Leading charity Garden Organic and ‘A Better Medway’ Health Improvement Services are recruiting ‘Master Gardeners’ to help people benefit from growing food.

We’re delighted to welcome new co-ordinator Liza Scholefield to launch and support this exciting network. She is looking for her first 20 Medway volunteers for training on the 11 and 12 May 2013.

Liza takes over from interim support by our co-ordinator in Norfolk, Gabbie. Thank you Gabbie for your many moments.

And Liza joins a team of co-ordinators where each co-recruits, trains and activity supports Master Gardeners in a flexible volunteer role – and celebrates their achievements.

The details

Liza is a journalist, mum-of-three and chicken-keeper. She has worked with volunteers in schools and in the community.

She’s also an enthusiastic grower of veg. She has run an organic veg box scheme and had allotments in several different parts of the country. She has five compost bins and her eye on a sixth.

She said: “I am really keen to help bring the growing message to lots of new households in Medway. Everywhere there’s a patch of earth, there’s an opportunity.

“We want to share the message that home-grown food tastes great, is good for you and saves money.  Getting started is easier than you might think. Get in touch, and let’s get growing.”

Become a Master Gardener

We’re looking for people from the Medway area with a passion to inspire others to have a go at growing their own food. There’s full training and support.
Please click here for details of the next induction course

Get in touch with Liza

Email Liza here or phone 07971 280 985

Visit! Liza is locally based.
Postal address Garden Organic, Ryton Gardens, Coventry, CV8 3LG

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Emma Parker, from ‘A Better Medway’ says:

“It is projects like this that have a wide and lasting impact on the community and we are happy to support them. ‘The Master Gardener’ programme marks just the beginning in helping to make a positive impact on people’s health.”

The Medway Public Health Directorate manages several resident engagement programmes that promote ‘easier ways to be healthy’ under ‘A Better Medway‘. The programmes are Eating Healthily, Getting Active, Stopping Smoking, Drinking Sensibly and Managing Stress.

Medway Master Gardeners builds on the ‘Medway Grows’ initiative as part of the Eating Healthily programme. The programme also includes ‘Medway Cooks’, ‘Medway Dines’, and advice for healthy eating in the workplace, breastfeeding, oral health, infants, children, and adults.

The lively Master Gardener Programme launched in April 2010 thanks to funding from the Big Lottery Fund’s Local Food scheme and local support in urban and rural areas.

Coventry University evaluation has proven significant health, social and environmental benefits for people receiving the advice and encouragement of Garden Organic’s growing mentors in successful networks around the UK.

Over 400 Master Gardeners have given 16,000 hours supporting 4,300 people in mentored households and inspiring another 50,000 at hundreds of events and community groups.

Read more here

Back to news or read case studies

We’re delighted to welcome our new North London co-ordinator this week to recruit and support ‘Master Gardeners’.

This lively volunteer network mentors communities to benefit from growing their own food in Hackney, Islington, Haringey and Camden.

Nynke takes over from interim support by our co-ordinator in South London, Fiona. Thank you Fiona for your many moments.

And Nynke joins a team of co-ordinators with the national charity, Garden Organic. Each co-ordinator recruits, trains and activity supports Master Gardeners in a flexible volunteer role – and celebrates their achievements.

The details

Nynke is very enthusiastic!

She has designed, set up and managed volunteering and mentoring programmes for social entrepreneurs, young people, and employees of large city firms. And most recently, for a new community food kitchen in Stoke Newington.

Nynke is certified coach and loves supporting people to develop their confidence to follow new pursuits in life, whether that’s food growing or any other new passion.

In her words:

“I recently acquired my very own woodland garden in Hackney (a rare phenomenon) and am relishing the prospect of my first growing season and spending time experimenting in my new potting shed. The main dilemma though is what to try first?”

So do send her your suggestions!

What’s coming next

Well, Nynke will be out and about in North London.

1. Contacting lovely Master Gardeners trained in 2010, 2011 and 2012 for a catch up about the role and exciting spring ideas (once the snow melts). Read case studies here.
2. Recruiting 20 new lively Master Gardeners for training on the 18 and 19 May 2013. Please click here to get involved.
3. Looking for funding partnerships to sustain and expand the impact of North London Master Gardeners for 2014 and beyond. Overview here.

Get in touch with Nynke

Email her here or phone 07584 474778

Visit! Nynke is locally based.
Postal address Garden Organic, Ryton Gardens, Coventry, CV8 3LG

Read the latest news and visit our Facebook page

For Master Gardeners – log in to your website to register activities, download resources, and chat on the volunteer forum

Become a Master Gardener

We’re looking for people with a passion to inspire others to have a go at growing their own food. Full training and support. Click here for details of the next induction course on the 18 and 19 May 2013.

