New World Survival · Community Capacity Field Manual

New Gardener Mentoring Season Workbook

Run a first-season mentoring program that builds judgment and independence without turning experienced gardeners into substitute plot managers.

Role rule: Mentor the gardener, not the garden. Mentors educate, coach, observe and refer. Routine substitute maintenance, enforcement and unqualified specialist advice are outside the mentoring role.

1. Program purpose

What capability should a beginner gain through mentoring?

What mentoring explicitly does not provide

2. Mentor role / boundary

☐ Observe and ask before advising

☐ Use research-based / local sources

☐ Demonstrate only as needed

☐ Gardener performs routine work

☐ Refer beyond competence

☐ Do not issue enforcement unless separately authorized

☐ Respect privacy/contact agreement

☐ Support independence / closure

3. Mentor preparation record

Role training	Research/referral training	Approved
☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐

4. Referral map

Question / issue	Primary source / authority	Contact / page
Local crop / pest / disease / fertility	Cooperative Extension / approved specialist
Garden rules / fees / neglect / conflict	Authorized garden leadership
Pesticide	Product label + local law + Extension / qualified authority
Soil contamination / flood / food safety	Environmental / Extension / health authority
Accessibility / accommodation	Host accessibility process + NWS specialist
Medical / legal / personal crisis	Appropriate qualified service

5. Beginner enrollment

Gardener / plot

Preferred contact

Schedule / availability

Language / communication preference

Prior garden experience

Support / accommodation requested

What does this gardener want from the season?

6. Match decision

Factor	Gardener need / preference	Mentor fit	Concern / note
Schedule
Communication style
Garden goals / crop experience
Language
Accessibility / work method
Plot proximity / office-hours model

☐ Both participants understand rematching is allowed without blame

7. First-meeting agreement

Formal mentoring period

Contact rhythm

Allowed contact methods / hours

Plot visits by arrangement?

Photo / privacy agreement

Rematch / concern contact

No plot alteration, spraying, pruning or routine maintenance by the mentor without permission and role clarity.

8. Beginner goals

Goal	Why it matters to gardener	How we will know progress occurred

9. Seasonal checkpoint plan

Checkpoint	Capabilities to review	Scheduled?
Orient	Rules, water, tools, contacts, shared systems	☐
Plan	Goals, crops, layout, realistic effort	☐
Establish	Plant/transplant, water, mulch, labels/record	☐
Maintain / Diagnose	Water, weeds, observation, pests/disease evidence	☐
Harvest / Adapt	Harvest, succession, failure response	☐
Closeout	Plot close, record lessons, next skills	☐

10. Observation loop

Step	Mentor question / action	Gardener evidence / action
Observe
Ask
Confirm goal
Identify evidence
Offer options
Gardener chooses
Gardener acts
Follow up

11. Independence ladder

Show	Prompt	Observe	Consult	Graduate
☐	☐	☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐	☐	☐

12. Mentor visit / contact log

Date	Checkpoint / question	What gardener observed / proposed	Source / option	Gardener action	Follow-up

13. Referral / escalation log

Date	Issue	Why outside mentor role	Referred to	Resolved / follow-up

14. Coordinator match check-ins

Stage	Mentor check	Gardener check	Concern / support	Continue / modify / rematch / close
After match begins
Midseason
Before closeout
Issue-triggered

15. Mentor workload / support

Mentor	Matches / office hours	Approx. time	Support needed	Healthy / Watch / Reduce

☐ Peer/buddy support available

☐ Coordinator responds to difficult questions

☐ Continuing horticultural education route available

16. Youth / safeguarding gate if applicable

☐ Host youth-protection policy identified

☐ Required screening/background check complete

☐ Parent/guardian/school consent or supervision as required

☐ Communication rules followed

☐ Transportation / one-to-one contact rules followed

☐ Concern/escalation contact known

17. Match closeout

Original goal	What gardener can now do / judge	Still needs practice / referral

Formal mentoring end date

Next support route

18. Program dashboard

Measure	Result	Interpretation / action
Mentors trained / active
Beginners enrolled / matched
Office-hours / pod participants
Matches completed
Rematches / early closures and reason
Referral / escalation patterns
Mentor workload / burnout signals
Skills reaching Consult / Graduate
Beginner return / second-season independence

19. Mentor program annual review

☐ Mentor role/boundaries still clear

☐ Training/referral sources current

☐ Matching questions useful and non-stereotyped

☐ Youth/accessibility/privacy rules current

☐ Workload is sustainable

☐ Rematching/closure process works

☐ Beginners are progressing toward independence

☐ Repeated questions are being turned into workshops/job aids where appropriate

☐ Mentors receive ongoing peer/Extension support

☐ Program has a coordinator backup

20. Succession / proof

☐ Written role and match agreement are stored

☐ Mentor training package is stored

☐ Referral map is current

☐ Match/contact records use appropriate privacy controls

☐ Seasonal checkpoint framework is current

☐ Independence ladder is used consistently

☐ Coordinator can identify overloaded mentors

☐ Formal matches close cleanly

☐ Backup coordinator can run matching/check-ins

☐ Expansion waits until current mentor capacity is healthy

Role training	Research/referral training	Approved
☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐

Show	Prompt	Observe	Consult	Graduate
☐	☐	☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐	☐	☐

Role training	Research/referral training	Approved
☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐

Show	Prompt	Observe	Consult	Graduate
☐	☐	☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐	☐	☐
☐	☐	☐	☐	☐