Friends of Burlington Gardens
& the Vermont Community Garden Network Growing gardens, fresh food, happy people, and healthy communities!
VTGardenNetwork • www.burlingtongardens.org
Healthy City Youth Initiative
380
Hunt Middle School students turned over 48 beds, enjoyed taste tests and cooking classes, and grew 4,000 lbs of vegetables for their school lunches
Community Teaching Garden
120
beginning adult gardeners learned the skills to grow fruits and vegetables in this hands-on course since 2003
Vermont Community Garden Network
1,245
members representing 180 communities and 300+ gardens around the state make up the Network - FBG has funded 240 startup and expansion projects!
Food for Family and Friends
$500
worth of produce can be grown in an average community garden plot Community gardens also build social networks and provide space for recreation and fun!
Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities
155
Vermont schools have garden programs that enhance learning and introduce children and teens to new foods
Feeding Our Community
3,500
veggie starts were distributed to school and community gardens, social service agencies, and low income gardeners in 2011
Working Together
100
volunteers and 8 interns gave 1,500 hours of service to school and community gardens
Friends of Burlington Gardens
is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the growth and success of community, school, and neighborhood gardens in the city of Burlington and across the state of Vermont.
We envision a secure and vibrant local food system where Vermonters of all ages and backgrounds experience the benefits of growing their own food and become healthier through improved diets, exercise, and positive social interactions. Our local programs teach children, teens, and adults the hands-on skills needed to grow, cook, and share fresh nutritious food. The Healthy City Youth Initiative is a district-wide school garden and farm to school program that is fully integrated into the Burlington School Food Project. The heart of the program is the Healthy City Youth Farm at Hunt Middle School. The half-acre site is used for field trips, classroom, after school, and summer programming. The Community Teaching Garden at Ethan Allen Homestead is a 22 week beginning organic gardening course for adults. Participants meet twice a week at the garden site for focused instruction and
individual work as they learn how to plant and cultivate fresh vegetables. The Vermont Community Garden Network is our statewide program, with more than 1,200 members representing 180 Vermont communities. The Network provides education, resources, and technical assistance to community and school garden organizers. Since 2006, we have funded 240 garden projects statewide. The 2011 Food Production Education VT program provided funding and technical assistance for 40 school community gardens. We are grateful for the incredible dedication and contributions from staff, board members, volunteers, individual donors, funders, and the business community. Visit www.burlingtongardens.org for more information about our programs and how you can help support this important work.
Friends of Burlington Gardens
& the Vermont Community Garden Network PO Box 4504 • 180 Flynn Avenue Suite 3 • Burlington, VT 05406 (802) 861-4769 • info@burlingtongardens.org VTGardenNetwork • www.burlingtongardens.org