The program began in 2011 with the distribution of 250 garden signs given to gardeners who were nominated by the public. In the summer of 2018, 12,000 Jamestown front yards were canvassed by a team of volunteers that recognized over 839 front gardens by providing owners with signs.

While the program will be run similarly to years past, yards will now be assessed in two separate seasons and groups as follows:

¯ The city is divided into 37 sections, with each section encompasses approximately 325 front yards each.

¯ Each section is assigned to a volunteer team comprised of a navigator, a photographer and a data entry person. The navigator is the driver, the photographer takes photos of the selected front yards and data entry is assigned as the scribe to document the process and list placement locations of the signs. Volunteers do not canvass their own neighborhoods. Volunteers do not canvass the same area they surveyed in the previous years.

Pictured is a survey map divided by season for 2019 Front Yard Garden Recognition.

¯ This year, the city will be divided from north to south using an imaginary line, beginning at the city’s northern boundary. The imaginary line continues down Lakeview Avenue through downtown and continues to South Main Street reaching the city’s southern boundary.

¯ The spring season canvassing begins June 3 and ends June 24. Of the total 37 sections, 18 sections located west of the imaginary line, will be surveyed. The volunteers will determine what an “average front yard” looks like for that area. Front gardens excelling in their efforts to improve curb appeal, will receive a GROW Jamestown sign. Each team is provided a limited number of signs to distribute – making decisions difficult.

¯ The fall season canvassing begins Sept. 9 and ends Sept. 30. The remaining 19 sections, those located to the east of the imaginary line, will be surveyed. The volunteers will again determine what an “average front yard” looks like for that area. Front gardens showing exceptional efforts to improve curb appeal, will receive a GROW Jamestown sign.

¯ In 2020, properties surveyed in the spring of 2019 will be surveyed in the fall and those surveyed in the fall of 2019 will be surveyed in the spring.

At a minimum, volunteers look for front yard gardens with healthy plants that are well maintained and actively managed. Is the lawn healthy lawn, neatly mowed? Are the shrubs and trees pruned and trimmed? Edging is a plus, along with a balanced garden that is appropriate to house and lot size. House numbers need to be clearly displayed.

Volunteer workshops will be held the fourth and fifth week of May. For more information, email Mary Maxwell at mary@jamestownrenaissance.org or call 489-3493.