families in that and enjoyable.

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2 Dear Volunteer, You have joined an organization that shares your desire to reduce hunger in our community by providing families in need with the resources to grow organic vegetables at home. Since 2011, we have helped many families put fresh, homegrown produce on their dinnerr tables, thanks to the many volunteers that share their time and talents with us. It is our hope that your volunteer experience will be rewarding and enjoyable. The Volunteer Welcome Handbook provides answers to many of the questions you may have about the volunteer programs we offer. Please read through the handbook so that you will know what to expect when you start your volunteer activity. If anything is unclear, please let uss know. The information included in the Volunteer Welcomee Handbook may change, and we will make every effort to let you know when that happens. The GardenWorks Project is dedicated to doing its part to assure you a satisfying volunteer experience. Dan Barker, founder of The Home Garden Project and Foundation and inspiration for The GardenWorks Project, said, Vegetable gardens are of universal benefit, andd the distribution of gardens to low income people generates universal benefit.. We believee this is true, and that everyone deserves fresh produce. It takes courageous clients, dedicated volunteers, generous donors, and caring corporations to fulfill our mission. Thank you for being part of this work that is so important to us all. Sincerely, Tina Koral, MPH Executive Director 1

3 About The GardenWorks Project The GardenWorks Project was started in 2011 by Tina and Joseph Koral, who wished to help others in their community while creating a volunteer project they could do with their two young children. In the spring of 2012, they built home vegetable gardens for four families who needed the services of the Glen Ellyn Food Pantry. Word spread about their work, and more people got involved. Today, The GardenWorks Project is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is still completely volunteer operated, and has a board of directors dedicated to the organization s mission and to expanding the project to help more families facing hunger. More than 100 volunteers have helped us build gardens throughout DuPage and east Kane Counties, and through our residential gardens and educational events, have taught more than 250 people to grow food at home. The Need For The GardenWorks Project While our service area is one of the wealthiest areas of the county, poverty is a growing problem. The cost of living is very high; a minimum wage earner would need to work 95 hours per week to afford a 2 bedroom apartment in DuPage County. As a result, 9.1% of DuPage County residents (nearly 100,000 people) are food insecure, and 16.4% of children in DuPage County are food insecure 1. Many families turn to food pantries to meet their basic human need for food. And while food pantries fill a vital need, shelf stable food can be highly processed, high in fat, sugar and sodium, and low in nutrients. Many pantries do not have the facilities necessary to accept, store, and distribute fresh produce, and if they do, it is often at the end of its shelf lifee and rarely organic. Charity is not enough to combat food insecurity. Food pantries may satisfy a family s hunger today, but what about tomorrow? The GardenWorks Project is dedicated to reducing food insecurity in Chicago s west suburbs by providing families in need of food assistance with home vegetable gardens and educational resources. Families learn to grow the food thatt they like to eat culturally appropriate foods that may not be available in food pantries. We teach families to grow food organically to promote self sufficiency, pride, and good stewardship of the environment. Our clients can supplementt their diets with healthy, organic food that they can t get in the food pantry while stretching their food dollars at the grocery store Report on Illinois Poverty, Social Impact Research Center at Heartland Alliance. 2

4 The GardenWorks Project s primary activity is providing families in need of food pantry assistance with the resources they need to grow food at home at no charge. We work with five area food pantries and social service organizations to identify those who are both in need of food assistance and want to grow their own food at home. Alongside our clients, our volunteers build 4 x 8 cedar raised bed gardens, fill them with soil and compost, and plant them with vegetable plants and seeds of the client s choosing. Each client is paired with an experienced garden coach who is available to visit the client, answer questions and offer advice throughout the growing season. Our families receive support in the form of compost, seeds, plants, and advice for two years following their initial growing year. All of these resources are provided to the client at no charge. The GardenWorks Project also offers educational classes to our clients and the general public. Past topics have included indoor seed starting, organic gardening,, composting,, preserving the harvest, and fall/winter garden extension. Vegetable seeds are distributedd at most of our educational activities to encouragee people to grow more food at home and donate surplus to local food pantries. No other organization is building home vegetable gardens forr families in need in our service area of DuPage and east Kane Counties, nor in our state or region. There are many community gardens that serve families in need, but we re different. The difference between our programs and community garden programs is that we build gardens wheree people live. In fact, our recommendation for the best location for the garden is a sunny spot closest to the kitchen. Many peoplee in our target population lack the time, health, energy, or transportation needed to get to a community garden plot. These peoplee are often our most vulnerable citizens to whom a home garden can make an incredible difference. 3

