Intro Community Gardening Meeting

FLEXIBLE AGENDA

1. Welcome and Introductions (15 minutes)

• Facilitator Welcome: brief intro of the purpose of the AVL Community Garden Meetup
• Participant Introductions: each person shares their name, role or interest in community gardening, and a quick statement on why they joined the group

2. Vision for the AVL Community Garden Meetup (10 minutes)

• Overview of the Meetup’s Goals: goals for building a collaborative, resource-sharing community
• Introducing the Concept of the Modern Commons: concept of using community gardens as a “Commons” for food sovereignty, well-being, resource sharing and public good
• Future Topics and Ideas: some of the ideas that will be explored in future meetings (e.g., seed swaps, skill-building workshops, ethnobotany, resource-sharing, problem-solving, etc.)

3. Overview of Opportunities for Involvement (15 minutes)

• Brainstorming and Problem-Solving Sessions
• Seed Swaps and Resource Exchanges
• Workshops and Skills Trainings
• Small Business Collaboration

4. Group Discussion: Identifying Collective Goals and Interests (20 minutes)

• Open Floor Discussion: what are the main goals or needs that each participant has for their community garden?
• Brainstorming Initial Ideas: identify specific interests within the group, such as creating a shared resource system, organizing seed libraries, or starting a garden pop-up market
• Prioritizing Topics: members to vote on or express interest in key topics for upcoming meetings to help shape the Meetup’s focus

5. Small Group Breakout Session (as needed): Resource Sharing and the Commons (20 minutes)

• Break into Small Groups: each group discusses what resources or skills they have to offer and what they might need from others
• Report Back: each group briefly shares one idea for building the commons, such as a resource exchange or a shared equipment pool

6. Next Steps and Future Meetings (10 minutes)

• Overview of the Meeting Structure
• Scheduling Follow-Up
• Sign-Up for Presenters

7. Closing and Informal Networking (10 minutes)