Each year the Westgarden has a resident Garden Apprentice who lives in a small cabin on the Whidbey Institute grounds and cares for the garden through the growing season. That apprentice works alongside the Westgarden Steward to learn all about vegetable and herb cultivation, forest garden stewardship, community garden management, garden based education, chicken care, and much more.
The Westgarden apprentice is part of a larger program called the Community Gardening Leadership Training (CGLT) which is a collaboration between the Whidbey Institute, the Good Cheer Food Bank, and the School Farm and Garden program of the South Whidbey School District. CGLT gives motivated individuals the skills and experience needed to lead community farms and gardens. The program nourishes a vital local food system by providing fresh produce, volunteer opportunities, and education to the community at our food bank, school district, and non-profit growing spaces.
A small cohort of garden apprentices are each centered at growing space located at one of these three organizations but spend time working and learning with one another in the other growing spaces weekly. Apprentices assist the garden coordinators in all aspects of garden cultivation and leadership so that they can develop the competencies and self-confidence they need to move into leadership roles in a selected garden. In addition to the field work, there are regular classes and readings on practical growing skills, and field trips to other food and agriculture-related organizations in our region that supplement the hands-on learning.
The program is paid and runs from March through October.
To learn more about CGLT:
Visit the blog: https://cultivatingcommunitywhidbey.wordpress.com
Contact CGLT Program Coordinator: cultivatingcommunitywhidbey@gmail.com