Meet & Greet Handout

Stratford Urban

Farming Experiment

What's the big idea :   to demystify vegetable growing & make home grown food accessible to everyone in our urban centre

Goals for This Fall:

–       choose 10 – 15 spaces in the front/back yards of generous landowners in Stratford

–       draw out plans for each garden

–       prep the land for spring (tilling or no-dig method)

–       plant garlic / onions

–       scout out potential volunteers and meet lots of interesting people wanting to develop a more sustainable Stratford

Goals for 2011 Season:

–       grow beautiful vegetable gardens in 10 – 15 back yards

–       recruit 10-20 (or more) volunteers to help maintain the gardens

–       plant many seeds & seedlings & watch food grow

–       share vegetables with volunteers/landowners

–       donate vegetables to house of blessing/salvation army

–       sell vegetables

–       preserve vegetables

–       participate in a front-yard veggie garden tour

–       participate in Savour Stratford?

I am very excited for suggestions and interested to see what directions this project will go in.

Landowners:

Ideal Landowners would have a sunny space in their front or back yard and willing to give it up for vegetables.

I expect many landowners will be interested as a result for the 2011 season  preference will go to:

–       those who are interested in assisting in maintenance

–       yards close to downtown core

(I am only willing to commit to 10-15 gardens until the spring where I may add on a few depending on volunteer support.... I also plan on expanding in the 2012 Season)

Volunteers:

–       No experience necessary / experience welcomed

–       volunteer as little as one day a week to water & weed one garden (or as much as you like)

–        people willing to commit to the entire season (spring – fall)

–       you will get vegetables!

(I would also be excited to set more experienced volunteers up with a plot of their own)