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Upcoming Events March 2006

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in this issue

-- VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR SPRING GARDEN INSTALLATIONS

-- VOLUNTEER WORKSHOP PRESENTERS NEEDED

-- YOUTH GROW VOLUNTEER TRAINING

-- VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO WRITE ARTICLES FOR THE NEWSLETTER

-- MONTHLY VOLUNTEER NIGHT AT THE GROWING GARDENS OFFICE

-- MENTORS NEEDED TO WORK WITH 2006 HOME GARDENERS

-- GARDENING 101

-- GARDENING 102

-- HEALTHY SOIL/HEALTHY PLANTS

-- GROWING GARDENS WISH LIST

-- VOLUNTEER NEEDED TO DELIVER SUPPLIES TO A PLANT START GROWER

-- HELP CELEBRATE GROWING GARDENS 10TH ANNIVERSARY!!

Greetings!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR SPRING GARDEN INSTALLATIONS

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Saturdays, 9am-2pm - March 11, 18, 25 & April 1, 8

We're still in need of volunteers for our Saturday garden installations during the months of March and April. If you can move soil or swing a hammer please join us for a fun filled day with other volunteers and Growing Gardens staff. Call Rodney Bender at 503- 284-8420 or email rodney@growing-gardens.org for more information and to sign up.

VOLUNTEER WORKSHOP PRESENTERS NEEDED

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Every year Growing Gardens puts on workshops for our enrolled gardeners and the commuity. The workshops are taught by garden experienced volunteers. It's time to start planning for our 2006 workshop series. We're looking for experienced gardeners who are interested in being a workshop presenter. Workshops include, but are not limited to: Composting, seed saving, gardening 101, vermicomposting, food preservation, cooking with summer vegetables, healthy soil/healthy plants & winter gardening. Growing Gardens can provide outlines and agendas. Contact Rodney at 503-284-8420 for more information or to suggest a gardening topic.

YOUTH GROW VOLUNTEER TRAINING

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 Excited about springtime in the garden? Would you like to share your enthusiasm with children and help cultivate life long vegetable eaters and growers? Youth Grow Garden Educators provide elementary aged children with opportunities to start seeds, nurture plants, explore worm bins, play games, learn to compost, listen to garden stories, eat garden fresh goodies and more! Garden Educators assist the Youth Grow Manager to teach Garden club classes after- school and during the summer months.

Growing Gardens’ will host a Garden Educator Volunteer Training Wednesday March 1st from 5:30 - 7:30 pm in SE Portland. This training will provide information about Growing Gardens Youth Grow programs, roles and expectations for Garden Educators and fun and positive ways to interact with Garden Club students. Participants who take this training are asked to provide 20 hours of volunteer time to Youth Grow programs over the next 6 months. To sign-up and get directions, please call 503 284-8420 or email Caitlin@growing-gardens.org No experience with gardening is necessary, but a strong desire to work with youth is. Criminal background checks are required.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO WRITE ARTICLES FOR THE NEWSLETTER

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Growing Gardens puts out a bi-monthly educational newsletter for our Home & Partner Gardeners called Seeds For Success. The newsletter focuses on what to do in the garden during that two month period. We are looking for volunteers to write articles for the next newsletter which will be for May/June. If interested, contact Rodney at 503-284-8420 or rodney@growing-gardens.org

MONTHLY VOLUNTEER NIGHT AT THE GROWING GARDENS OFFICE

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Wednesday, March 1 - 5pm-8pm - NE

Join us on the first Wednesday of each month for miscellaneous office work, refreshments and a good time with Growing Gardens staff and volunteers. Call Rodney at 503-284-8420 or email rodney@growing-gardens.org to sign up and get directions.

MENTORS NEEDED TO WORK WITH 2006 HOME GARDENERS

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Do you have a passion for organic food gardening and would like to share your knowledge with others? We are looking for volunteers to mentor our 2006 Home Gardeners. Mentors will assist in teaching our gardeners the basics of organic gardening including garden planning, planting, garden maintenance, composting, winter gardening and cover cropping. Mentors will need to commit to being available for home visits or phone questions for one or two families throughout the growing season. Contact Rodney Bender at 503-284-8420 or rodney@growing-gardens.org for more information.

GARDENING 101

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Tuesday, March 14 - 6:30-8:30pm (NE Portland)

Saturday, March 18 - 11am-1pm (SE Portland)

Never gardened before or have limited experience? Learn how to plan, implement, and care for your veggie garden. For more information or to sign up contact Rodney at 503-284-8420 or rodney@growing-gardens.org

GARDENING 102

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Tuesday, April 11 - 6:30-8:30pm (NE Portland)

Saturday, April 15 - 11am-1pm (SE Portland)

Part 2 of our basic gardening workshop. To sign up contact Rodney at 503-284-8420 or rodney@growing-gardens.org

HEALTHY SOIL/HEALTHY PLANTS

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Thursday, April 27 - 6-8pm (inner N/NE Portland)

Tips on how to 'grow' healthy soil and manage garden pests for a healthy, productive garden!

GROWING GARDENS WISH LIST

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We could use the following supplies to help our programs run smoothly. All donations are tax deductible.

Salad spinner

Air pop popcorn maker

15 clip boards

Gift certificates - grocery stores, book stores, art supply/craft stores

Children’s garden themed story books-"Tops and Bottoms" by Janet Stevens, "A Diary of A Worm", "How Groundhog’s Garden Grew", "There’s A Hair in My Dirt" by Gary Larson and others

Rubber maid tubs for Worm Bins

VOLUNTEER NEEDED TO DELIVER SUPPLIES TO A PLANT START GROWER

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Every year several farmers and community members grow plant starts for our annual Plant Give Away day. We need a volunteer to drive some seeds, potting soil and 4" containers to a grower in Sandy (East of Portland) and Happy Valley (South of Portland). For more information contact Katy at 503- 284-8420 or katy@growing-gardens.org

HELP CELEBRATE GROWING GARDENS 10TH ANNIVERSARY!!

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We need volunteers who want to serve on our event planning committee for a Gala fundraising event to be held late fall, 2006. We are looking for individuals with web development skills, great organizers, people who aren't afraid to ask for donations, and people who can make a commitment. Please contact Deb at Growing Gardens (deb@growing-gardens.org)

Contact Information

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email: rodney@growing-gardens.org

phone: 503.284.8420

web: http://www.growing-gardens.org

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