It is important to realize that the conditions for fund raising is different for each institution. So I cannot promise that our procedure will ensure success. But it is worth a try. Here goes:

1. Form a committee of interested people. Assign one individual who has administrative ability and one who has horticultural ability to those particular positions. The balance of the committee should be given assignments according to its needs. One person cannot do everything. It will end with burn-out. Make sure the committee will "walk-the-walk" and not only "talk-the-talk".

2. Measure out the area that can be planted, make a plan and present it to the board and the clergy of the congregation. The presentation should list the benefits to the congregation and the community. It should also state how the committee intends to finance the garden with little or no cost to the congregation. Arrange a contingent loan from the congregation as a back-up, not to be used except in case of a temporary financial shortage. This approach should spell success.

3. Have your newsletter make an announcement as to your intensions. Have your clergy present a sermon regarding the spiritual and aesthetic aspects of such a garden and the beauty of memorializing family members and as honorials for special people and special occasions.

4. Set up prices for plants, shrubs trees, planters, benches, arbors, walks, etc. If you have a spiritual number in your religious denomination that is meaningful to your congregation, use that a base or multiples of it to set your prices. For example, in Judaism the Hebrew letters that stand for 18 also is the Hebrew word for life. It is a common tradition to give charity of $18 and multiples thereto.
We believe that living memorials and honorials seem to attract many people. They are contributing to a living thing that they can visit and watch is grow and blossom or bear fruit. They can see the plaque at the base and reminisce. Also a place for quiet meditation and spiritual thoughts.

5. You can get paver kits for walks or garden borders. They are 1 ft. square or round. Have special days where children’s or adults can make impressions of their hand and inscribe their names and birth dates. I would suggest that, after 2 weeks of curing, you give it 2 coats of clear waterproof paint to minimize any cracking due to expanding water in the impressions.

6. If you have a contribution program for various funds, institute one for a Biblical Garden Fund. We find that people have been generous with contributions but not with physical labor since both family members are too busy. This may be important in order to be able to buy seeds, plants, supplies and professional help to prepare the garden for seasonal changes.

7. If you have Good Deed Days where the congregation reaches out to the community to perform various projects, encourage some congregants do some work in the garden.

8. If you are in a small town, have a large plaque listing companies that have contributed to the garden's existence. It can be in supplies and/or funds.

9. Encourage continued interest in the garden through the education of the children and adults.

10. Come up with your own ideas and tell the biblical garden community what worked for you.

As the Babylonian Talmud states, I believe, in Tractate 23, " I shall plant a tree. I shall plant a tree for my children."

Yours in brotherhood and love,
STAN

P.S. If there any more questions, I can be reached at Tel: (215) 946-3859.