Growing Matters Garden Program

Educational Programs

10-Week Summer Progam

During the summer, student groups from local youth development organizations (such as Family and Children Services and the ARK shelter) visit our gardens for a 10-week garden educational program. At our gardens, students learn how to:

• grow fruits and vegetables from seed to harvest (using organic practices),
• better understand where their food comes from,
• eat fresh, sustainably grown food from the garden, and
• enjoy working, learning, and playing together outside!

If you work for a local non-profit, neighborhood association, school, church group, or other youth development organization and are interested in our 10-week summer program, please contact us for more information.

Summer Garden Workshops

During the summer we host a series of community workshops focusing on sustainable, organic gardening practices. These low cost, 1-2 hour workshops are a great way to get your hands dirty while learning about a variety of gardening topics. Workshops are held at the Growing Matters Garden main site, 2119 N. Westnedge, unless otherwise indicated. Contact Heather for more information or to pre-register.

• Rain Barrels 101 -July 16, 6:30-8 p.m.- Rain barrels are a great way to sustainably use runoff water otherwise destined for the storm drain. Join us in building a barrel to take home and discussing installation options. Please pre-register by 5 p.m., Friday, July 10. Donation of $32 per barrel helps cover costs of materials and handouts.
• Introduction to Composting -August 6, 6:30-8 p.m.- Interested in learning how to turn your yard waste and food scraps into nutritious, free fertilizer for your plants and garden? Come learn how to set up and maintain an outdoor composting system and an indoor worm bin. Donation of $5-10 covers materials.
• Lessons in Seed Saving -August 20, 6:30-8:30 p.m.- Lori Evesque is a long-time member of Seed Savers International and has been actively saving and offering seeds for 10+ years. She'll demonstrate methods to save seeds of tomatoes and other late-summer vegetables, discuss care and storage, and offer resources. $5-10 donation covers materials/handouts.

Programs at Woodward Elementary School

The Growing Matters Garden program provides year round garden support for Woodward Elementary teachers and staff. We help the school with garden planning, planting with classes, and summer garden maintenance.

Over the past few years, we have worked together with staff to create garden based lesson plans to help bring the garden into more of their curriculum.

During the summer break, we host a weekly garden night on Tuesday evenings from 7-8 pm. Students, staff, neighbors, families, and any interested community members are welcome to join us at the school garden (located on the corner of North and Stuart).