Community Gardens Networking Day held on February 4, 2010 was a masterful success!

By Ursula Sabia Sukini, Community Gardens Coordinator for Montgomery Parks

For the first time in the Washington DC area, community garden program leaders gathered together at Brookside Gardens to network. Over 60 leaders gathered together coming from as far away as Fairfax County VA, Washington DC and Baltimore MD.   Starting before the 9am coffee hour, many people arrived excited to work the room visiting the display booths and sharing common discussions with each other.

Instead of a more traditional lecture format, the gardening network day put the opportunity to learn into the leaders hands themselves.  Montgomery Parks gently guided the discussions but ultimately the registrants themselves created and worked the day to be what they wanted and needed. The morning session was a brief overview of each garden present by their organizers including a brief summery of their successes and challenges, followed by questions and answers.  A networking lunch was highlighted by the showing of the documentary “A Community of Gardeners”.  And during the afternoon session multiple room discussions on specific and common challenges were held and shared.

This event was the creative result of Montgomery Parks’ desire to gather many years of experience and investment in one room, so that new leaders can create successful programs and more experience programs can leave with new ideas.  The dynamic format made for a huge success.  The overwhelming response at the end of the day was to create a format for further exchange and support and to schedule another event next year.  Columbia Gardeners will host in 2011 and Rockville will host 2012.

Photos taken by Kathy Jentz, Washington Gardener Magazine