Gardeners In Community Development

Sustainable Garden Systems: We use regenerative practices the conserve energy and matter, and continuously build healthy soil. Using deep mulches of chipped tree trimmings and straw, organic amendments, weed suppressing and soil building cover crops, disease resistant plants, and ecological diversity, has brought lasting success. The East Dallas Community Garden continues to thrive as a project for Cambodian market gardeners now in its 37th year. The Live Oak Community Garden, is doing well at 33 years, and Our Saviour gardens are successfully passing 20 years.

Food Production Support and Education: We share our experience so that others can manage successful food projects. Much of this is through an open invitation for educational tours, and learning opportunities through hands-on volunteering, and providing education at a farmers market. Many of our 150 or so volunteers each year have never gardened before, and are eager to learn about soil, how to plant and harvest, what to grow, benefits of mulching, how to water, etc. This opportunity to learn, out in a real garden, attracts youth, small children, an folks that are beginning gardeners. During the past year over 60 people attended these work and learn sessions. During this past year we have mentored a group managing a greenhouse, and helped groups involved in donating to food pantries. We continued a mini-farm where refugee gardeners can observe best practices in soil management, weed control, crop selection, harvesting, and other appropriate practices in on-going real time. At our farmers market booth weekly we share production information about locally grown food, and sell best varieties of herbs and vegetables transplants.