Growing Gardens: Cultivating Community
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For more information, Please see websites below:
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Organic Edible Schoolyards & Gardening with Children =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851214 ~
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Double Food Production from your School Garden with Organic Tech =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851079 ~
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Free School Gardening Art Posters =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159 ~
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Increase Food Production with Companion Planting in your School Garden =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851159 ~
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Healthy Foods Dramatically Improves Student Academic Success =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851348 ~
`
City Chickens for your Organic School Garden =
http://scribd.com/doc/239850440 ~
`
Simple Square Foot Gardening for Schools - Teacher Guide =
http://scribd.com/doc/239851110 ~
1. 2008 Annual Report
Growing Gardens is a human services and youth
development non-profit organization, based in
Boulder, which was established in 1998.
Our mission is:
to enrich the life of our community through
environmentally sustainable gardening programs
that empower people to experience a direct and
deep connection with plants, the land, and each
other.
We envision inspired people joining together to
actively nurture and enhance our environment,
our community, and ourselves. We believe in the
power of people to co-create and steward harmony
between land, water, and all living things for
generations to come.
[ Organization Information ]
Gardening has the potential for far-reaching
benefits, and we’re proud to use the power of
gardening to benefit and support Boulder County
life in many ways:
Through its programs.
Growing Gardens empowers, enriches and
creates positive change for thousands of
Boulder County residents, especially youth,
seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income
families and individuals.
Growing Gardens preserves and protects
agricultural land for everyone.
Our main garden site, located in North
Boulder, has been in agricultural use for
the past 100 years.
Through education.
Growing Gardens educates people of all ages
about gardening and sustainable agriculture.
By serving our community.
In 2008, we directly served 4,241 people,
197 teens, 1690 children, 31 seniors, 147
people with disabilities, 987 low income and
1,686 members of the general public.
www.growinggardens.org
Photo: Vanessa Keeley
2. From the President
Dear Friends,
The mild winter has many of us community gardeners eagerly
checking on overwintering lettuce and preparing for an early
spring planting of peas, broccoli, and cabbage. Opening day
at the farmer’s market is just around the corner and we look
forward to seeing old friends and meeting this year’s crop of
Cutliva! youth at their booth.
As Ramona likes to say, “we’re growing gardeners” and so
much more! Participation in our programs grew by 8 percent
in 2008, serving 4,241 people, including 454 volunteers
who contributed an amazing 4,500 hours of service to help
make Growing Gardens a vital part of the Boulder County
community.
Our community is healthier thanks to your efforts. Cultiva!
youth and community gardeners donated over two tons of
fresh produce to Community Food Share, Boulder Shelter for
the Homeless, and our community neighbors. 1,400 lucky
vegetable plant starts found new homes with families served
by Community Food Share and in the Wonderlands Garden,
which donates all of its production to Sister Carmen’s and
Community Food Share. Most of us, gardeners and Cultiva!
participants alike, report getting more exercise and eating
more healthily thanks to our participation in Growing Gardens.
The Children’s Peace Garden, Horticultural Therapy, and
Neighborhood Compost programs all increased their impact
this year. Increasing demand for Growing Gardens’ Beekeeping
program pollinated budding apiarists all around the county.
Look for their bees on a flower near you!
The Cultiva! youth tell us that their experience with us is life-changing.
Please stop by at the Farmer’s Market and introduce
yourself as a fellow gardener and learn more about their work.
They are a wonderful group of young people who I’m sure will
cultivate deep roots in their communities throughout their
lives.
Growing Gardens’ programs are more important than ever to
our community in this time of economic downturn. Despite
reduced revenues in the last quarter of 2008 and offsetting
budget adjustments in 2009, we will continue to offer all of our
programs and are prepared to meet the anticipated increase
in demand for local gardening, educational, and volunteer
experiences.
Spread the word about all that we do! Invite others to enjoy
the excitement of the spring plant sale, share breakfast in the
garden this summer, introduce a child to gardening through
the Peace Garden, celebrate Cultiva! at the annual Harvest
Dinner, or offer a friend a personal growing experience in your
garden plot.
Thank you for your participation and continued support of
Growing Gardens, which deepens our sense of community and
enriches us all.
