Back by popular demand!
We've got about 300 graduates and new Austin area gardeners who have completed our great course and are growing great vegetables, getting super exercise and nutrition, while trimming expenses, and loving it.

So we are offering more opportunities to join in the fun!

2010 Fall Citizen Gardener Sessions - 4 of them - start on August 14th and run through the end of September.

Each session consist of two Saturday mornings and a Wednesday evening classes, offering 10 hours of instruction. It's hands-on, learning by doing it - site design, make a raised bed, plant a square-foot garden, build a compost pile, learn about Austin climate, soil, planting times; build/plant a mulch bed, turn the compost, see demo of trellis, a little shade-/green-house, rain water collection - all the information/experience you need to design, build, plant, and enjoy your own back-/front-yard garden this Fall.

Cost is $30 due on the first day of class (cash or check made out to "Sustainable Food Center"). $10 dollars will be refunded if you complete 10 volunteer hours at one of our partner gardens.

Saturday classes are 4 hours
Wednesday class is 1.5 hours (except CG #15 is Tuesday)

Here is the line-up:
-CG #15:
August 14 & 21 (Saturday mornings): 8:00am - 12:00pm, at Festival Beach Community Garden: Waller & Flores, Austin 78702
August 17 (Tuesday evening): 7:00pm - 8:30pm, at Terrazas Public Library: 1105 East Cesar Chavez Street, Austin, TX 78702
Instructors: Dick Peterson (Lead) & Sandy Brazwell (Assistant)


-CG #16:
August 28 & September 4 (Saturdays mornings): 8:00am - 12:00pm, at Kipp Academy in East Austin, FM 969/MLK, past 183; right just before Decker Lake Rd; follow signs to Kipp and baloons to garden
Sept 1 (Wednesday evening) - 7:00pm - 8:30pm, location TBD
Instructor: Dick Pierce


-CG #17:
September 11 & 18 (Saturday mornings): 8:30am - 12:30pm
September 15 (Wednesday evening): 7:00pm - 8:30pm
All classes are held at The Rock Methodist Church: 2001 W. New Hope Road, Cedar Park
Instructor: Leslie Keller


-CG #18:
September 25 & October 2 (Saturday mornings): 8:30am - 12:30pm, location TBD
September 29 (Wednesday evening): 7:00pm - 8:30pm, location TBD
Instructor: Khaled Jafar

Program management is provided each season by a dedicated volunteer. There are many benefits including close relationships with fabulous gardening instructors, getting to know Austin's newest gardening enthusiasts and lots of gratitude from people thrilled to be getting training as Citizen Gardeners.
There are 3 parts:
1) Managing registration questions
2) Assisting with PR and class outreach
3) Producing rosters for each class and assisting the instructor with check-in at the first day of each course.
Oh, and attend the end-of-the season potluck and celebrate the fruits of your labor!
I estimate it's approximately 15 hours a week for the season. Does that work with your life?
Inquire with Brandi Clark if you are interested. 512-939-9776

Citizen Gardener is program that began in August of 2008, designed to engage more Austin area residents in growing food locally.
How it works: The interested student signs up for one of our 3-class sessions totaling ten hours of gardening course work. This training comes from a seasoned educator or master gardener who provides a foundation for the new student to give ten hours of volunteer/apprentice work to a Partner Garden. Upon completion of the hours, the student is not only awarded the distinction of being a "Citizen Gardener", but has the skills to create their own garden.
The Reward: This process returns a cycle of gifting to the planet and others... a reciprocating, blooming and fruitful gift.