Providing Gardening Education
Through various educational activities, UGC hopes to spread knowledge about growing gardens as well as eating seasonally and supporting local agriculture.
- Beyond the Backyard – garden-related workshops offered throughout the year for all in the community interested in learning from one another through hands-on time in the garden.
- Foxfire Fridays – community skill-share gatherings to trade talents and stories related to urban homesteading beyond the garden.
- After-school Garden Clubs – partnering with the Waco Independent School District, Communities in Schools, Go Now Missions, and the World Hunger Relief Farm to work with six elementary and middle school campuses in WISD’s after school program.
Strengthening the Local Food Economy
Beyond gardening, the UGC hopes to re-invest in the local community through various projects that encourage agrarian enterprises that contribute to building a local food economy
- Waco Downtown Farmers Market - The UGC operates a co-op booth for school and community gardens to sell their produce at Market. We are there every Saturday 9am-1pm, rain or shine.
- Urban Training Farm – The UGC will work with high-school age youth to teach them about farming/gardening as well as the financial and small business management skills they will need to succeed in the 21st century workforce.
Promoting Youth Service
Lastly, the UGC hopes to provide opportunities for green-thumbs and unlikely gardeners to meet in the garden and get to know one another through garden-related service to the community.
- MLK Day of Service – held every January to prepare for the spring garden season, UGC coordinates garden clean-ups and plantings for gardens across the greater Waco community.
- Harvest Celebration - celebrating the many children across the city who contribute their sweat, blood, and tears to gardens through in-school and after-school garden clubs. The Harvest Celebration is held during Global Youth Service Day in April.
- Urban Gardening Scholarship – annual scholarship awarded to one high school senior or college student actively participating and exemplifying leadership in a community garden.
August 28, 2010 at 4:07 pm
We are a Central Texas based hydroponic & organic Horticulture Supply Store. We are a part of the Greater Waco Chamber as well as local and nationally recognized Green. We want to help educate the community about the benefits of farming hydroponically and organically. We would love to be a part of the movement that is hitting Waco. Please contact us at 254-235-5555 or by email at aeroponicwaterworks.com
June 2, 2011 at 12:44 pm
I did a presentation to our church on HOTUGC last night. It was surprising how many members knew we had a garden but did not know its recent origin nor that we hosted the Harvest Fest 2 years in a row.I am so proud to be part of a green living, diversity loving, hard working, positive thinking group of folks.
May 16, 2012 at 8:10 am
My church is interested in doing a community garden. We have a donated lot 4 blocks from our church. I would be interested in hearing the ins and outs of community gardening so we can possibly do a garden for the fall and next spring.
Randall Perry
FBC Waco
May 21, 2012 at 1:10 pm
We would be interested in meeting with you. We can be reached at 254-227-5380 or you can e-mail me at zacugc@gmail.com. Thanks for your interest in Community Gardening.
July 14, 2012 at 8:10 am
Is there any place in the Waco area that you can rent a space to have a garden? My yard is too small to plant pumpkins and watermelons and my kids love to watch them grow. ANy help would be great. Thanks.
July 17, 2012 at 10:15 am
What neighborhood do you live in? – there are many community gardens that have space available if you are interested.
August 16, 2012 at 9:15 am
Bruce – Calvary Baptist Church has raised beds you can rent. Check out their web site http://www.calvarybaptistwaco.com/