Co-Planning UC Botanical Garden Event

I suggested an event idea to UC Berkeley's Botanical Garden and they went for it. Which means now we have to bring it to fruition. It's tentatively scheduled for September 23rd this year. We've just sent out the email to various representatives of SF Bay Area garden clubs, plant societies, notable community gardens, school garden projects, and innovative projects that use gardening to reach at-risk populations, restore habitat, etc. We want the event to be inclusive of various socio-economic levels and ethnicities, both in the groups that are tabling and doing demos and the people we want to attend. Here's the draft description of the event:

Cross-Pollination: A Garden Club Fair

There are various Flower & Garden shows in the Bay Area, but how often do gardeners get the chance to network with other gardeners? The Bay Area is a hotbed of gardening and as such plays host to a- well -host of garden clubs, community gardens, plant societies, urban farms, and organizations that use gardening as a means to improve the lives of others. Instead of being a large showcase of demonstration landscapes, Cross-Pollination brings gardeners and garden clubs together. Even folks who already belong to one society may find they have an interest in another society. Clubs, community gardens and plant societies can talk about their missions in the lush surroundings of the UC Botanical Garden. The plant-loving public can find out about various special interest and general gardening organizations, community gardens, and volunteer opportunities as well as become better acquainted with all that UCBG has to offer. What user groups meetings are to computers, Cross-Pollination will be to gardeners and plant-lovers.

We have limited conference room space so the tables will be manned by two different groups each. They are encouraged to bring their membership applications, newsletters/magazines, and collateral. Since it's being hosted at the Botanical Garden, groups should have plenty of opportunity to direct folks to see the plants they specialize in. We'll have a space for lecture/demos, but the emphasis is on face-to-face contact - gardener-to-gardener or gardener-to-prospective gardener.

If you have ideas for things that would attract you to such an event, let me know. I'm toying with the idea of having a garden book swap, although that might be a little difficult logistically. I just went through trying to raise some money by selling things, including books and was appalled how little I got for selling my books used. That made me realize that it might be better for gardeners to trade books they've moved on from.

*bump*

ecrane3, do you have any suggestions?

Sorry--I've never planned or been involved with an event like this so I'm not sure if I'll be much help!

What gets me to drive across town on a weekend is to have lots of cool rare plants for sale, but I'm not sure if that works for everyone or if it really fits with the theme of garden clubs & education! But if there are some organizations in attendance that do propagate plants, you might see if you can get space for them to offer some for sale, or see if the Garden could offer some special plants.

You could also think about inviting representatives from local community colleges that have horticulture programs--Merritt College and Diablo Valley College are two that I'm aware of but there may be others.

Have Merritt on the list. Suggestions of what makes you attend an event are useful. Thanks.

Here's the upcoming.org listing for the event. I've been trying hard to get the word out to many groups but folks are kinda dragging their feet about responding. If you know groups you think would be interesting in having table space at this event, please Dmail me. I am committed to working very darned hard to get as many different kinds of clubs represented as I can. I'd especially like to involve a huge variety of ages, classes, races and ethnicities in this event.

http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/218630/

http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/218630/

I'd love to have a swap table where people can leave their unwanted gardening books/magazines and pick up others. I'm donating my own unwanted gardening books and mags to this but I would like to collect more so that there will be plenty of goodies for some of the lower income attendees and kids who are just beginning at gardening.

If your plant society or garden club has newsletters or magazines, that could be a good way to get the word about about your group. I'm bringing old issues of CRFG's Fruit Gardener, for instance.

I can pick up in Berkeley and the towns surrounding Berkeley. The larger the load, the farther I am willing to drive to pick it up.

Thanks!