Working with leading on-line course providers Love to Learn, Garden Organic is excited to present a new way to learn the joys of growing your own Veg.

What’s more, every booking made through the Garden Organic web link ensures a 10% donation of the course fee goes to supporting the charities projects.

Recommended for householders mentored by Master Gardeners.

What is the course about?

Want to pick your own fresh peas and taste home-grown organic tomatoes? Start from the basics on growing your own vegetables in your own garden or allotment. Learn the important stages and cycles of growing veg, and acquire new skills for sowing and reaping a harvest of fresh, seasonal, organic veg.

Take the course now

Is this the right course for me?

You value the idea of healthy, seasonal, self-sufficient eating and want to start making a difference in an enjoyable, organic way.

Why should I choose this course?

· Learn to grow your own vegetables with this beginner’s course.
· From planning your plot to harvesting your results, Grow your Own Veg will teach you the basics of growing the most popular vegetables, with lots of practical advice and tips.
· Follow the easy step-by-step process featuring How-to videos with Bob Sherman, your expert tutor and Garden Organic’s Chief Horticultural Officer.

How will I learn?

· Start the course at any time of the year as there is always something to do or to plan.
· Get advice and tips from your tutor, Bob Sherman, Garden Organic’s Chief Horticultural Officer, and former presenter of Channel 4′s gardening programme ‘All Muck and Magic’.
· Work at your own pace to suit your gardening needs.
· Enjoy an estimated of 10 to 12 hours of online learning plus your gardening activities.
· Make your own notes in your personal workbook.
· Learn from the comfort of your own home, or out on your patch with a mobile device.

What will I study?

· Course Introduction
· Unit 1: Grow It Yourself
· Unit 2: Planning and Preparing
· Unit 3: Know Your Veg
· Unit 4: Late Winter/Early Spring
· Unit 5: Late Spring/Early Summer
· Unit 6: Late Summer/Early Autumn
· Unit 7: Late Autumn/Early Winter

Take the course now

About Love to Learn

Love to Learn is part of Pearson, the world’s leading learning company. Pearson provides learning materials and services to people in over 70 countries and is home to Penguin, Dorling Kindersley and the Financial Times.

User reviews

“Bob is excellent, like a favourite uncle; good tips, I’d feel confident to start.”
Dennis
“Very good starting point, it gives you confidence to get out and try it, very good instructions and record-keeping tips.”
Lee
“I like the bits you can’t do by using a book, the activities and immediate feedback.”
Fiona
“It’s very clear, easy to follow, and the overall feeling is one of support �“ there’s not a ‘right or wrong’ tone to the course.”
Charlotte

Visit Garden Organic’s website

Back to Master Gardeners

Local food charity, [1] Somerset Community Food are pleased to announce that they will be partnering with national charity [2] Garden Organic to support volunteers in Somerset to become Master Gardeners to help get their communities growing their own food.

“Around the country, thousands of people have been supported to grow their own with the help of 400 Master Gardeners, and now is the time to get Somerset skilled up to grow their own!”, says Linda Hull who is co-ordinating the project.

“The programme works by offering individuals and communities free advice and mentoring. The idea is to enthuse people about food growing whilst offering the support that they need along the journey.”

Get involved

The charity is looking for volunteers with at least two years food growing experience that can help other families and households to start growing their own as well as promote food growing to their community at events, talks, via projects and more.

Volunteers offer half a day per month or 30 hours over the year and get additional training in growing techniques. The induction training begins in March and applications are welcome as soon as possible.

Now is the time to get Somerset skilled up to grow their own. Read about the proven benefits for volunteers and the people they mentor.

Now recruiting Somerset Master Gardeners for induction training in March 2013

Please click here to get in touch with co-ordinators, Linda & Nicole to discuss the volunteer role and application.

Or email info@somersetcommunityfood.org.uk or visit http://www.incredible-edible-somerset.ning.com/page/master-gardeners

Notes for editors

1. Somerset Community Food are a local charity founded in 2004, which aims to re-connect people with the social, health and environmental effects of growing, buying, preparing and eating local food.
2. Garden Organic, the UK’s leading organic growing charity, has been at the forefront of the organic horticulture movement for 50 years. Dedicated to promoting organic gardening in homes, communities and schools, it uses innovation and inspiration to get more people growing in the most sustainable way. 
Garden Organic’s charitable work delivers the organic growing message through renowned projects such as the Food For Life Partnership, the Master Composter and Master Gardener schemes and the work of The Heritage Seed Library. To find out more visit http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk
3. For a high-quality photographs to accompany this article, please email nicole.vosper@somersetcommunityfood.org.uk with your request and deadline.

Back to Master Gardener news

Become a Master Gardener in spring 2013 with Garden Organic

Master Gardener Joe swapping top tips with food growers

Master Gardeners John and Sandy Young have won the Local Food heroes in the West Midlands!

