FRIENDSHIP GARDENS HOMEGROWN LEADER MANUAL - Homegrown Leaders Manual was written for Friendship Gardens by Madison Healy in fulfillment of her ...

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         FRIENDSHIP GARDENS
 HOMEGROWN LEADER MANUAL

Homegrown Leaders Manual was written for Friendship Gardens
           by Madison Healy in fulfillment of her
         Girl Scout Silver Award for Troop 17509.

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                          Table of Contents:

                     Preface: A Special Thank You
                          Application Process
                              Home Visit

                    Scheduling the “Garden Build”
            Leader Supply Checklist/Reimbursement Form
                             Garden Build
                           Follow-up Agenda
                    Additional Questions & Answers

                   Preface: A Special Thank You!
     Thank you for volunteering your time and talents to further the
mission of the Friendship Gardens program. We are very grateful that
you have chosen to work with us. Throughout this experience, you will
have the opportunity to educate Habitat for Humanity homeowners on
how to start gardening in their own back yards. By sharing your love of
gardening, you will help create and maintain healthy habits within our
community. We provide families with a source of nutritious and
wholesome food to keep them growing strong.
     Many of the first­time gardeners you will meet do not currently
have access to an affordable source of fruit and vegetables. A garden

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brings their entire family together and creates memories that will live for
generations to come. By emphasizing the responsibility of the owner to
maintain and upkeep the garden as well as providing them with the
knowledge and resources they need to do so, we are inspiring a hobby
that families can continue to pass down.
     The information compiled in this manual will enable you to teach
others how to build a garden and inspire Charlotte with your gifts and
love of the great outdoors. Be sure to read this guide before you begin.
By working with people ranging from novice to expert, this will be a
unique and fun opportunity to get your hands in the soil and enjoy God’s
creation. With your help, we can reach out to more families and
continue to make plots to thicken the community!

                          THANK YOU!

                          Application Process

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      We partner with Habitat for Humanity Charlotte to find suitable
homeowners that would benefit from the Friendship Gardens program.
To apply to receive a garden, potential candidates must go through the
application process which certifies that they are willing to perform the
necessary maintenance on the garden and understand that once the
garden build has taken place, it is their responsibility to nurture their plot
and take full advantage of the opportunities it brings for them as well as
their family.
     Upon receiving an application, the HomeGrown leader contacts the
applicant and schedules a “consultation” at the home. During this visit,
the HomeGrown leader asks several questions, surveys the yard, and
gives the homeowner an overview of the program and what to expect.
During this visit the project leader will decide if the home owner is ready
to assume their responsibility of cultivating the garden by watering and
weeding. The next step would be to schedule a “garden build” if the
HomeGrown leader determines that a Friendship Garden would be a
good fit for the Habitat homeowner. You will learn more about this visit
and the garden build itself later on.
      A Friendship Garden is a free service and there is no cost to the
homeowner. However, we ask that each homeowner “pay it forward”
and volunteer building another HomeGrown garden.

                                Home Visit
      During the initial home visit, the HomeGrown leader will identify the
location of the garden, get to know the potential garden receiver, and
make sure they are willing to perform necessary maintenance and take
care of their garden. The homeowner as well as the HomeGrown leader
must both be present at the home. The HomeGrown leader will want to

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verify that the gardening area has the following characteristics:
        ●   Level/Flat Surface
        ●   Minimum Of Six Hours Of Sunlight A Day
        ●   A Nearby Water Source (Hose Or Spout)
      The HomeGrown leader will discuss with the homeowner the size
of the garden and what they will be able to grow according to season.
We encourage the homeowner to pick a combination of seeds and
transplants so they can learn how to grow and care for both. Typically,
the homeowner starts out with three or four types of vegetables in their
garden.
       The HomeGrown leader should walk them through the garden build
and planting process so the homeowner will know what to expect during
the garden build. You will talk to them about upkeep of their garden and
what that entails. (Provide information on watering, composting, etc.)
They should also answer any questions that arise during the home visit
or prior to the garden build. Be sure to exchange contact information so
you can proceed in scheduling the garden build. The Friendship Gardens
phone number is (704) 333­9229.

                    Scheduling the “Garden Build”
      Gardens can be planted during the spring, summer and fall.
However, most homeowners prefer to start with a summer crop in order
to harvest tomatoes. Spring crops are planted from March 15th through
April. Summer crops are planted from April 15th through May. And fall
crops are planted from September 15th through October. Reference the
planting season calendar included at the end of this manual. The
homeowner, HomeGrown leader, and at least one additional volunteer
must be present during the garden build. It is required that those who will

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be taking care of the garden attend the garden build. (E.g. family of
homeowner) You will need to coordinate a day during the planting
season in which everyone will be available to build the garden and learn
about how to take care of it.

