Gardening Volunteers of South Texas
Gardening Essentials
Monday, January 20, 2025
12 noon to 3:00 p.m.
Free and Open to the Public
$5 donation appreciated
San Antonio Garden Center
3310 N New Braunfels Avenue
San Antonio, Texas
In this special edition of monthly Gardening Essentials class, faith-based groups will share how they have invited the public to share their spaces by turning lawns and parking lots into gardens, trails and community spaces where non-church members can thrive with them.
"CIELO Gardens: Cultivating Cultural Connections and Affordable Nutrition" will be presented by Jen Yáñez-Alaniz, CIELO Unity in Action Co’Director.
This presentation highlights the significance of CIELO Gardens, a community initiative fostering cultural preservation and promoting food security. The gardens serve as spaces where newcomers can cultivate crops essential to their cultural diets and traditions, ensuring the availability of affordable and accessible produce throughout the year. The presentation will discuss the impact of these gardens on fostering a sense of belonging and community while addressing nutritional needs and promoting sustainable practices. It will also explore the ways in which CIELO Gardens contribute to the preservation of diverse cultural identities and promote a healthier, more inclusive society.
“Bringing Sacred Grounds ™ to Texas and opening our campuses to the community for the Common Good” will be presented by Abel Stewart, Ministry Center Administrator of Northern Hills United Methodist Church. The presentation will follow the process of NHUMC created to move from having a designated wildlife habitat in its grounds to becoming the first Sacred Grounds ™ designated by National Wildlife Federation in Texas. With leadership of Stewart and of congregation Lay Leader Todd Phillips, who is a veterinarian, church members have contributed their many professional skills and talents in the creation of a Beatitudes Prayer Walk open to the public daily from dawn to dusk on the main campus, and creation of a pollinator garden between VIA bus stops and NHUMC urban Ministry Center.
Food for Gardening Essentials: We Are Neighbor is provided by donations of GVST members and a Community Investment grant from H-E-B.
About monthly Gardening Essentials classes:
Whether you're a seasoned gardener or a beginner, this in-person event is perfect for anyone looking to enhance their gardening skills. You'll have the opportunity to learn from expert gardeners and fellow gardening enthusiasts, who will share their knowledge and tips on various gardening techniques. From choosing the right plants for your garden to proper soil preparation and maintenance, we'll cover all the essentials you need to know to create a thriving garden.
Gardening Essential Extras!
Tool Sharpening: Bring your gardening tools that need sharpening!
Plant Xchange: Bring in your plants to find them a new home!
Potluck Social – Meet & Greet: Bring your favorite dish to share and enjoy lunching with our group!
Gardening Essentials classes hosted by Gardening Volunteers of South Texas are endorsed by the Mayor’s Fitness Council of San Antonio.
Gardening Essential: We Are Neighbor is an official event of DreamWeek 2025 San Antonio.
----- Forwarded Message -----
Cc:
Sent: Sat, Jan 11, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Subject: Gardening Essentials Happens Monday, January 20
Gardening Essentials Class Happening Monday, January 20 | Gardening Volunteers of South Texas (GVST) is pleased to host the Dream Week Topic of We Are Neighbor as part of the next GVST Gardening Essentials Class. The class will run from Noon-3 pm with the doors opening at 11:30 am. The classes are h
GVST NEWS! - January 2025 |
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Gardening Essentials Class Happening Monday, January 20 |
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Gardening Volunteers of South Texas (GVST) is pleased to host the Dream Week Topic of We Are Neighbor as part of the next GVST Gardening Essentials Class. The class will run from Noon-3 pm with the doors opening at 11:30 am. The classes are held at 3310 N New Braunfels Ave, San Antonio, TX 78209. Click the button below to learn more. Session 1 "CIELO Gardens: Cultivating Cultural Connections and Affordable Nutrition" will be presented by Jen Yáñez-Alaniz, CIELO Unity in Action Co-Director. In this special edition of monthly Gardening Essentials class, faith-based groups will share how they have invited the public to share their spaces by turning lawns and parking lots into gardens, trails and community spaces where non-church members can thrive with them. This presentation highlights the significance of CIELO Gardens, a community initiative fostering cultural preservation and promoting food security. The gardens serve as spaces where newcomers can cultivate crops essential to their cultural diets and traditions, ensuring the availability of affordable and accessible produce throughout the year. The presentation will discuss the impact of these gardens on fostering a sense of belonging and community while addressing nutritional needs and promoting sustainable practices. It will also explore the ways in which CIELO Gardens contribute to the preservation of diverse cultural identities and promote a healthier, more inclusive society. Session 2 “Bringing Sacred Grounds ™ to Texas and opening our campuses to the community for the Common Good” will be presented by Abel Stewart, Ministry Center Administrator of Northern Hills United Methodist Church. The presentation will follow the process of NHUMC created to move from having a designated wildlife habitat in its grounds to becoming the first Sacred Grounds ™ designated by National Wildlife Federation in Texas. With leadership of Stewart and of congregation Lay Leader Todd Phillips, who is a veterinarian, church members have contributed their many professional skills and talents in the creation of a Beatitudes Prayer Walk open to the public daily from dawn to dusk on the main campus, and creation of a pollinator garden between VIA bus stops and NHUMC urban Ministry Center. |
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Blue Curls or Beebalm? Please vote for the 2025 Pollinator Plant of the Year |
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Voting in this year’s Pollinator Plant of the Year election will once again be a tough call. Both contenders are rock stars in the pollinator garden, serving bees, butterflies, beetles and other wildlife in multiple ways. Both are fantastically attractive, robust and easy to grow. And both flaunt bright colors that are especially attractive to bees (did you know bees prefer blue and purple blooms?) and produce seeds and foliage that serve birds and other wildlife. The worthy candidates follow in the footsteps of previous winners, Cowpen daisy (2019), Gregg’s purple mistflower (2020), Frostweed (2021), Gayfeather (2022), Mealy Blue Sage (2023) and Clammyweed (2024). Started in 2019 by the Texas Butterfly Ranch, the Pollinator Plant of the Year campaign aims to raise awareness of the unsung plant heroes of the pollinator garden. Many worthy, native plants are frequently unavailable and ONLY found at seasonal pop-up plant sales. Some are only found in the wild. If you miss these occasional opportunities to procure these plant gems, you’re out of luck. |
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Looking to Volunteer at a GVST Event? |
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GVST always has a great selection of volunteer opportunities for members each month. So, if you're up for a little extra gardening work or maybe helping us spread the word about gardening in South Texas at a GVST booth, just click the link below and find out what's happening in the coming months. |
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