Growing with the Community: A Hands-on Training Design for Agricultural Educators, Farmers and Community Leaders

Growing with the Community: A Hands-on Training Design for Agricultural Educators, Farmers and Community Leaders

Summary

Project leaders developed a working agenda and lesson plans for training. Louisiana delivered the first training in August 24, 2002 in Alexandria, Louisiana and fifteen members attended. Evaluation of the training indicated that the inter-active teaching model was effective. Forty-six interested parties have been contacted to participate in a Florida training. Plans for 2003 include: continue developing community garden group database; visit between project leaders in January 2003; preparation for joint training between Florida and Louisiana at SSARE and SSAWG conferences in January 2004; development of website and resource manual.

Objectives/Performance Targets

• Train trainers in Florida and Louisiana to develop community garden skills including leadership, knowledge about healthy eating, composting/recycling materials, entrepreneurship and marketing and garden evaluation.
  Form 10 partnerships in each state between farmer, private and public groups interested in community gardens.
  Develop website for community resources.
  Coordinate Internet communication among trainees.
  Develop training manual for community garden resources.

Accomplishments/Milestones

To date of December 2002 the partner states have completed distribution and collection of community garden interest questionnaire (attachment 1) to more than 100 potential trainees. Louisiana completed direct mailings of the questionnaire and Florida distributed questionnaire at a statewide meeting of the Florida Rural Development Council. No more than 2 questionnaires were returned in either state. Project leaders decided that a more individualize approach is needed and agreed to make personal phone calls to key community groups and governmental organizations in each state.
Project leaders developed a working agenda and lesson plans for training (attachment 2). Louisiana delivered the first training in August 24, 2002 in Alexandria, Louisiana. Fifteen members attended the training. Evaluation of the training indicated that the agenda and inter-active teaching model was effective (attachment 3). Florida has contacted and developed a database of 46 interested parties to participate in a statewide training. Plans for 2003 include: continue development of community garden group database; visit between project leaders in January 2003; preparation for joint training between Florida and Louisiana between SSARE and SSAWG conferences in January 2004; development of website and resource manual

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Training and development of the database has benefited the participants by creating a venue and outlet for communication to develop community resources and skills.

Collaborators: