Gardening is often seen as a solitary activity, but there’s also an incredible community to be found among people who love growing plants. Gardening clubs bring people together and provide a connection and community that we can all use more of. Whether you’ve just started gardening, recently moved to a new city, or you’re just feeling isolated these days, this is my personal take on the benefits of joining a gardening club and how you can find your fellow plant lovers.
Lately, it seems like clubs are making a big comeback. Whether it’s online or in-person, there’s a club for every interest—running, reading, knitting, and, of course, gardening!
And it makes sense. In an increasingly isolated world, people are seeking out community. We may not be able to find it as easily as we could at school club fairs, but adults benefit hugely from gathering with like-minded people who share our interests.
My fellow gardeners have truly changed my life and provided so much positivity and connection. If you’re in need of some community, I highly recommend joining a gardening club.
Not only is it a great way to share your hobby with others, you can learn from more experienced gardeners. It also provides a chance to trade plants and seeds and even tour other gardens for inspiration!
Here’s what I’ll be covering today…
Being Part of a Garden Club
When I first started my gardening journey, I was going through a period in my life where I felt very isolated and lonely. Gardening started as a coping mechanism for me as I was spending a lot of time at home, in great pain from my new disability.
My doctors recommended I join a support group, but I didn’t find talking about my pain all the time to be helpful. The meetings felt more like venting sessions than a supportive environment.
Instead, I decided to look for connection by joining a community garden. It was a much more uplifting environment, and all we ever chatted about was plants. Which was amazing! Soon enough, I could feel those feelings of isolation beginning to lift.
At first, Garden Therapy was just a way to connect with people and talk about plants. I wrote anonymously, and I didn’t share any personal details. Slowly that changed, and I’m grateful that I now have a huge gardening community here online. And yes, I always read the comments and emails I get!
Now, I do a lot of talks for more traditional garden clubs, and the community they create is amazing. I actually made some great friends through the Master Gardeners Club in Vancouver, and we still meet up regularly. To this day, the friends I have met through gardening are some of my nearest and dearest.
What Does a Gardening Club Do?
Like any club, organization, or society, the main purpose of a gardening club is community. As I mentioned, I first joined a community garden during a very lonely time in my life, and it provided an amazing sense of connection.
As far as the actual activities and events go, it depends on the club you join. Seed and plant swaps are some of my personal favourite club events to attend, but some clubs also host other events like garden tours.
Another benefit of joining a club is the wealth of expertise and knowledge that other gardeners can share. If you’ve ever found yourself trying to use the internet to diagnose a problem with one of your plants, you can imagine how helpful it is to have a community of gardeners who can provide advice.
Plus, it’s nice to have people in your life to share the wins with, whether it’s a bountiful vegetable harvest or a new leaf on a plant you thought wouldn’t make it.
How to Find Your Local Gardening Club
If your local gardening club is well established, you may be able to find it with just a quick Google search. But if not, local or provincial horticultural societies are great resources. They often have lists of gardening organizations available on their websites. You can also join local Facebook groups to find out about events and organizations to participate in.
If all else fails, you can always ask around at community gardens or even gardening centres. Just think about where your fellow gardeners might be spending time and go there! Even if you don’t find an already established club, this is a tried and true way to meet people who share your interests.
Starting Your Own Gardening Club
If your community doesn’t have an existing gardening club or one that works for your schedule, you can also find fellow gardeners by starting your own group.
Find a Meeting Place
Logistically, there are a few things to consider. You’ll need to think about where and how often you’ll meet, as well as if there are any bylaws you need to abide by.
Local libraries and community centres can be great meeting places as they often have free meeting spaces that you can book. You might even find some of your members by advertising at local meeting centres as well as community gardens.
Facebook groups are another excellent place to find people to join your new club. Try posting in local community groups and see what happens. You might even be able to find a Facebook group specifically for gardeners in your area. You can also create an event page for your group to help advertise meetings.
The Purpose of Your Garden Club
Once you have the basic who, where, and when of your club figured out, you’ll need to decide what you’ll do and talk about. Maybe you want to host a more casual gathering where you simply chat about what you’re growing or a more structured Q&A style conversation.
Seed swaps can also be a fun way to break the ice by providing an activity for everyone to participate in, but keep in mind this might take a bit more planning.
Guest Speakers
Guest speakers are another great option if you want to provide more structure to your meetings and focus on gardening education. Speaking at events and garden clubs is one of my favourite things to do! Whether I join in person or via Zoom, I try to make my talks very personal and focus on encouraging conversation so that we can all learn from each other. After all, that’s one of the best parts of gardening clubs.
Whether you decide to bring in a speaker, or meet a few other gardeners for coffee once a month, remember that the purpose of gardening clubs is to find community. As long as you get to connect with people who share your passion for plants, that’s all that matters!
Garden Club FAQ
Like any club, the main purpose of a gardening club is to create a community of people with a common interest—gardening! Each one is a bit different depending on the needs and interests of its members, but some of the clubs I’ve participated in have held organized events for trading plants, seeds, and harvests. Others can be more casual, just a chance to meet up with fellow gardeners to chat about our plants and share tips.
Even if you’re planning to host an in-person garden club, I think the internet is the easiest way to find like-minded people. Facebook groups are an excellent place to start. Maybe your community even has a Facebook group for gardeners where you could look for members. You might also find members at places like a community garden or community centre.
