Growing Together: VCGN March Newsletter

Spring is just around the corner in Vermont! Can you feel it?! We sure can at Vermont Community Garden Network and are so excited to dig into the growing season with our fellow gardeners! For us, spring is about helping you start the season off strong in your gardens around the state. Check out our upcoming events, classes, and offers that help gardens thrive.
7th Annual Day in the Dirt 
On Saturday, April 27th all across Vermont, families, friends & coworkers raise funds and spend a few hours helping prepare community gardens for the season.
Volunteers spread compost, build beds, repair fences and other activities to get gardens ready for spring.  They help sustain this important work throughout the year by raising funds for VCGN’s programs, which include technical assistance, training & education, networking and resources for gardeners of all ages.
Volunteer or host a work party here!
Join the Community Teaching Garden! 
*Now offering morning and evening classes*
There is still time to register for the Community Teaching Garden Course!
We’re shaking things up and now offering a MORNING and an EVENINGcourse so everyone can enjoy the benefits of growing their own vegetables, herbs, and flowers!

You can find course details, FAQs, online registration, payment plans,
and scholarship information here!
March Toolshed Tip: Garden Planning 
How will you decide what to grow in your garden?
CTG students seed starting for the 2018 season
When you’re organizing garden planning on a larger scale, like at a shared community or school garden, people (especially new gardeners) are more likely to get and stay involved if they’re excited about what they’re growing and successfully harvesting from the garden. With this in mind, it’s worthwhile to ask yourselves some key questions when garden planning with a group. Check out our gardening planning tips and tricks here!
Support VCGN with your Garden Shopping!
Donate $45 to VCGN this month and receive a $50 gift card to Red Wagon Plants. Thanks to Red Wagon, you can help your garden and provide essential garden programming for a happy and healthy Vermont. Donate here!
NOFA-VT Winter Conference Was a Success!
We had a blast at the Northeast Organic Farmer’s Association (NOFA-VT) Winter Conference this year!
Libby Weiland, our Statewide Network Coordinator, presented on Community Composting and how Vermont’s Universal Recycling Law, which requires household composting by 2020, can help our gardens. Don’t Forget to sign up for the 13th Annual Vermont Organics Recycling Summit (VORS) on Thursday, April 11th!
Free Seeds for Community Gardens!
Thanks to the generosity of our friends at  High Mowing Organic SeedsGardener’s Supply and American Meadows, we have seeds to share with Vermont community and school gardens. Each garden will receive a bundle of 25-40 vegetable, herb and flower seed packs, along with seed starting resources, planting instructions, a seed viability chart and other materials from VCGN.

Click here to learn more and request your seeds today! 
Register for Your 2019 Garden Plot 
If you’re a new gardener in the Burlington Area Community Gardens (BACG),
register for your new garden plot now through March 14th!
Submit an Event to our Calendar
Get the network involved by submitting your next event directly to our
submission page (submit garden related events at least 2 weeks in advance)
Fund your Garden
Need funding for next season’s garden projects? Now’s the time to keep your eye out for grants – Go to VCGN’s Garden Grants page for a regularly updated list. Here are some, visit our website for details, links and rolling deadline grants.
Connect with other Garden Leaders
Our closed Facebook group serves as a forum for your garden management questions, and as a place to post and request resources: Join the group!
Grow With Us!

The Vermont Community Garden Network is growing a healthier Vermont by helping people of all ages access the space and resources to grow their own food and connect with each other. We need your help now more than ever – please make a donation today!

Since 2001, the Vermont Community Garden Network has worked with hundreds of community and school groups to start, sustain, and grow gardens, building strong local food systems and vibrant educational sites.
Michelle Gates, Executive Director
Libby Weiland, Statewide Network Coordinator
Carolina Lukac, Garden Education Manager
Ehrin Lingeman, Program Assistant
Trish Laraja, Business Manager
802-861-4769 | info@vcgn.org | www.vcgn.org