Apply to Become a Garden Site


Home
›
Centers & Institutes
›
Community Garden Connections
›
Apply to Become a Garden Site

Apply to Become a Garden Site!

Keene Community Garden Connections (CGC) is excited to announce another opportunity for local organizations and agencies in Keene to apply to become a CGC garden site!

This opportunity is made possible through continued support from the Rashti Foundation. Through their generosity, Antioch University New England (AUNE) has partnered with many organizations to develop 13 garden sites (68 raised beds) in Keene since 2011. The sites have been bountiful, and gardeners have been involved in a variety of activities that connect them to their communities. We currently seek more partners to host new garden sites and encourage your organization(s) to apply.

If your organization is interested in becoming a site, please contact us at [email protected]

Prior to filling out the application, please take a few minutes to read through the following information. These details provide a sense of what we at CGC can offer you through this funding. This overview also gives you an understanding of what we expect of garden site partners throughout the project. Please note that multiple agencies may collaborate to share one central site.

What we offer:

Each garden site is supported by AUNE graduate students serving as Garden Site Coordinators, who provide initial support (through the growing season of 2024) as funding liaisons, project assistants, and informal educators. The student coordinators offer education and guidance that will develop your ability to establish, tend, and enjoy garden harvests. Our goal is to provide everything that you would need to continue to care for your garden in subsequent years. (CGC Coordinators will continue to provide support in subsequent years, but in a reduced capacity). In addition to this support role, Garden Site Coordinators will:

  • Purchase garden tool kits which consists of building materials, garden tools, seeds, soil, and related educational supplies
  • Assist in planning the garden and design fun educational events and/or garden programming
  • Coordinate gardening and educational workshops for garden participants and staff, based upon interest and need
  • Host a “Harvest Fest” event involving all CGC garden sites and the broader Keene community
  • Work with your gardeners to make sure that they are learning and enjoying the opportunity
  • Connect your agency and participants with garden related resources in our region
  • In total, garden supplies and educational staff support per site is valued at over $5,000

What we expect of you:

For the gardens to be successful and to ensure their continuation beyond the funding period, it is essential that agencies hosting gardens can commit to the following:

  • Involve at least one staff member who serves as the Garden Site Coordinator and five participants in all phases of garden development (from planning to upkeep to harvest)
  • Provide a logistically suitable site with access to safe gardening space and water
  • Ensure long-term viability and active engagement of participants in the garden creation, maintenance, harvest, and educational programming
  • Engage in the evaluation of programming and events
  • Attend (at least one staff and two participants) two spring 2024 “Garden Connections” workshops
  • Participate in regular (weekly or bi-weekly) on-site meetings to discuss challenges and opportunities

Please contact us at [email protected] if you have questions regarding the project.

Contact Us

Mail to:
Community Garden Connections
c/o Libby McCann
Antioch University New England
40 Avon St.
Keene, NH 03431

Or email:
[email protected]

Whether or not you choose to apply, please share information on CGC with other organizations you think would be a good fit and might be interested in creating a garden. Thank you for helping to spread the word!

Thanks,
The Community Garden Connections Team

Skip to content