Vermont Garden Network offers community programs with help from partnerships across the state! These programs are designed to connect specific populations to gardening education and resources.
Growing Food, Growing Community
We work with Champlain Housing Trust and Evernorth and their property managers to plan, develop and support the success of community gardens at affordable housing sites in several counties across Vermont. We develop new garden sites by engaging residents and site staff in collaborative planning and design. Throughout the season we offer on-site technical support, hands-on garden workshops, seeds and plants, and educational newsletters for residents to support gardener success and encourage community building.
Urban Agriculture & Leadership Program
In partnership with New Farms for New Americans, we have embarked on a three year (2021-2023) USDA-funded grant to implement a comprehensive farmer-to-farmer training program. We designed an advanced garden curriculum to respond to farmer interest in learning about Vermont-specific agricultural techniques, such as season extension and pest management. For VGN, this partnership offers an opportunity to broaden our season-long garden education programming to include urban agriculture at the community farm-scale and to work alongside the resettled refugee community.
Gardening with Seniors
In partnership with Charlie Nardozzi, we work with residents in senior living and long term care facilities on gardening activities to encourage social interactions and daily exercise, while engaging with nature and fostering attitudes to care for plants. VGN has partnered with the Living Well Group for the past 10 years to run season-long programming and support residents in tending to vegetable, herb, and flower gardens at the Ethan Allen Residence in Burlington.
Gardening for Health
In collaboration with the University of Vermont Medical Center we offer a program to teach people how to grow food and change health habits – including physical activity, healthy eating and mindfulness. We are working to scale the program for broader audiences (and additional locations) in the future.
Other Partnerships
VGN’s work is made possible thanks to the strength of our partnerships and collaborations with a broad range of local, regional, statewide, and national groups.
AARP: offer seasonal webinars and workshops for national and statewide audience
American Community Gardening Association: Our connection to the community garden movement nationally.
American Meadows: ongoing volunteer relationship and surplus product donations
Burlington Area Community Gardens: provides community garden sites and programs that are accessible, safe and healthy for people of diverse ages, experiences, backgrounds and abilities
Branch out Burlington: technical assistance and funding for Fruit & Nut Tree grants
Huertas Project: community-based food security project building gardens for migrant farmworkers
Hunger Free Vermont: VGN is an active member of the Hunger Council of Chittenden County
Institute for Agroecology: partnering on Garden Like a Farmer workshop series and other UVM research and community-based projects
Intervale Center: strengthening community food systems in Burlington through our partnership for the Garden Like a Farmer Workshop series
Kids Gardening: Youth gardening
New England Grassroots Environment Fund: an essential trainer, funder and general resource for New England-based grassroots groups.
NOFA VT: The Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont promotes organic practices to build an economically viable, ecologically sound & socially just Vermont agricultural system that benefits all living things.
ReSOURCE LEAP: VGN facilitates programing for workplace skill development for visually impaired youth
Shelburne Farms: is known worldwide for its Educating for Sustainability program in addition to farm-to-school and farm-based educational professional development and resources for educators.
Skinny Pancake: partnered on collective gardening trainings & the formation of Seedsong through their Shift Meals initiative
UVM’s statewide Extension Master Gardener a unique volunteer program where Vermonters received training by university faculty and industry professionals on research-based gardening information.
Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets: VAAFM runs the state’s Farm to School Grant Program, which, starting in 2017, has involved VGN as a support for VAAFM Farm to School Grantees.
Vermont Department of Forest Parks and Recreation: Vermont Urban and Community Forestry Program funding for Fruit & Nut Tree grants
Vermont Department of Health: Vermont Department of Health’s SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)-ED program supports our mobile classroom, bringing garden and nutrition education and resources around the state.
Vermont Farm to Plate Network: VGN has been a part of the Vermont Farm to Plate Network since its early years.
Vermont Farm to School Network: As a key resource for school gardens.
Vermont FEED (Food Education Every Day): Vermont FEED provides online resources, teacher professional development, and a New England-wide Farm to School Institute for school teams.
Winooski Valley Parks District: The Ethan Allen Homestead is the host site our Thriving Gardens course.
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