Regards,
Leni Wilsmann
2008 Financial Statements*
Balance Sheet - December 31, 2008
Assets
Cash Accounts $ 90,478
Other Current Assets $ 35,561
Property & Equipment $ 328,996
Total Assets $ 455,035
Liabilities
Accounts Payable & Accruals $ 7,005
Total Liabilities $ 7,005
Net Assets
Restricted and Unrestricted $ 448,030
Total Liabilities
and Net Assets $ 448,030
Statement of Activities
(Year ended December 31, 2008)
Operating Funds
Revenue
Contributions $ 88,854
Earned Income $ 128,553
Special Events $ 55,401
Grants $ 93,999
Contracts $ 19,273
In-Kind Contributions $ 12,191
Interest Income $ 662
Total Revenue $ 398,913
Expenses
Program Services
Cultiva Youth Project $ 146,213
Children’s Peace Garden $ 35,650
Neighborhood
Compost Project $ 9,929
Community Gardens $ 62,710
Horticultural Therapy $ 23,857
Education and Outreach $ 91,475
Capital Project $ 760
Administrative Expenses
General $ 53,916
Fundraising $ 19,011
Total Expenses $ 442,521
Net Operating Loss ( $ 15,124)
Depreciation ( $ 29,484)
Net Loss ( $ 44,608)
* unaudited
Phone: (303) 413-7248
Fax: (303) 413-7201
info@growinggardens.org
www.growinggardens.org
Newsletter Design:
theparksgroup-boulder.com
Printed on Recycled Paper
Photo: Annie Sweeney
3. Our Programs
[ ¡Cultiva! Youth Project ]
A diverse mix of at-risk teenagers work daily cultivating a two-acre
organic garden and participate in the Farmers market. This program
builds leadership, teamwork and entrepreneurial skills. The Cultiva!
Youth also teach and guide younger children, learn cooking, nutrition, and
beekeeping.
Photo: Vanessa Keeley
2008 Achievements
• Doubled our beekeeping program- from seven hives in 2007 to 15 hives in 2008
• Increased Farmer’s Market revenue by 50%
• Started gleaning program at Farmer’s Market to collect leftover produce and deliver
to the Boulder Shelter for the Homeless
Goals for 2009
• 80% of ¡Cultiva! teens teach an activity in the Children’s Peace Garden program
• Teach five sustainable gardening seminars for the teens
• Increase our beehives to 18
[ Children’s Peace Garden ]
The Children’s Peace Garden is a place for fun and learning. Classes are available to children
aged 5 – 10 with age-appropriate lessons about the life processes of plants, the interdependency
of species, where food comes from, how to grow food, and respect for self, others and the
environment.
2008 Accomplishments
• 1,413 children participated in the Children’s Peace Garden Program —
double the number from 2007!
• 90% of children said they learned about where their food comes from
• 90% of the children said they tasted a new vegetable during the Peace Garden
Goals 2009
• Increase summer program to six weeks
• Create and implement garden curriculum specific to each grade level in classrooms for K-5
• 25 Field Trip visits from local schools in the spring and fall
[ Community Gardens ]
Growing Gardens manages more than 450 garden plots in eight different Boulder County
neighborhoods where families at every level of gardening skill grow food and have a positive
community experience. Each year, space opens for new participants; contact us soon if you’d
like to start digging!
2008 Accomplishments
• 1,317 community gardeners participated in 2008, a 15% increase from 2007
• The Kerr garden located at the Harney Lastoka Open Space in Louisville
was opened in May 2008
• Water conservation education at all gardens
Goals 2009
• Add a spring and fall social event at the gardens
• Increase food donations to community groups in need
• Increase cover crop education for winter soil conservation
and offer fall cover crop sale.
www.growinggardens.org
Photo: Vanessa Keeley
4. [ The Neighborhood Compost Project ]
Growing Gardens coordinates composting for businesses, families and individuals throughout
the county to transform kitchen, lawn and garden waste into an invaluable resource. Our tours
and workshops on composting reach more than 1,500 people each year.
2008 Accomplishments
• 1,771 individuals were educated though tours and workshops — a 10% increase from 2007
• 555 children toured the compost project in partnership with Eco-Cycle
• 100% could differentiate between items defined as trash for landfills and compostable items
Goals 2009
• Consolidate compost education by relocating back-yard compost demonstration to the
compost windrow location
[ Able Gardening Program ]
In partnership with local agencies that serve seniors and people with disabilities, the
Horticultural Therapy Program offers weekly gardening classes and activities as well as
classes in cooking and crafts using garden plants.
2008 Accomplishments
• 74 seniors and people with disabilities participated in weekly
gardening classes in 2008
• Expanded programming by adding more classes in the spring
and fall
• 83% of participants reported increased physical fitness
through gardening
Goals 2009
• Increase accessibility at the gardens
• Increase number of participants enjoying the program
[ Fresh Foods, Families and Fitness ]
Growing Gardens provides seeds, plants, garden plots and classes to help low-income families
and individuals in Boulder County meet their food needs with a fresh and healthy harvest.