5 Volunteer Training Each spring, The GardenWorks Project holds a kickoff/volunteer meeting. At that meeting, we introduce new volunteers to the organization and describee different volunteer opportunities thatt are available. Most of the volunteer instruction happens at the garden build, but specifics are also laid out in this manual so that volunteers know what to expect on the day of the garden build that they signed up for. No experience is necessary to participate in our garden builds! Even if you are new to gardening, you will still be a big help on the day of the build, and we hope that when the client s garden is complete, you will also be able to take home some new skills and build a garden of your own! An experienced gardener will be present at each build to answer any client or volunteer questions. The spring kickoff/volunteer meeting is the time to sign up for the date and location of the garden build of their choosing. Please keep a note of this date and time, and let The GardenWorks Project know if you are unable to attend the build that you signed up for. You will be notified by if there has been a change to the schedule. Who Gets a Garden? The GardenWorks Project works with area food pantries and social services organization partners to identify families who are both in need of food assistance andd want to learn how to grow food at home. Our partners distribute our application to these families and return them to us for review and selection. We do not ask potential clients for income verification the fact that a family needed to turn to a food pantry is proof enough of need. The families we serve are diverse representing many different races, nationalities and backgrounds. They are families who face varied economic challenges and situations, butt all found themselves in need of help feeding their families. They may be experienced gardeners who just didn t have the resources to install a garden at their current residence, or brand new gardeners. It is usually the requirement of most funding agencies that no determination of eligibility to be a recipient of a nonprofit organization can be made on the basis of religion, race, or political bias, and The GardenWorks Project adheres to this requirement as well. Hunger has no religion, race, or politicall bias. Reasons an applicant may be turned down for a garden include failure to reply to repeated attempts to contact them, a lack of volunteers to build the garden, or a lack of funding. 4

6 Before the Build Gather items that you might need to bring with you to the garden build. These might include garden gloves, a trowel, sun protection, water, and a snack. Plan to work for about an hour for each garden build. These powerful encounters, while short, make a big difference for a family in need. We want to instill a love of growingg vegetables and volunteerism in all children, so children are welcome at our garden builds. Wee love seeing little ones get their hands dirty! Please check your prior to leaving for your garden build, especially if there is rain in the forecast. We will contact you by to let you know if a build has been rescheduled. If you have one, pleasee wear your GardenWorks Project t shirt to the build. This lets our client know who we are, and looks great in photos. Sometimes, we are able to offer t shirts to volunteers at no charge if they have been sponsored by a local business. Otherwise, t shirts and other gift items can be purchased on our website at We can t stress this enough arrive to your garden build on time! We respect our client s and volunteer s time, and begin building right at the scheduled start time. The building of the gardens happens at a relatively quick pace, especially if the client andd their family are able to help. Nothing has been more disappointing to our volunteers than when they arrive late to the build and it is already complete! Research the address prior to the build if you re unfamiliar with the area, and consider driving to the location ahead of the build to ensure thatt you know exactly where the house is. All volunteers must complete a Volunteer Information Form and Waiver each year. If you have not completed one prior to your build, please print and completee the waiver on the last page of this document and give it to your build coordinator before you start working. When you arrive at the house where the garden build will take place, please park on the street and away from the driveway so that supplies can be easily unloaded. Wait to approach the house until you see a build coordinator. Once all of the volunteers have arrived, thee coordinator will call on the client, who will lead the group to the location where they would like the garden installed. Building the Garden The coordinator will confirm the location of the garden with the client. This location has been discussed with a GardenWorks Project volunteer ahead of time, and takes sunlight, access to water, existing structures, and other consideration ns into account. In the end, while we can guide the client to the most advantageous location for the garden, it is up to them to decide the final location. Gardens close to the 5

7 home receive the best care and most frequent harvest. Whenn gardens are placed directly next to fences or other structures, it is difficult to reach the back of the garden. Considerr leaving two or three feet around the perimeter of the garden to allow for access to all parts of the garden, and for a lawnmower to get through. You mayy have seen bags of soil and compost piled in the driveway or frontt yard when you arrived. The first order of businesss will be to move these, the lumber, plants, and any other supplies to the location of the garden install. We use approximately 15 bags of soil and 15 bags of compost in each garden. The 4 x 8 raised garden bed is made of cedar, and the boards are pre cut and drilled. They simply need to be screwed together onsite. The garden bed frame should be squared up with an existing structure, like a fence or the house. At that time, the grass can be cut as low as possible using a weed trimmer. If newspaper is available, it should be laid over the grass at this time. The bags of compost and soil are then opened and emptied into the garden frame. Use your hands, a trowel, or a hand cultivator to mix the soil and compost in the frame. Break up any large clods, and smooth out the surface in preparation for planting. And now the exciting part gettingg the plants and seeds intoo the ground! The plant and seed selections have been discussed with the client prior to the build, and reflect what the client wants to grow in their garden. For the most part, the plants and seeds are organic and GMO free. Most of the plants are grown locally in DuPage County. Discuss the layout of the plants and seeds as a group before planting, and use plant markers to identify each plant or the location of seeds. The client may keep any leftover seeds so that they can read the packet for care and harvest instructions, and plant any remaining seeds later in the season or the following year. The new plants will be thirsty. Ask the client to water the garden gently, but thoroughly. Explain to the client thatt it is a good practice to mulch the garden using lawn clippings, provided thatt they have not been sprayed with chemicals. 6