John and Sandy Young beat all their competitors to be named West Midlands Local Food Heroes 2012.

On Wednesday, December 5, they were presented with their award by Alex Boys of the Big Lottery and Marc Lupson from Local Food.

Garden Organic’s Master Gardener Programme received a £459,709 grant from Local Food in 2009 to develop a practical model for a volunteer support network in Warwickshire and elsewhere to support people and communities to grow fruit and vegetables in their gardens and on local communal land.

Kate Newman, Warwickshire Volunteer Coordinator at the Master Gardener Programme, nominated John and Sandy jointly for an award in the summer because of their dedication to the project, as well as their passion, reliability, and ability to enthuse others about food growing. Kate said:

“John and Sandy have endless enthusiasm and passion to help others discover the benefits of growing their own food, and we are thrilled they have been recognised as Local Food Heroes.”

John and Sandy proudly display their trophy with Alex Boys from the Big Lottery and Marc Lupson from Local Food (right)

Working as a team, and with many years of gardening experience and composting knowledge between them, John and Sandy help with local school gardening clubs and attend events, as well as running a regular stall at Rugby Farmers’ Market, where they offer advice and support to local people. They give talks, run workshops and question time sessions, encouraging people to grow food at home – no matter how small a space they have to grow in.

Over the past two years, they have clocked up more than 600 hours of volunteering, and have supported more than 30 households to grow their own – offering young plants, demonstrating gardening techniques and helping new growers to make a success of their vegetable plots.

John and Sandy, who have been members of Garden Organic for 25 years, were initially shortlisted by a Local Food panel, and then competed jointly against two other West Midlands finalists in a public vote to decide the winner. Thousands of people across the country voted for a Local Food Hero, in one or more regions of England, by visiting the Local Food website.

Mark Wheddon, Local Food Programme Manager, said:

“Since we opened the Local Food programme in 2008, we’ve heard many wonderful anecdotes about the fantastic contribution that members of the community are making to ensure the success of their local projects. So we decided to celebrate and recognise some of these unsung heroes by encouraging projects to nominate the ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

“We had a great response, and are delighted to present John and Sandy with this very well-deserved award. They are true Local Food Heroes, an inspiration to others and champions of the benefits of food growing. It is thanks to individuals like these that our projects are going beyond the aim of making local food more accessible and affordable, and are building community capacity across England.”

Chris Worman, of Ruby Borough Council, said:

“John and Sandy are not only Master Gardeners but also Master Composters and I class them as ‘local ambassadors’ who are always happy to assist others in the growing of local, organically produced food. It is my pleasure to support and congratulate John and Sandy on this very well earned recognition of their enthusiasm and passion for their volunteering.”

There is even a video to watch!
Watch a video about John and Sandy

Alex Boys from the Big Lottery with Kate Newman, Volunteer co-ordinator

John and Sandy Young with their Local Food heroes trophy

Find out Master Gardener Adam lee has been helping his household!

Become a Master Gardener

Find a Master Gardener

Garden Organic volunteers have helped over 44,000 people and mentored another 4,000 householders to grow food since April 2010.

The 449 trained Master Gardeners have volunteered an amazing 15,000 hours offering free food growing advice and support in central London boroughs and three rural counties.

Every Master Gardener finds and encourages local residents and groups to start growing – and keep growing through the highs and lows of fruit and veg.

Master Gardeners networks: April 2010 to August 2012

Growing their own

• 15,024 volunteer hours helping people grow food
• 82% (368) volunteer retention across five networks
• 4,053 people in 1,834 mentored households (1,387 under 16). All growing their own. Families and schools; windowsills and allotments. Whatever the weather
• 44,608 food growing conversations. Each one counts
• 560 community groups/events supported. Thoroughly enjoyable
  

Behind the numbers:

• Read case studies or click here to contact local networks
• ‘Like’ Master Gardeners on Facebook
• See photos of new food growers and mentors on our Flickr collection
• Discover the health, social, and environmental impacts of Master Gardeners after exciting research by Coventry University. Visit our news page from mid October 2012.
  

Inspiring new growers

More details

Volunteers are locally recruited and trained by co-ordinators managed by the UK’s leading organic growing charity, Garden Organic.

Meet the team.

These lively networks are supported by the Big Lottery Fund’s Local Food Scheme, Sheepdrove Trust, and local authorities in Warwickshire, North London, South London and Norfolk. Together with the NHS in Lincolnshire.

Read about future areas.

Many, many thanks to all the Master Gardeners for sharing their knowledge and inspiring stories.

The future

Garden Organic is working with partnership organisations to establish custom networks of volunteer Master Gardeners in areas where there is the local need and local funding. All our models help people benefit from growing.

It’s very exciting. Read more here  or find ways to get involved with your nearest network.

