Gardening with Grace

Gardening with Grace is an annual volunteer gardening program led by master gardener Grace Shackman. The thirteen-year-old program began when Grace spruced up one Avalon property for the volunteer component of her master gardener’s certification. In 2007, more than thirty volunteers (possibly a record!) dedicated just over 122 hours to beautifying Avalon’s properties.

Check out our 2008 Gardening with Grace schedule and come along! 

The Gardening with Grace program helps Avalon in many ways. It is an integral part of Avalon’s commitment to be a good neighbor and ensure that our properties blend well into the surrounding neighborhood. The program brings volunteers together with tenants, staff and board members and everyone gets to take pride in Avalon properties. Check out Gardening Heals Souls by Alan Pickett of the Project Outreach Team (PORT) to learn about the other ways that gardening makes a difference.

Planting begins in the spring after the last freeze, usually after Memorial Day. Properties are completed one or two at a time, either on a weekday evening or a weekend morning. Green thumb is not needed - volunteers of all gardening abilities are welcome!

To get involved, please contact Grace Shackman at (734) 662-2187 or Joan Bailey , Avalon’s Community Relations Coordinator, at (734) 663-5858.