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VISION:
We envision
inspired people joining together to actively replenish their environment,
their community and themselves. We believe in the power of people to
co-create harmony between land, water and all living things for generations
to come.
MISSION:
Growing
Gardens’ mission is to enrich the lives of Boulder County residents
through environmentally sustainable gardening programs that empower
people to experience a direct and deep connection with plants, the land
and each other.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
| 1. |
Gardening feeds the body, mind and spirit of people who participate. |
| 2. |
Gardening empowers people to create a more sustainable and food secure world. |
| 3. |
Direct experience- getting one’s hands into the dirt- is the best teacher. |
| 4. |
Growing Gardens believes in equal access for people from all economic, cultural, generational, and ability groups, and believes in encouraging the connection between these groups. |
| 5. |
Growing Gardens operates in a manner that is open, transparent, sharing, mutually supportive and apolitical. |
| 6. |
Growing Gardens cultivates a proactive, inquisitive evolution of new ideas ( and methods) to serve people plants and the land. |
| 7. |
Growing Gardens operates in a financially responsible manner. |
ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS
| 1. |
Empowerment – Enable ethnically diverse youth to become active leaders in their community and low-income families and individuals to become self-sufficient in meeting their food needs. Increase the self-sufficiency of low-income families by providing garden beds, vegetable starts, organic gardening classes and nutrition education to neighborhoods and a homeless shelter serving a total of 353 individuals. |
| 2. |
Education - Teach community members of all ages, abilities and income levels on a broad range of life skills topics, including agriculture, leadership, mentoring, and entrepreneurship. Increase awareness and participation in organic gardening through site tours, lecture and workshops. |
| 3. |
Facilitation – Provide space for community gardening in an urban setting; and enable individuals to discover the beauty of the natural world, take part in fun, recreational family activities and strengthen the local food system. |
| 4. |
Fostering Community - Create opportunities for diverse residents to work together and develop partnerships with many local organizations in order to build a healthier community. Partner with outside agencies in order to provide both food production opportunities, as well as education and general community enrichment. |
| 5. |
Environmental Protection – Enhance organic agriculture production in Boulder County, thus providing a healthy food supply, reducing pesticide use, diverting waste from landfills, and preserving land for future generations. |
FOUNDING TENETS:
1.
GROWING GARDENS advocates and teaches gardening emphasising organic
methods.
2. GROWING GARDENS emphasizes the importance of urban food security
and encourages aesthetic horticulture throughout the county.
3. GROWING GARDENS celebrates the equality of all people and provides
a place of contact to create multi-cultural and multi-generational community
through gardening. GROWING GARDENS serves all economic levels in its
programs and training.
4. GROWING GARDENS strives to make programs both physically and financially
accessible to all.
5. GROWING GARDENS has no political affiliations and takes no political
stands.
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