8 Interacting with Clients During the build, feel free to chat with the client and any family present. Ask client about their previous gardeningg experience. You may find that they gardened with a parent growing up, or had a garden at their previous residence. Don t assume that the client has never gardenedd before. After you assess their previous experience, tailor your conversation accordingly. Include any children that are present in the planting process. Kids love to plant seeds! Getting kids involved with growing food at a young age provides them with skills that will payoff for a lifetime. Youngsters learn where their food comes from, and feel the pride of growing food to feed their family. You can feel good thatt you taught a child something new. Explain what you re doing at each step of the build process. You may just be dumping bags of soil or compost, but the client may not understand why you re usingg both. Explain that the soil provides structuree for the plants to grow, and the compost providess nutrients so that they do not need to add syntheticc fertilizers. Explain why you can plant tomatoes deeply (because new roots will grow from the buried stem making the plant healthier), while other plants should be planted at the level they were growing in the pot. Explain how important it is to read the contents of the seed packet to learn about planting time, spacing and harvesting. Talk to them about watering in the morning, deeply and only when the soil is dry. Completing the Build The final step is to walk the site to pick up any trash and tools, thank the client for allowing us to do this work, and wish them well! Their garden coach will be in touch throughoutt the season to offer suggestions and answer any questions the client may have after the build. Client Privacy As a GardenWorks Project Coach you are expected to maintain the confidentiality of all informationn known to you about any individual, family or child. All our participating Gardeners come from food pantry partner sites and have faced varied economic challenges and situations. We do not ask clients for income verification the fact that a family needed to turn to a food pantry is proof enough of need. Be conscientious and mindful when speaking with your Gardeners. 7

9 To further protect our Gardeners confidentiality, and out of courtesy to them, The GardenWorks Project retains absolute rights over any photographs. Coaches are not to use photographs for their personal use; they may not have printed images, or keep digital copies on a photo card, phone, flash drive, computer or CD. The GardenWorks Project must have permission in writing from any adult individual, and in the case of a child, their parent, before a photograph may be taken. We respect the right of all our Gardeners to refuse to be photographed or identified in a photograph. This doesn t mean that you can t take pictures of the garden, just ask first and make sure the client does not mind if these photographs are shared. We hope that this handbook has helped you to understand what your responsibilities are as a garden builder, and what to expect on the day of the build. If you still have questions, don t worry a coordinator will be on site at the build to help. Thank you for volunteering with The GardenWorks Project! 8

10 The GardenWorks Project builds gardens in the spring and late summer, so there are more chances to build with us. Or, you can consider another role. Garden Coach Each family is matched with a volunteer garden coach who contacts the family a few times during the gardeningg season by phone, , or in person to answer questions and offer suggestions. If you ve been successful at growing vegetables in the past, and like too connect one on one, a garden coach position might be right for you. Board of Directors Our board of directors is a dedicated group of individuals dedicated to the organization s mission and to expanding the project to help more families facing hunger. Our board members serve for two years, typically giving 1 2 hours per week, more during the garden build season. Committees and Special Projects We routinely need volunteers to work on special projects likee mailings, evaluations, grant writing, research projects, special events, and more. To stay involved with The GardenWorks Project throughout the year, sign up for our e newsletter and visit our website or social sites. The GardenWorks Project PO Box 1244 St. Charles, IL gardenworksproject.org gardenworksproject@ gmail.com Socialize: facebook..com/thegardenworksproject instagram.com/gardenworksproject twitter.com/gardenworksproj pinterest..com/gardenworksproj 9

11 VOLUNTEER INFORMATION FORM Name: Address, City, State, Zip: Phone: Emergency Contact (name/phone): I give permission for my address to be added to The GardenWorks Project newsletter list. I understand that images of me volunteering may appear in GardenWorks Project communications. VOLUNTEER WAIVER, RELEASE, HOLD HARMLESS AND INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT I have agreed to serve as a volunteer for The GardenWorks Project,, and I recognize that my volunteer participation is a privilege afforded to me by The GardenWorks Project. I fully understand, appreciate and assume all risks associated with my volunteer duties. In exchange for my participation, I hereby agree to the following: a) I voluntarily waive, release, and hold harmless The GardenWorks Project, Board of Directors, volunteers, clients, and client s landlords, from any and all claims, causes of action and damages for bodily injury or death that I may suffer as a result of, or in any manner connected with, directly or indirectly, my participation as a GardenWorks Project volunteer. I understand thatt this waiver and release precludes my right to recovery of damages in the event I am injured in the course of my volunteer duties. b) I shall defend, hold harmless and indemnify The GardenWorks Project, Board of Directors, volunteers, clients, and client s landlords, from and against all damages, claims, liabilities, causes of action, judgments, settlements, costs and expenses (including, but not limited to, reasonable expert witness and attorney fees) that may at any time arise or be claimed by any person as a result of bodily injury, death or property damage, or as a result of any other claim or cause of action of any nature whatsoever, arising from or in any manner connectedd with, directly or indirectly, my negligent or intentional acts or omissions in performing my volunteer duties. I have read, fully understand and agreee to the assumption of risk, release, hold harmless, and indemnificationn terms set forth above. Participant Signature Date Note: If participant is under 18 years of age, a parent or legall guardian must sign this agreement on behalf of the participant. Parent Signature (if applicable) 10

12 The GardenWorks Projec ct appreciates the support of our generous corporate sponsors: