Thank you for visiting the Colorado Federation of Garden Clubs Inc. website.
I am excited to help you to start a new garden club! Gardening can be challenging in Colorado. Every gardener can use additional resources, tips, and a group of friendly like-minded people to help make this journey enjoyable and educational. Colorado Federation of Garden Clubs is a non-profit organization focused on gardening, landscape design, environmental, and floral design. We are a member of the National Garden Clubs, Inc.
Membership in a garden club brings many opportunities. When a local club is established, you will make new friends in your community, and learn about gardening, the environment, landscape design, and/or floral design. You and your new group will have the opportunity to decide if your new club will participate in community and/or national projects, which are very rewarding to everyone involved. Community outreach projects are strongly encouraged but how often you meet, where you meet, and what your club’s focus will be, is totally up to your group. Some examples of community projects you might consider after your club is up and going include creating (&/or maintaining) pollinator gardens at your local library, hospital, or retirement/assisted living community. You might want to create a remembrance garden at a local college or cemetery, or even a quiet place for meditation at a nursing home. you can participate in programs like the Blue and Gold Star programs to help recognize families of Service Members.
Once a local club is established you’ll submit your paperwork (we’ll help you) for approval to the State Federation. This will provide you with a ton of resources and the ability to apply for grants and awards to help fund your community projects and even for educational speakers to talk to your new club! You will get to meet other garden members from around the state, which is helpful as you learn more about how clubs do things and gives you greater access to speakers and topics that provide an even more comprehensive array of benefits to everyone.
The local clubs are part of the Colorado Federation of Garden Clubs (CFGC), and the Rocky Mountain Region, as well as the National Garden Clubs. The Rocky Mountain Region comprises eight surrounding states: Utah, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Kansas, Wyoming, Montana, and Colorado. The benefits include networking with other gardeners with similar gardening advantages and disadvantages. There is also the benefit of learning how to achieve goals through awards and meeting new friends through meetings.
The National Garden Clubs, Inc. (NGC) is the largest volunteer gardening organization in the world. The mission of National Garden Clubs Inc. is to provide education, resources, and national networking opportunities for its members to promote the love of gardening, floral design, and civic and environmental responsibility. NGC offers many options for education and participation in various projects.
I hope you will consider talking to your gardening friends and people in your community to get them excited to start a new garden club in your area. If you have questions, be sure to reach out to the CFGC Membership Chairman for assistance.
Victoria Schmidt, President, Colorado Federation of Garden Clubs
Email: cfgctechie@gmail.com
Click here to view a pdf on how to Create a New Club for Membership.