Oriole Park Community Garden

Volunteer Information

Booklet

2014

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Oriole Park Community Garden

Thank you for expressing your interest in volunteering for the Oriole Park Community

Garden. Enclosed is a volunteer form for you to fill out and return as well as information

about the garden. Volunteers should be able to commit a minimum of two hours per week

from May to September and one hour per week from October to April.

A Volunteer steering committee all residents of Ward 22 manages the Oriole Park

Community Garden. The Oriole Park Community Garden (“OPCG”) committee is

committed to facilitating the development of a community garden for all residents of

Ward 22. The garden is intended to promote principles of sustainability through

sustainable gardening practices, encourage urban organic gardening, and inspire healthy

living practices all the while providing a place for all residents regardless of race, ethnic

background, socioeconomic status, or level of physical ability to come together and learn

from each other and for new friendships to flourish between community members.

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Oriole Park Community Garden Volunteer Information I want to volunteer in the garden. Your information is solely for the purpose of keeping you informed of the

community garden and will not be shared with any other organizations.

NAME TELEPHONE # EMAIL

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (skills, gardening experience)

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Oriole Park Community Garden Volunteer Guide

Leadership

• The Garden is managed by a steering committee of community members residing in Ward 22.

Membership

• Be a current resident of Ward 22. • Have experience and or an interest in gardening.

Volunteer Commitment:

• Be able to contribute to the garden by volunteering time in activities which support the garden.

• Be able to commit a minimum of two hours per week from May to September and one hour per week from October to April.

If you are unable to complete a duty i.e. illness, vacation please find a member to fulfill

those duties.

• You are required to give three weeks notice when leaving the committee in order to get a letter of reference.

Materials:

• The garden tools are available on site in a locked storage shed. • Gardeners have access to these tools. • There are four key holders Coordinator Ingrid Barrett, Treasurer Derek Barber, Secretary Monnette John-Buck and Lead Gardener Evelyn Munroe.

The garden water source and hose:

• The water source is located behind the garden. • Tools and hose are to be returned to the storage area when done.

OPCG Positions

• Coordinator • Secretary • Treasurer • Communication Coordinator • Community Outreach Coordinator • Program and Event Coordinator • Lead Gardener • Gardeners

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COMMUNITY GARDEN TEAM ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

An enthusiastic, committed garden team is crucial to the long-term success of a

community garden. Experience has shown that having a core group of at six to eight

members is important.

Responsibilities of the Garden Team:

1. When creating or expanding the garden:

• Choose garden site (or identify expansion site). • Facilitate the visioning and planning of the garden design. • Oversee preparation of the garden area.

• Coordinate installation of the garden.

2. On-going:

• Hold regular meetings. • Work to secure funding for the community garden. • Be a resource for gardening information and techniques. • Maintain a calendar for Garden Team Activities and Garden Events. • Outline the necessary tasks for garden maintenance. • Establish a plan for year-long garden maintenance. • Coordinate volunteers. • Continuously encourage participation by outreach to the neighborhood. • Plan and facilitate workdays, programs, events, and celebrations in the garden. • Develop an evaluation process to assess strengths and weaknesses in order to make improvements.

Umbrella Organization (i.e. City of Toronto- Josh Matlow office Ward 22, Parks

Recreation and Forestry - Solomon Boye- Community Garden Coordinator, Diane

Tomlin-Park Supervisor)

• Support the effort • Participate in the planning – location, purpose, design, etc. • Motivate others to get involved.

• Approve appropriate garden events and activities. • Enlist support of community organizations and the city. • Help with fundraising.

(Note: A representative from the umbrella organization may not need to be as active as

other Garden Team members but they need to be on board for the idea and assist with

important needs for the garden.)

Garden Coordinator • Liaison to the umbrella organization. • Liaison to community garden coalition. • Coordinate garden activities. • Schedule and facilitate garden Team meetings. • Schedule and facilitate General Membership meetings.

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• Take leadership role in making garden plans. • Recruit gardeners to fill vacant garden team positions. • Signing authority.

Treasurer • Maintain full and accurate records of all financial transactions (receipt, disbursements, donations)

• Prepare budget. • Report on actual results vs. the budget. • Oversee the garden community bank account. • Signing authority.

Secretary • Taking meeting minutes. • Distributing meeting minutes to members. • Keeping maintaining record of minutes. • Update record of the history of the garden.

• Signing authority.

Outreach Coordinator

• Work closely with the communications coordinator. • Continue to encourage increased neighborhood involvement. • Liaise with community group (i.e. Friends of Oriole Park, schools, daycare, seniors’ home etc.)

• Coordinate presenters. • Schedule demonstrations, workshops and lessons.

Communication Coordinator

• Publicity and advertising. • Create garden newsletter, flyers and other promotional material. • Maintain garden scrap book. • Maintain website/social media.

Program/Event Coordinator • Develop and coordinate garden and community events. • E.g. Potlucks, harvest party, plant sales, etc.

Maintenance Coordinator

• Coordinate and facilitate garden work days

• Coordinate the care and maintenance of areas including beds, paths, borders

• Purchase or solicit donations for tools, equipment, trellises, sticks and hose etc.

• Maintain current inventory of tools and equipment including labeling with garden name

• Regularly inspect tools, equipment, and structures for needed repairs or replacement

• Secure seeds, plants, (Purchase or solicit donations)

• Keep inventory of supplies and needs

• Coordinate the saving of seeds

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• Monitor, report, and treat for weed and pest problems

• Store and distribute information about plants and gardening techniques

Lead Gardener

• Collect and distribute surplus produce

• Monitor, report, and treat for weed and pest problems

• Create a mentoring partnership pairing new gardeners with experienced gardeners

• Keep up with the latest gardening information

• Monitor bulletin board and the little library

Gardener

• Assist in planting and maintenance

• the care and maintenance of garden beds and paths

• keep up with the latest gardening information

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OPCG Garden Code of Conduct

Ensuring an enjoyable experience for all visitors of Oriole Park Community garden is the primary

goal of these conducts. For this reason, be a thoughtful neighbor and observes the following code

of conduct within the garden.

The garden should be a safe place for the community, children, and gardeners, do not bring

anything in the garden that will compromise the safety of others or the garden.

The garden is not available for personal or commercial use; produce is donated to The Church on

the Hill Food Bank.

Don't put rocks and sticks in paths.

Do not throw any litter or other items in the garden beds.

No pets in the garden.

Do not ride your bike in the garden area.

We encourage visitors to the garden to utilize the free library by donating or retrieving books.

Thank you

The Oriole Park Community Garden Committee