Re: Suggestions for Flower Show

**a*@aol.com**

Hmmm...

To show a  community garden in 400 sq feet at a garden show, in miniature....-

Elements that I'd have would be a small raised bed with a plank like seat, long handed tools, and perhaps a crutch or wheelchair next to it, with a colorful garden bag slung from it with a worn, but cheeful garden hat, and an Desert fatigue slouch hat with badges from the 82nd Airborne, or a Marine Outfit And a stack of brochures on the bench from the American  Horticultural Therapy Association, and Disabled American Veterans - and very colorful flowers - a cheerful knockout. 

And I'd have a children's bed, with a Raggedy Ann/Andy Scarecrow, and seed package plant markers, and signs written by a child in crayon, but hit with water enough to look like it had been out in the season. If you can get a sunflower to bloom for the show, that would say, "kid," with signs that say "GROW CARROT GROW!!

And I'd have a small section of veggies, in a row, called " GROW A ROW FOR THE HUNGRY" , with some bell jars, and a crate, and perhaps a flyer from a food bank and some pictures and statistics about hunger in America....

And I'd show a garden bench - with and a bulletin board, with news of a garden, the American Community Gardening Association, and some inspirational news articles on community gardening, like the kind we share here on the listserv ;)

And maybe the phrases, "community gardening is 50% gardening and 100% politics," "growing  community from the ground up."

And I'd show a garden fence - On one side would be syringes, broken bottles, crack vile and an overturned  garbage can, with perhaps a television set playing riots, fires, hunger and urban problems in a video loop., And on the other side of the fence, there would be a virtual riot of hollyhocks roses, irises, a few sunflowers, the garden sign and the legend, "Community Gardens Save  the World." 

But whatever you do Fred, it will be great, because you are the best. 

Regards, 
Adam Honigman
Gardener from this small island on the Right Coast....

-----Original Message-----
From: fred.conrad@acfb.org
To: community_garden@mallorn.com
Sent: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 8:11 AM
Subject: [cg] Suggestions for Flower Show

Say,

every once in a few years i do a community garden exhibit at the Southeastern 
Flower Show.  it's a ton of work, you have to design and build a 400 square foot 
garden in the middle of February and the show has lots of rules about seasonal 
appropriateness and borders to contain mulch and so on and so forth.  mostly 
it's a great opportunity to educate the public about community gardening, since 
40,000 gardeners visit the show each year.  also, they provide a subsidy that 
makes it affordable.

i'm writing because i've done the show five times over the years and i'm looking 
for suggestions about creating an exhibit that looks fresh and new and different 
than the ones i've done in the past.  with only so much space to work with, it's 
kind of hard to replicate a particular garden or fit in all the amenities OR to 
make it look different after you've done it five times!

if anyone has built or seen a good CG display garden anywhere... i'm not above 
copying success.  if you've seen gardens at other Flower Shows that you liked, 
if you've got ideas about how to miniaturize (is that a word?) a community 
garden... talk to me!
fgc

Fred Conrad
Community Garden Coordinator
Atlanta Community Food Bank
732 Joseph E Lowery Blvd, NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
ph: 678.553.5932 fx: 678.553.5933
fred.conrad@acfb.org    <http://www.acfb.org> 
Our mission is to fight hunger by engaging, educating and empowering our 
community. 

______________________________________________________
The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's 
services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out 
how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org

To post an e-mail to the list:  community_garden@mallorn.com

To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription:  https://secure.mallorn.com/mailman/listinfo/community_garden
________________________________________________________________________
Check out AOL.com today. Breaking news, video search, pictures, email and IM. All on demand. Always Free.

______________________________________________________
The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org

To post an e-mail to the list:  community_garden@mallorn.com

To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription:  https://secure.mallorn.com/mailman/listinfo/community_garden