How Do I Start A Garden Club: Tips On Starting A Garden Club

garden club
garden club
(Image credit: monkeybusinessimages)

You love to putter about in your garden learning how to make plants grow. It’s even more fun when you are part of a group of passionate gardeners who unite to trade information, swap stories, and give each other a hand. Why not think about starting a garden club? If your idea of a garden club involves neatly dressed ladies in fancy hats drinking tea, you’ve been watching too much television. Modern garden clubs unite men and women of all ages who share a common love of flowers, shrubs, and vegetable plants. If the idea sounds intriguing, consider starting a garden club. Now, you may ask, how do I start a garden club? Read on for all the tips you need to get going. How Do I Start a Garden Club? The most important part about a garden club is getting people to join, and that is where you should put considerable effort. Start with like-minded friends. If none of your gang enjoys digging in dark soil, that’s okay. You can start a neighborhood garden club.

What is a Neighborhood Garden Club?

What is a neighborhood garden club? It’s a group of people in your own area of town interested in meeting up around garden activities. Neighborhood clubs are easiest since everybody lives close to one another and may share similar regional concerns. Advertise your idea by telling neighbors, co-workers, and church groups. Post signs at the local library, nurseries, neighborhood cafes, and community center. Ask the local paper to run a notice for you. Make it clear in fliers and notices that people of all experience levels are welcome to join.

Garden Club Information

After you have your member drive launched, start thinking about other tasks necessary for starting a garden club. You’ll need a good way to communicate with fellow members and get garden club information spread to everyone. Why not utilize technology and sign everyone up for a Facebook group? You’ll also need to plan and organize meetings. Talk to other members about what they think would be useful and helpful. Get a consensus on how often and what days to meet. Consider round-table discussions about a popular topic. Or schedule fun hands-on sessions building tomato cages or demonstrating propagating plants by cuttings. You can organize plant or seed swaps, work together to plant a community garden, or care for a public green space. The best garden clubs take advantage of everyone’s knowledge. One way to do this is to ask each member in turn to design and lead a meeting.

Teo Spengler
Writer

Teo Spengler has been gardening for 30 years. She is a docent at the San Francisco Botanical Garden. Her passion is trees, 250 of which she has planted on her land in France.