase yields and quality of produce.

Before April 24 community involvement will be solicited, partners will be sought out and publicity will be in place to build excitement and participation of the greater community.

On the Day of Service Model/Demonstration gardens in each major population center will be manned by trained volunteers, who will conduct mini-workshops/seminars with short videos.  Also, tours of the gardens will be conducted, and dmonstrations will be conducted of the basic gardening steps.

Visitors will be given concise written instructions to assist them in the preparation and planting of their own gardens, and they will be invited to request the assistance of the trained volunteers in their own gardens.

Friendships and associations will be established to foster continuing assistance and involvement with members of the community who are interested in gardening, to assure that as many as possible productive gardens are grown throughout the Stake area.

Tools or skills required:

Round-head shove, garden rake, hammer, 18” stakes, and nylon string

Ages:

All ages above 14 who have been trained by attending a Seminar in their own area and have created their garden with this method

Additional Notes:

participants will be solicited who are willing and able to have a seedling-production greenhouse or cold-frame/hotbed in their own yards, to produce seedlings for the local model/demonstration garden as well as their own and other participants’ gardens.

Directions and assistance will be provided to all who have a seedling production facility as a part of their home gardens.

Download flyer:

Links:

http://www.dayofservice.org/images/uploads/photos/Birmingham_garden.jpg

Contact Person: Jim Kennard

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