As a part of the Global Education Association’s vision of an engaged and aware youth, we have partnered with DoSomething.org, Helping Nature Heal, The Second Story Women’s Center, West Island College International and the Lunenburg School district to develop an inter-generational community garden program. The purpose of the Groundworks project is to foster communication and links across age cultures that expose community members to small scale local organic agriculture and contribute to community development, foster positive social interaction and increase environmental awareness, particularly in youth.

The Garden began as a student leadership development activity fostered by the Global Education Association as a Youth Action Project. The program aims to bridge the barriers that sometimes form between generations, by inviting members of the community, to work alongside school children from the Lunenburg Academy, the Lunenburg High School and West Island College International as well as the participants in the Second Story Women’s centre horticultural therapy group. Through workshops, and participation in the garden’s upkeep, the project not only raises awareness about ecology and plants but also about the interconnection of the world to its inhabitants.

The Groundworks project has recently won a Green Grant from DoSomething.org! We’re very excited to be able to use this grant to expand our workshops.

Resources for building a Rain Barrel

Resources for building a Cold Frame

The Global Education Association is currently preparing additional resources to make Groundworks gardens easy to replicate anywhere. If you, or an organization you work with, would like help establishing local community based gardens in schools, public spaces or private plots based on the Groundworks model, please contact us at the Global Education Association.

Upcoming Groundworks workshops:

Poster for Spring Workshop 2009-1