Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Grave Gardeners, At The Woodlands



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The application period for 2017 Grave Gardeners has closed. We are reviewing applications and will send notice of final decisions on Wednesday, January 25th. 
Who are The Woodlands Grave Gardeners? 
The Grave Gardeners are a group of volunteers who are each assigned a cradle grave to adopt at The Woodlands. These graves were originally designed to be planters, and would have been planted by loved ones in the Victorian era. Our Grave Gardeners tend to their assigned cradle grave throughout the entire growing season (March-October). 



Photo credit: Julie Steiner
What will the Grave Gardeners be planting? 
All gardens will be designed (by you!) with the Victorian Garden aesthetic in mind. These are ornamental gardens, not vegetable gardens. An approved planting list has been created by The Woodlands to help guide the gardeners. Workshops held in February and March will give gardeners a knowledge base to work from, and The Woodlands will provide all necessary supplies and knowledge to you. Work days and events will be held throughout the growing season to help keep your grave gardens looking good. 
How do you become a Grave Gardener?
The application period for this season is open from January 5th until January 20th. If interested, please fill out the application below. Want to try it but are new to ornamental gardening? Thats okay! All levels are welcome.

What kind of time commitment is expected? 
Our 2016 Grave Gardeners that had the most success dedicated 2-4 hours a week caring for their garden.

What kind of challenges can be expected?
Dealing with pests, groundhogs munching on your plants, and drought are a few challenges our gardeners had last year.

Words of advice from our 2016 Grave Gardeners:
        "Don't be daunted if you're not a gardener. There is plenty of support and it's about progress, not perfection!"
        "Make sure you have the time! I was in love with the idea, but between my work and school schedule, it was a lot harder to get over to the                    Woodlands than I thought it would be. "
        "There are some fantastic gardeners who participate. Get to know your fellow grave gardeners."

Can't commit to becoming a Grave Gardener, but still want to be part of the program? Consider making a donation directly to the Grave Gardeners to ensure this program can continue for years to come.

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