2008 Accomplishments
• Donated 2000 seed packets and 2,449 plants starts to those in need in the community
• Food Donated by Community Gardeners and Cultiva Youth Project — 4,238 lbs
Goals 2009
• Maintain high level of seed and plant donations to low-income gardeners
• To increase program participants by 10%
[ Education and Outreach Programs ]
This program offers volunteer service and educational workshops in gardening to individuals
and organizations. These activities bring diverse groups together, educate, and serve
the community.
2008 Accomplishments
• A total of 4,570 volunteer hours were recorded with 454 people participating.
• Intro to Gardening class was developed and taught
• Beekeeping series, with eight classes, was developed and taught in 2008
Goals 2009
• Develop four new classes to offer on gardening topics
• Develop two advanced Beekeeping classes
Photo: Kathleen MacDonald
5. $10,000 – $24,999
Horizon Organic Dairy
The Denver Foundation
Sheila Fortune
Social Venture Partners
Retzloff Family Fund of RSF Social Finance
Mark and Terry Retzloff Family
Whitewave Foods
$5,000 – $9,999
Anchutz Family Foundation
Adolph Coors Foundation
Foster’s Group
David James Guggenhime
John S. Scurci Foundation
The Thomas P Waters Foundation
Dr. Scholl Foundation
Chris Webster
$1,000 – $4,999
Boulder Luncheon Optimist Club
Robin and Dan Catlin
Elevations Credit Union
Faegre and Benson Foundation
Jane Emery
Foothills United Way
Gordon Foundation
Jim Hagen
Jack Johnson Music
John S. and James L.Knight Foundation
Michelle and Mark Leifeste
Debra Kay Lane
Longs Gardens
New Belgium
NOVA Environmental Fund
Odell Brewing Company
RBC Wealth Management
Red Empress Foundation
Sally Stabler
St John’s Episcopal Church
Derek Guarascio and KC Waters
Jon and Jennifer Wittemyer
$500 – $999
Blue Wing Consulting
Kerrie and Kurt Badertscher
Keith Brenner
Conservation Impact
Design Concepts
Bob and Lois Gill
J. Paul Heffron
Betsy Hitchcock
Vanessa and Will Keeley
Scott and Janet Lehman
Polk Family Charitable Trust
Gwen and RobMossman
James and Lisa Scatena
Andrea Poniers and Leni Wilsmann
$100 – $499
Lili Adeli
Melissa Artzer
Mark and Kelly Beran
Dave and Joan Boykin
Julianne Breedlove
Annie Sweeney and Matt Carlossi
Bobbie and Tim Carlin
Laura Coblentz
Terry Cohen
Kimberly and Ethan Decker
Stephen and Ardie Dickson
Rise Anne Keller and Douglas Dirks
Ann Dixon
Sue Easterlin
Don and Kathy Fregeletti
Carol and Robert Gocke
Marcelee Gralapp
Fred Grauer
Christine Quinlan (Birthday gift)
Laura and Bill Gunderson
Victoria Hamilton
Margaret Hansson
Caroline Himes
Genny and Andy Horning
Greg Hottinger
John Lainson
Sally Lasater
Aidan Luff
Joshua and Kim Martinsons
David B. McKay
Steve Montgomery
One Earth Landscaping
Virginia Perry
Pixie Mate
Heather Riffel
Susan Ross
Sensorielle LLC
Nancy Maron and Larry Soll
Spencer and Crowley, Inc
Jane and John Spencer
Jerry Bennington and Barbara Vucich
Sherri and Frank Weil
Virginia Pool and Richard Wilshusen
Nancy and Charlie Winn
Pat Wright
Harlequin’s Gardens
Rio Grande Restaurant
Coviden
$1 – $99
Kay Anderson
Bradley and Loretta Arbogast
Elizabeth Aspinwall
Steve Aldridge and Lisa Bell
Jeanne Macadra-and Jason Berkowitz
Susanna Block
Kim Bloomer
Mary Jo Bode
Patricia Butler
Dave Carlson
Patrick Clifford
Lenora Cooper
Christopher Cross
Gwenevere and Ethan Davis
Patrick Dillard
Michael Castle and Emily Ditty
eConscious Market
Jane Engel
Keith Fagen
Doug Felkley
