Growing to Give Program Facilitator

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The Growing to Give Program (GGP), Wagner Farm Arboretum (WFA) Education Committee, and Warren Township schools collaborate to produce vegetables for donation, educate students in organic gardening skills, encourage student awareness of local poverty, and offer them the opportunity to serve through volunteerism. WFA supply training and publicity materials and teachers incorporate nature lessons in the classroom.

Elementary students will grow 4 seedlings of selected vegetables in the classroom and at planting time will go to the Giving Garden and plant their seedlings with advice of teachers and experienced gardeners

The children will experience an educational/service field trip day to WFAF where they will learn about bee keeping, the story of Wagner Farm Arboretum, as well as perform volunteer service for Giving Garden, Children’s Garden, and the Growing to Give program.

Responsibilities and schedule

32 hours - Flexible schedule during end of March, Prepare for program working with school representative and arboretum personnel. Enlist 4 to 6 gardeners to volunteer as advisors on seed planting day.

8 hour day - One day in early April - Planting at school, Include a short informative presentation for each group. Oversee volunteers supervising the planting, labeling, and watering. Each class takes its plant trays to classroom.

12 hours - Periodically check in with classes as to progress of the seedlings.

8 hours - Prepare for school field trip. Identify and schedule presentations and work assignments. Collaborate with school officials and Arboretum leaders.

8 hour day - One day(mid May) during Implement the field trip plan.

6 hours - Pick up and transfer the seedlings from the school to the cold frame in Giving Garden area.

16 hours - Maintain and improve the seedling quality and verify plots are ready for planting.

6 hours - Insure that volunteer gardeners are available to supervise on planting day.

8 hour day - one day(last week of May or first week of June). Oversee the planting. Approximately 16 classes will participate arriving by bus trips of 4 classes per trip.