Programs

Community Composting Program

McDonough Community Garden wants your compost!! We welcome the following for our compost bins. We welcome restaurants and coffeeshops to call if they want our volunteers to come and pick up compostable refuse. We can help get rid of it!!

Contact (804) 397-1465 if you are interested in particpating.

Materials to Compost
Browns = High Carbon Greens = High Nitrogen
Ashes, wood
Bark
Cardboard, shredded
Corn stalks
Fruit waste
Leaves
Newspaper, shredded
Peanut shells
Peat moss
Pine needles
Sawdust
Stems and twigs, shredded
Straw
Vegetable stalks		 Alfalfa
Algae
Clover
Coffee grounds
Food waste
Garden waste
Grass clippings
Hay
Hedge clippings
Hops, used
Manures
Seaweed
Vegetable scraps
Weeds*
*Avoid weeds that have gone to seed, as seeds may survive all but the hottest compost piles.

Growing Up Teen Program

Growing Up is a 7 week summer program charged with teaching Richmond Virginia black male youth urban agriculture, social entrepreneurship and culinary arts. Educational sessions consist of 5 hour segments once a week Saturday from 10 am to 3pm.  12-16 participants with 3-4 coordinators as supervisors

Program launches Spring (March 2nd tentative date) – First day = orientation and introduction for staff coordinators, program rules and expectations – educational component is limited to actually 6 weeks. An additional 7th class is added herein as a bonus; available for Growing Up participants; sponsored by McDonough Community Garden for both program participants and community at large. (I.E. Hoop House Construction at McDonough Community Garden)

Program Component Objectives :

  1. Examine the history and importance of urban agriculture.
  2. Develop practical urban agriculture skills necessary for cultivation of sustainable community gardens and urban farms for optimum food production
  3.  Demonstrate an understanding of urban agriculture, its practicality, health importance and social importance.
  4.  Determine actions to address food-related issues at home, at school, and in the community. Examine the history and importance of social entrepreneurship.
  5.  Cultivate practical business management practices essential to entrepreneurial success and business profitability
  6. Demonstrate an understanding of small business development, its practicality, importance of self-sufficiency and its impact on local economy.
  7. Improve creativity, innovation, leadership, conflict resolution and communication

Evaluation Methods

  • Written journals – Daily journals kept by participants will document student learning and understanding
  •  Class Demonstration – Instructors evaluation of student participation and technique mastery
  •  Student Video & Photo Blogs – Participants will maintain group video blog (youtube) and photo (flickr) documenting the skills and techniques learned weekly.

Typical Day:

11:00 AM – Arrival: Brunch
11:15 AM – Synopsis of the Day
11:30 AM – First Workshop – Urban Agriculture Session
1:00 AM – Lunch
2:00 PM – Second Workshop – Social Entreprenuership
3:30 PM – Journal / Writing
4:00 PM – Departure

Program Considerations:

Urban agriculture is a voluminous field of learning. An ideal structure for such a topic is one that runs year round allowing for more expansive educational opportunities. Also workshops limited within three hour framework allow for time for interactive question and answer session which are essential for experiential learning modalities. Workshops herein are presented to give a rudimentary understanding of urban agriculture; optimistic of further longitudinal engagement of program participants. Social entrepreneurship is a far departure from the traditional methods of non-profits to secure funding to accomplish their missions by simply asking for money. The students in the Growing Up program have the opportunity to implement these principles for the development of their own business which can in turn fund the program.

Program Needs:

Space for 6 weeks (6 Saturdays at 5 hours per class) worth of classes located close to the McDonough Street Garden site.

Presenters for Suggested Workshops

3 Coordinators / Jegna (we disavow the term mentor due to its origin as a Greek term implicit in pedophilic relationships between men and boys) Jegna is a word taken from the Amharic language of Nubia. Jegna are those special people who have been tested in struggle or battle, demonstrated extraordinary and unusual fearlesness, shown determination and courage in protecting her/his people, land and culture, shown diligence and dedication to our people, produced an exceptionally high quality of work, and dedicated themselves to the protection, defense, nurturance and development of our young by advancing our people, place and culture. (an application and 150 word essay will be used to screen individuals)

Books (text on urban agriculture and social entrepreneurship) for up to 16 students

Sponsored Lunch & Brunch for 6 weeks for 16 students plus 3 Jegna

Tee Shirts -

A Logo for the program

Camcorder / SLR camera for documentation of the program

A laptop with mobile internet access for blogging about the program

Video Editing Software Photo Editing Software

Composition pads (16 IPADS would be amazing)