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Southeast Coastal Gardening

Want to start local garden club. Advice?

19 years ago

I live in a small community near New Bern, NC. I would like to start a local garden club open to the couple of hundred or so folks who live here. I think it would be valuable for neighbors to have a structure to share plants, ideas, information, and enthusiasm. I envision guest speakers, field trips to local gardens and arboretums, local beautification projects, and working to encourage wildlife and to preserve native plants. I have lots of questions, like, is it better to meet at private homes or in a local, public building like the golf clubhouse or town hall? What kind of dues, if any, are recommended? What about officers? How could we build membership? A couple of my neighbors have said they would be interested. I thought I would stuff a letter into mailboxes in our area, inviting people to an initial planning session. Does anyone have pointers for me and my neighbors?

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Comments (3)

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
19 years ago
I sure do wish you good luck on your endeavor! I've attached a link to the National Garden Club site, from which you can visit all sorts of state sites. You certainly do NOT have to join these large organizations to have your own club, but some of them might have some good tips for you.

I've been a frequent speaker at the garden clubs in coastal SC, where they are saturated with these organizations. ALL of the chapters were state and national members. All paid dues. (If you charge dues, what will the money be used for?) Most of them took turns meeting at members' homes, although the larger groups required facilities.

If you are interested in getting together with neighbors only, I would avoid the hassle of being too organized. However, if you do your homework, you may be surprised at the response. Your local newspaper will be helpful in getting the word out...call them and ask that a reporter to a story on the subject.

Here is a link that might be useful: National Garden Club
PeaBee4
19 years ago
Start small. Since you have already spoken to a few that are interested, have a small informal get together at your home to talk about it more. You may find that one or more of them have experience in organizing and planning. See if they are interested in a large group that would need a big place to meet or a smaller one that could meet in homes. Once you find out their ideas, you will have a better slant on what will work better in your neighborhood.
PB
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serenoa
19 years ago
I agree with the other responses. I am working to start a horticulture group in Jacksonville. We got some meeting announcements into the paper and word spread person to person. The Jacksonville Zoo and Extension Office have provided meeting places at no charge. One year after our first meeting, we have 100 people on our contact list and usually see 30 to 40 at meetings. In the first year, we had no officers, no dues and little business to discuss. This year, I hope to get some others involved as officers. We have talked about dues and legal organization as a non-profit organization. Those things will come when the time is right.

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