With many thanks,

Philip

Philip Turvil
Project Manager, Master Gardener Programme, Garden Organic, Coventry, CV8 3LG

Fresh from Garden Organic training; volunteer Master Gardeners looking for new food growers

Exciting news! The launch of your very own Master Gardener forum.

An opportunity for you to share ideas and information with other Master Gardeners across the country!

It is live NOW, so please make your way to your local website to login (use your usual website login), or visit

http://www.mastergardeners.org.uk/login

Once you have logged in to the control panel, just click on the forum link and you are ready to join the discussion!

More details

Choose a specialist topic, such as ‘Schools’ or ‘What’s growing well?’. Or chat with other Master Gardeners in your own local network or any network!

Click here for top tips on how to use the forum (link opens PDF)

Prize draw!

Anyone who posts on the forum before the end of October 2012 will be entered into a free prize draw to win one of three sets of Growing cards (25 in a set) – so join in the discussion now!

The growing cards are new and exclusive, printed on quality A5 card, with handy growing instructions including planting, growing and eating tips! As an example……..

http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/growyourown/12-Beetroot.pdf

Many thanks and enjoy the forum!

Click here to get in touch with questions

Garden Organic has launched exciting Facebook pages for every Master Gardener network.

Please visit your nearest page and ‘like’ us today for the latest growing tips and local events. There are case studies, news articles, and links with other growing groups.

We love keeping in touch with our enthusiastic volunteers and the householders they mentor to grow food, as well as workplaces, schools, event organisers, partners, and community groups. See you there! Many thanks.

County networks

		Norfolk Master Gardeners http://www.facebook.com/NorfolkMasterGardeners or visit website
		Warwickshire Master Gardeners http://www.facebook.com/WarwickshireMasterGardeners or visit website
		Lincolnshire Master Gardeners http://www.facebook.com/LincolnshireMasterGardeners or visit website

London networks

		North London Master Gardeners https://www.facebook.com/northlondonmastergardeners or visit website
		South London Master Gardeners https://www.facebook.com/SouthLondonMasterGardeners or visit website

There’s more!

	Garden Organic Facebook https://www.facebook.com/gardenorganicuk or visit website
	Photo collection by Garden Organic Click here to visit Flickr to see wonderful images of new food growers with their volunteer mentors
Launching…	Master Gardeners Forum Join the discussion – new forum launching September 2012. Look out for web links coming soon.

We welcome your ideas

Please click here to get in touch with Garden Organic’s Master Gardener team

Garden Organic welcomed over 160 enthusiastic volunteers to the National Masters Conference at Ryton Gardens on the 30 June 2012.

Master Gardeners, Master Composters, and other wonderful champions came from across the UK to celebrate the ways they help people grow their own food and get composting.

Garden Organic’s Chief Executive Myles Bremner thanked every volunteer for their energetic and innovative outreach supporting people in their community.

We’re already thinking about next year’s conference on the 21st September 2013! Please click here to get in touch with your ideas.  In the meantime, this is what delegates said:

Very good choice of workshops. Too many good ones to pick!

Very efficient organisation. Lovely happy atmosphere.

Impressive control of weather!

Boosted my self-esteem in the role. Really inspirational

Thank you for the most brilliant and supportive day of education, resources and camaraderie.

Our huge thank to everyone involved in putting together this busy day – all the speakers, sponsors, technicians, workshop guides, organisers, and of course – volunteers from Garden Organic programmes and beyond.

• Click here for conference photos (links to our Flickr set)
• Click here for more about Master Gardeners
• Click here for more about Master Composters
• Click here for more about the UK’s leading organic growing charity, Garden Organic
• Review: Masterful Compost! The (mini-)Musical performance

Polly has her new book signed by BBC Blue Peter Gardener, Chris Collins

Preserving tips - every volunteer with a jar of long-lasting courgettes...

Garden Organic's Chief Executive Myles Bremner thanks the volunteers

Smiles

Sun during outdoor fruit pruning workshop

Rain during our tea break!

Our official conference cakes! Olympic themed

Volunteers celebrate their graduation.

Please click here to see more conference photos (links to our Flickr set)

Story by Philip Turvil

Volunteer Master Gardeners and Master Composters from across Garden Organic networks came to specialist schools training at Ryton Gardens on the 26 May 2012.

This exciting day looked at working with teachers and young people – what crops do and don’t work in schools, and how to start and sustain school food gardening. Volunteers also prepared presentations, assemblies, and group activities to demonstrate to the group.

The day was led by Rosie Grant and Ruth Hepworth from Garden Organic’s Food for Life Partnership education team.

Please click here to Garden Organic’s free resources for schools with the Food for Life Partnership – including courses for school professionals

Click here to see photos from this training and 2011 course

25 Master Gardeners and Master Composters

Swapping opinions

Mmmm, what crops when?