Cornell Cooperative Extension Community Horticulture

Update…

APRIL 4 & 5 GREAT GARDENS AND LANDSCAPING SYMPOSIUM IS HOT!

For those needing Friday, or Friday and Saturday night accommodations,
please call The Reluctant Panther Inn (www.reluctantpanther.com
<http://www.reluctantpanther.com>) at (802) 822-2331. They are only one
block from The Equinox Resort – an easy stroll! If you need additional
assistance with lodging, please call the Manchester Chamber of Commerce at
(802) 362-6313.

Fifth Annual Great Gardens and Landscaping Symposium

April 4 & 5, 2008 at the world-class Equinox Resort in Manchester, VT

Sponsored by Bradfield Organics, Coast of Maine Organic Products, Davey

Hecht Woodworking, Dutch Gardens, Equinox Valley Nursery, Gardener’s Supply

Company, Messenger, People, Places & Plants, Proven Winners, SafeLawns,

TerraCycle, The Vermont Association of Professional Horticulturists & Garden

Arts Custom Landscapes

Friday 7:00 – 9:00 p.m., Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Enjoy six dynamic lectures by renowned professionals in their fields. Last year the symposium sold out two months prior to the event. Guest speakers are Tara Dillard, a national award winning author, designer, speaker and former TV host on CBS from Atlanta, Georgia; Shepherd Ogden, a renowned speaker, author, teacher, horticulturist, and founder of The Cooks Garden (a pioneering organic seed company); Mardell Steinkamp from Sunny Border Nurseries, one of the largest wholesalers of perennials and new introductions in the northeast; Kerry Mendez, a popular speaker, teacher, writer, consultant and former TV show host; and Kelly Sweeney, master designer, landscaper and head gardener for the 700 acre Basin Harbor Club in Vermont (one of the Historic Hotels of America). Topics include The Art of Garden Design, New Perennials for 2008, Creating Focal Points In The Garden, Sensational Flowering Shrubs, Step-by-Step Organic Vegetable and Flower Gardening, and All About Annuals. Package price for one night’s accommodations at a four diamond resort, welcome reception with heavy hors d’oeuvres and cash bar, full breakfast, gourmet luncheon buffet, six garden lectures with handouts, garden gift, chance to win great door prizes, and all taxes and gratuities is only $276.97 single or $406.79 double ($203.40 per person). Two night packages available. Day rates available starting at $75. For package reservations, call the Equinox Resort (www.equinoxresort.com) at (800) 362-4747. For day rates and registration forms, as well as the agenda and topics, please visit www.pyours.com/Symposium2008.html or call (518) 885-3471.

Enhancing Program Performance through Logic Models Video Conference–March 5 – Registration due February 15
What’s all the “buzz” about Logic Models? Here’s what participants at a recent Logic Model training have to say:

“The Logic Model will help me develop and lead quality programs.”

“My eyes were really opened in developing program indicators and setting targets.”

“This interactive learning experience gave me valuable tools that I can use in real life situations at work.”

Logic Models aren‘t magic, but they are valuable tools in planning and conducting quality, high-impact programs. And like any tool, the user needs to understand their use, and practice to gain competence and confidence. Participants will gain an understanding of Logic Models and their uses in program planning and evaluation, and you will develop a Logic Model relevant to their work.

This Interactive Video-based program will be held at 3 locations: CCE-St. Lawrence; CCE-Orange; and Cornell Campus (MVR Building). The program will run from 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM.

This component of the CCE Program Leadership Certificate is being opened to CCE Educators and Executive Directors, in addition to the cohort group. Teams of Educators who wish to develop a joint Logic Model are welcome. Lunch will be available for a small fee.

For more information if you have questions, contact Margaret O’Neill at mao6@cornell.edu or at 585-461-1000, ext. 222. Registration is due by February 15th at this website.

February 2008 Kids Garden News from the national gardening association explores the benefits of gardening with this population, and provides a collection of tips and resources for adapting basic plant-based lessons and activities at: http://www.kidsgardening.com/teachers.asp#les

The Merck Family Fund supports work by communities with few resources who are confronting significant social, economic, and environmental challenges. The two areas of focus for the fund are to create green and open space, and support youth as agents of social change. These grants are limited to grassroots programs in New York, New York; Providence, Rhode Island; and Boston, Massachusetts.

1. Green and Open Space

Abandoned and mistreated land is both a challenge and an opportunity for urban dwellers. Beginning with a shared vision and working collaboratively to access resources, neighbors come together around the land. In the process of restoring healthy open space, vibrant communities are built and the power of collective effort is seeded and affirmed.

The fund’s interests include projects that encourage local residents to reclaim, improve, and maintain community gardens, land with the potential for recreational or educational uses, and under-utilized open space; build local grassroots organizations, provide technical assistance, and advocate at a city-wide level for the enhancement of open space; and provide additional benefits to the community, such as employment training, fresh food, or economic opportunities.

2. Youth Organizing

In most urban communities, youth (under 19) make up disproportionate numbers of those with the fewest resources and the least power. With proper training and support, youth are best positioned to be their own advocates and spokespeople as well as leaders in the community and of movements for social change. The fund supports programs that involve youth in the design, operation, and evaluation of a project; train youth to learn skills, develop relationships, and gain experience while making a positive impact on the community; support youth to research issues of concern, design strategies for change, and implement action plans; and identify youth as important stakeholders in the health and well-being of the community.

http://www.merckff.org/programs.html#anchorstrengtheningheader

Changing the world – one garden at a time

VisionTV and Recreating Eden to re-launch
community garden sponsorship initiative

Due to the success of last year’s garden sponsorship initiative, VisionTV and Recreating Eden, would like to lend a helping hand to public and community gardens that are making a difference.

How? It’s easy!

Just go to www.recreatingeden.com and tell us in 500 words how $1,000 would help your garden make a greater contribution to the community.

We’ll look carefully at every submission,
and select the candidate with the greatest potential.

We look forward to hearing from you!

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: MONDAY, MARCH 3, 2008.