The trouble with school gardening

The failure is on the part of those of whom you are complaining - not yours. If you walk away, you can do so with head held high and take your talents elsewhere. Their loss, not yours. There ARE people who appreciate your kind of assistance, just as there are those who will attempt to capitalise on the hard work of others whilst taking the credit. Consign these w****** to experience and try your luck elsewhere. Loads and loads of good luck. :o)

PS; i have added my avatar to "like this blog" NOT because I like its content - I obviously don't - but to show my support for your efforts.

loud and proud hun loud and proud

when those important people come you walk right up to them and make yourself known. You tell everyone
leaflet drops, all the local newspapers, local news,make a website (some are free)

tell everyoneand keep telling them, local councils,local MPs, any bigwigs you know you write and tell them

Gardeners world,all the big gardening experts

keep telling them, make a pain in the ass of yourself

BUT DONT EVER GIVE UP!!
loud and proud hun loud and proud
x x x x

Totallly agree with the comments posted above , if i'd got here first then i would have said much the same thing

Of course youre not the failure,they are. Of course you can walk away with head held high just look at the pics and see what you have achieved.

You mentioned in another blog a mother who comes at every opportunity, she's proud of you. In any group of people there are a couple of do-ers and a bunch of hangers on ,some of whom have big mouths and tell lies about the reality to make themselves look good Your best bet I think is to start a garden/ allotment with the one who comes and share the produce whilst watching the one youve made fall into disrepair and showing the liars up for what they are. LOUD and PROUD, too right, but don't batter your head against a wall, it hurts!

Knowing what I'm like I wont give up on it. I have learned a lot about the politics of running your own busines. Also, the children really enjoy it when they are allowed out there. For that alone, much of the headaches are worth the trouble.

What I do need to do is learn to say "no" and stick to it. I also need to stop going out of my way so much. The last one will be difficult because I enjoy my work very much.

The good news is that another school has requested my services and the university have taken interest in my work too.

Thanks everyone for the kind words of solidarity...xx

de nada, we all need a little support from time totime as well as somewhere to rail against the injustices of thei world , we're here for both sleep well!

I agree with moonkins

I admire your energy Mel, don't let all their c**p get to you. You've done a darn fine job with little or no help so far and just look what you've achieved. Don't think for one minute that everyone will fall for the lip-service they've paid you, it wouldn't take 5 mins for anyone who knows even a little bit about gardening to realise that they wouldn't know one end of a shovel from another.
You've got a lovely project there, the kids enjoy it and it's going to help your future by providing you with valuable experience (and cucumbers), and theirs by teaching them how to grow their own. Who was it that said ...'the love of gardening is a seed, once sown that grows forever', (probably got that wrong but you know what I mean I hope), after all ...someone once sowed that seed in you and look what's happened!
Keep going or resign and move on to better things, the choice is yours, but don't 'give up' because of petit minded beurocrats.
All the best,
Jen.

Hi I have the same problem, I do playschemes, community gardening, visits etc with the kids on my estate but can I get other parents involved - no way - I organised a trip down "the billy trail" which has a river running beside it to the sea (with pooh sticks) and a picnic at the end - the parents were quite happy at me taking their children but when i said i wasnt going to be responsible for them beside a river and the sea that they would have to come too - not one family signed up!! The kids were really upset as I had been explained how to play pooh sticks as they never had done that - so it was cancelled.
Also with my community garden - the kids help out watering, picking, eating..!!! but not one mum or dad has helped since we first planted - nothing not even a "thank you" - my boys are the same they are older teenagers now and dont understand why i bother when they are not involved but then when the kids ask me what im doing and things its hard to just stop. It also has helped with antisocial behaviour on the estate because they know if they do something naughty they dont get to take part (not very p.c but it seems to work!!)
Just keep up with the good work you do - you will be appreciated - maybe put a sign up stating who took part (kids and your name!) then the school might want to help more - even get the press involved then the school will have to come up with some help!

I hear what you're saying loud and clear Genuisscuffy. I do feel its worth the hassle when I realise that the kids are getting loads out of it but it makes me worry what will happen once I leave the project.

I have been working hard on getting the media on board. We have been on BBC radio (other ppl shared credit no less!) and I will be in my local paper in Sept. I have tried to get River Cottage interested in us but I havent heard back from them. I try what I can.

I've contaced the RHS with no success but I havent written to gardening magazines. Maybe I should? Right! Must...find...energy!