Ann Fitzsimmons
Linda Rose Flinkman
Steve Fowler
Catherine and Dennis Gates
Donna Giardina
Janet and Scott Graaf
Crystal Gray
Patty and Wayne Greenberg
Andria Bronsten and Mike Gurrola
Ann Hackney
Sheeri Handler
Elizabeth Harris
Taryn Hanson
Karl Hanzel
Sue and Terry Haron
Nancy Hays
Jeanette and Dan Helgeson
Landon and Susan Hilliard
RobertHolmes
Susan Connoly-Howes
Liati Huff
Beverly Johnson
Eileen and John Josey
Sally Keefe
Matthew Kelsch
Gary Klein
Crystal Knapp
Emily Knapp
Alan and Connie Kobza
Kerrie Kruempelstaedter
Sebarian Kuzminsky
Marci and Gib Marchand
Laura and Brian McCudden
Susan and David Miller
Dan Moore
Lisa and John Morzel
Steve Montgomery
Linda Parks
Illene Pevec
Elizabeth Powell
Nancy Rao
Alice Renton
Pamela and Paul Rutigliano
Alison Scott
Sensorielle, LLC
Elizabeth Shaw
Scott and Sarah Sibley
Cathy Regan and Drew Smith
Pam and Bill Stewart
Mary Sweeney
John Walpole
Steve and Cindy Wanner
George and Kristen Watt
Kathryn and Michael White
Mark Willard
Linda and John Woods
In-Kind Donors
A Spice of Life
Alberts Organics
Annie Brier
b. side lounge
Barney and Julie Feinblum
Bead for Life
Betsy Gill
Bolderwomen.com
Boulder Cycle Sport
Boulder Dental Group: Mark Alber
Boulder Wine Merchant
Breadworks
Carol O’Meara
Catherine and Dennis Gates
Cathy Sweeney
Clif Bar
CO Music Festival
Colorado Gardener
Core Power Yoga
Daily Camera
Eldora
Eldorado Artesian Spring Water
Espress-Oh
Frequent Flyers
Fresh Herb Company
George Watt
Guided Heights
Howard Treppeda
Hurdles Jewelry
Jack and Marsha Walker
Janet Streater
Jessica Arbogast
John Platt
Julia Breedlove
Kerry White
Kristin Fleweling
Lee Hill Peat
Lefthand Valley Nursery
Liquor Mart
Lisa Bell
Long’s Family Farm
Marcelee Gralapp
Mardie Daltzell Driftmier
Mark Retzloff
Mathew Janesn
McGuckin Hardware
Mountain Sun
Mt. Ocean
Natural Merchants Selections
On Broadway
Organic Vintners
Pachamama Organic Farm
Patricia Chapman
Paul Heffron
Peak to Peak Grooming
Pedestrian Shops
Penny Schwind
Pixie Maté
Pottery Caffe
Puddle Car Wash
Rebecca’s Herbal Apothecary
Rick Yale and Pieter Dijkstra
Robert Kopack
Robert Spellman
Rocky Mountain Natural Meats
Rocky Mountain Pumpkin Ranch
Rudi’s Organic Bakery
Sensorielle Spa
Shamane Simons
Sophie and Jack Walker
Sturtz and Copeland
Tatjana Krizmanic
Tea Spot
The Daily Camera
The Parks Group
The Village Printer
Tibet Gallery
Udi’s Granola
Vitamin Cottage
Windy Lundy
Yan Su, Waterdrop Films
2008 Growing Gardens Supporters
[ We strive to recognize all of our donors and apologize if any name was inadvertently omitted. ]
6. 3198 N. Broadway
Boulder, CO 80304 USA
2008 Board of Directors
Clark Driftmier, President
SVP, Marketing, Aurora Organic Dairy
John Lainson - Vice President
Vice President, Financial Consultant,
RBC Dain Rauscher, Inc
Susan Easterlin -Treasurer
CPA, Associate- Hulet, Watson and Associates
Michelle Leifeste -Secretary
Attorney, Robinson Tweedy, PC
Georage Watt
George Watt Architecture
Mark Retzloff
President, Aurora Organic Dairy
Lianne Shepard
Vice president, Private Banking, 1st CommunityBank
Jim Hagen
Vice President Fresh Foods, Albert’s Organics
Laura Coblentz
VP Marketing and Innovation
Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy
Julia Wrapp
Realtor
Paul Heffron
President, Real Estate Investment Services Corp
Elaine Lipson
Writer, Organic Consultant
Leni Wilsmann
Associate, Conservation Impact
2008 Ex-Oficio Member
Rick Roen
President, Lake Valley Seed (retired)