HOT Urban Gardening Coalition

UGC Partner Garden  Guidelines

The Heart of Texas Urban Gardening Coalition (UGC) is a community collaboration that educates and encourages people to grow gardens. UGC provides the training and relationships to establish gardens at homes or other living environments, schools, and community centers.

Gardens partnered by UGC must agree to:

1. Pay annual partnership fees of $25 to cover basic garden supplies and expertise from the UGC.
2. Sign an MOU with the Urban Gardening Coalition and at least one other community partner (nearby school, church, non-profit, coalition, government agency) that agrees to help with the care and maintenance of the garden.
3. Locate access to water on-site prior to initial groundbreaking.
4. Help with the initial groundbreaking and garden-building and the continual care of the garden plot (watering, weeding, planting).
5. Establish weekly/monthly work and watering schedule with garden volunteers.
6. Attend monthly meetings facilitated by the Urban Gardening Coalition.
7. Participate in Beyond the Backyard garden workshop series – workshops available each month.
8. Participate in large community garden workdays (such as the MLK Day of Service in January and the Harvest Celebration in April).

UGC agrees to provide partner gardens with:

1. Workshop training and educational materials necessary to establish an organic food garden.
2. Volunteer recruitment – some experienced, others eager to learn.
3. Plants, seeds and supplies for large community garden work days.
4. Coordination for large seasonal work days to help with up-keep of the garden: MLK Day of Service (January), Harvest Celebration (April) and Baylor’s Steppin Out (fall and spring).
5. Access to agricultural assistance through partnerships with the McLennan County Master Gardeners, the Heart of Texas Master Composters, and the World Hunger Relief Farm.
6. Access to business planning and counseling through the Small Business Development Center for gardens interested in for-profit ventures contributing to the local food economy.
7. Access to the McLennan County Hunger Coalition, Baylor Campus Kitchens, and Food Pantry Network for gardens interested in donated produce to those in need.
8. Access to a list of upcoming grant opportunities for community gardens. For an additional $25 per year, partner gardens can receive grant writing support from UGC.

To apply for help starting a garden, please fill out the information below. The Urban Gardening Coalition will notify you within the next two weeks or sooner if your application has been approved. Then, an initial brainstorm session with interested gardeners and a visit to assess the gardening space will be scheduled.