Keyword Exclusive - Garden club start-up
by: Kathy Witt
Supplement to “Flower Powers”
Interested in starting a garden club in your own area? Robbie Smith, the Nelson County Extension agent for horticulture with the Nelson County Extension Office, says it’s simple as long as you have a leader, i.e., someone willing to work the hardest.
“You need to have a leader and it takes a special passion.”
Smith says members can be gathered around one project.
“Identify it and then develop the organization from the success of this project. A garden club can be a really good husband-and-wife-team effort; it becomes a good outlet to do together.”
The project can be selected based on members’ skills. Are you a good weed puller? Start with this beautification project and then build on it. If you’re a good designer able to artfully put together containers of flowers, try that.
“You can plant the containers on Main Street, spruce up gardens, replant areas around city signs, maintain alleyways—these kinds of programs can be for individuals or groups.”
The next step is to talk with your city administrator or mayor to present your project idea. Most will be very excited about beautification type projects because they’re good for the town and are generally a cost savings to the city or county.
“Have a meeting, find out if funds might already be in place for such a project, and go from there,” says Smith. “You can’t just show up and start planting.”
Along the same lines, perhaps your subdivision could use their own garden club to spruce up and beautiful the entrance? As a leader, talk with your homeowners’ association to discuss your plans and whether funds are available. Take the project on yourself if it is small or talk to neighbors to form a small group of volunteers to help plant and maintain the area year-round.
If there is no homeowners’ association, you can walk door-to-door and ask for a small donation for your project. Don’t be afraid to also ask if they’d like to help. Take along a pen and pad to record names, address, and donations. It is also a good idea to leave a card with your name, address, and phone number.
You may be surprised how much money and time neighbors are willing to pitch into the project. There is great pride for having a beautiful entrance to a subdivision. And what a wonderful way to get to know your neighbors!
To read the Kentucky Living March 2013 feature that goes along with this supplement, go to Flower Powers.
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