Community Garden Leadership

Understanding Course Requirements and Expectations

Community gardens are an invaluable community resource. There are approximately 3,000 community gardens across New York State whose combined efforts contribute to the resiliency of our local food system and building healthy, sustainable communities. The Community Garden Leadership Program is a comprehensive online certificate program designed to elevate current community garden leaders by focusing on management practices and intentional community engagement as a means to strengthen their impact.

This course prepares community gardeners to champion their respective community gardens, and build overall capacity within the community garden sector as leaders, paving the way for more resilient and thriving local food systems. You will move through the educational material in each module individually and tailor your assignments to meet the needs of your respective communities, but you will complete the program as part of a cohort in Moodle. You will be able to interact with your cohort, and smaller learning groups via the discussion forums in each module and during the live zoon sessions. This will provide an opportunity to network with other community garden leaders across New York and enhance your learning experience.

Over the next year, you will have the opportunity to learn from one another by engaging in group discussions, and evaluating and reflecting on the readings, research, and case studies. Throughout the course we will discuss organizational leadership, community engagement strategy, and apply several management tools developed to optimize community garden operations and recordkeeping.  You will keep an ongoing learning journal to reflect on what you have learned and how this new information will improve your community garden operations and help you hone your leadership skills; this is your space to iterate and plan continuously throughout the course. The instructor will take an active role by providing supportive feedback when applicable.

Contact Information

Instructor for this Course: Makela Elvy
Please send any questions and messages to the instructor through Moodle or via email mje55@cornell.edu.

Course Format

Before we begin the core content of the course, take time to review this Introductory week. Weekly modules open each Monday, and required assignments are generally due on or before the following Monday. Specified due dates will accompany each assignment.

You can expect to dedicate approximately 5-10 hours per week to the lessons, readings, discussions and assignments in this course. As a general rule, more time spent devoted to completing assignments, and engaging with your community garden members will help to ensure that you will gain knowledge and practical proficiency. In addition to the required learning activities, we also encourage you to explore beyond the assignments and read, explore, and learn from others, whenever possible. You will occasionally find supplementary assignments and additional resources for some of the lessons.

By completing the assignments in each module, you will compile a portfolio which will serve as a "tool kit" complete with real-world resources and program planning guides ready to use in your community garden. These resources will serve as templates, structures or systems that can help transform your community gardens operations and recordkeeping processes.

Lastly, you will complete an independent study at your respective community gardens to demonstrate your growth as a leader and to benefit your local community. The independent study follows a community impact model, in which your project should be tailored to your local community needs, engage local community members and/or partners, and lead to a measurable impact.

Welcome, we are so glad you are a part of this course!