                        Shopping for Supplies
      HomeGrown leaders will shop for supplies at a hardware store to
build the garden, preferably near the scheduled date of the garden build.
You can get these supplies at any store (Home Depot, Lowe’s, etc.)
Below is a list of supplies the HomeGrown leader will need to purchase.
Please check with Henry Owen before shopping to see if any
seeds or plants are available at Friendship Trays.

                      HomeGrown Leaders Supply List:
­ 4: 4ft 2x8 inch treated boards (can be purchased as one 16ft and cut
in 4 pieces at the hardware store).
­ 10 cubic feet of soil. (see recipe below)
          ● one 3 cubic ft bag of peat moss
          ● 4 cu ft of compost
          ● 3 cu ft of topsoil
­ 1: flat of seasonal veggies (check at Friendship Trays for seedlings or
purchase)
­ Seeds (pick up at Friendship Trays)

     Friendship Gardens will reimburse HomeGrown leaders once they
complete and submit the reimbursement form shown below with original
receipts for the purchased materials. The HomeGrown leader will not be
asked to contribute any funds.

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      The HomeGrown leader will also need to bring personal tools that
are listed below to the garden build. You can borrow tools from Henry
Owen or another volunteer if you do not have access to these items.
                            Personal Tool List:
  ●   Drill and screws (or) hammer and nails to assemble raised bed.
      (Use 2.5 inch screws or nails)
  ●   2 shovels
  ●   1 hand trowel
  ●   1 flat metal rake
  ●   Garden gloves

                               Garden Build
      You will be building a raised bed garden made of four foot by four
foot boards. We will be using eight inch deep boxes. The HomeGrown
leader should explain to the homeowner why and how each task is being
performed. For example, discuss why newspaper is placed on the
ground, which tools should be used, how much water to use and when to
water. Remember that this is the homeowner’s garden and if they do not
understand how to take care of it, it will not prosper later on.
     First, you will place two to three layers of newspaper inside the
garden box in order to kill the existing grass and weeds. The newspaper
works as a weed barrier for the garden and is considerably less
expensive than commercial products. The newspaper will eventually
decompose, enhancing the richness of the soil while allowing the plant
roots to penetrate through to the soil.
     Next, you will create a growing medium consisting of topsoil,
compost, and peat moss. Mix the three ingredients in small amounts,
adding to the box a little at a time until the box is full. You want to have a

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consistent growing medium with equal amounts of the three ingredients.
The soil will eventually settle into the box; insert a liberal amount during
the garden build. You will then level the soil in the box using a rake or
your hands. Friendship Gardens mixes these ingredients together to
make soil as opposed to buying it premixed because it saves money
and teaches the homeowner how to make it themselves.
      Peat moss is used in the mixture because it retains moisture,
makes the soil light and fluffy, and minimizes the amount of water
needed for the plants. Compost is used because it adds nutrients to the
soil.
     Make sure to read seed packet information and tags on plants
before planting in order to know how much space is needed for mature
growth. Then, discuss and plan the layout and spacing of the
plants/seeds in the garden. After, you have agreed on where things will
go, proceed in planting the garden.
     Next, water the garden. A good rule of the green thumb; when
plants and seeds are little, they need small amounts of water every day
and when plants are bigger, they need larger amounts every couple of
days. Withering leaves are a sign that plants need watering.
     Lastly, clean up and gather tools. Confirm that the homeowner’s
questions have been answered and they are ready to start growing their
garden!

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                           ~Chinese Proverb~
                            Follow­up Items
Important Note: In order to keep track of the impact we are making on
the Charlotte community, please take at least one picture of the
homeowner with their garden. You can email picture(s) directly to Henry
(henry@friendship­gardens.org) and/or post to the Friendship Gardens
Facebook page. Facebook.com/friendshipgardens

     The HomeGrown leader must complete a follow­up garden visit or
phone call one to two months after the garden build to ensure progress
and answer questions.
      The HomeGrown leader will discuss mulching the garden with the
homeowner. Mulching is the process of adding a carbon source to the
soil to keep weeds from growing up, lock in moisture, and protect the
plants. Mulch is made from leaves, hay, straw, or shredded paper, and
is typically applied to the soil when plants are three to five inches tall

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(I.e. between one to two months after planting). Friendship Gardens
does not mulch during a garden build because the seeds are
undeveloped and the plants are too small.
      At the end of the planting season, HomeGrown leaders should
follow­up with Henry Owen on the progress of each garden.

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