Jardin des Paradis needs financial and physical help

A letter from Pauline at the Jardin des Paradis
It's a rare thing that I send out a begging letter but I'm having to do so now.

 As most of you know, I'm a volunteer at the Jardin des Paradis in Cordes.

 This is an educational garden open to the public which manages to cram

many

different ideas and events in an area of only 2500 sq metres.

The garden costs over 100,000 euros a year to run and our subvention is a

 measly 8000 euros from the Government.

We manage to run with a staff of one full timer, two part timers and

whatever time the volunteers can give. Basically if we don't get more

 funding and more physical help we are going to have to close which would

be 

a pity not only for the 3 youngsters employed there, but also for the parties of kids and disabled people we welcome every year.  At our recent Conseil d'Administration meeting we decided to launch a 

membership scheme and we are now looking for "adhérents" - basically

 people who help support the garden financially (and physically if they

wish)

and are then given free access to the garden whenever they want and a free

 invitation to all the social events. The cost is just 10 euros a year per

person.

So…... would any of you be prepared to help us out please? I'm not asking

 for money now, just a promise to support us. If we can get enough

promises,

 it will give us the means and the encouragement to continue next year. For

your 10 euros, you'll get free access whenever you wish to visit and for

many of you who have to cart visitors around during the summer and rack

their brains what to do with them, it could be very useful, even if you

just

 sit in the garden with a cold beer while your visitors walk around. If you

want to you can also join us on our volunteer days or just come along to

potter in the garden - great for anyone who wants to practise French or

 learn anything about gardening. You'll also get free entry to our annual

plant sale (we sell our surplus perennial and shrub stock in October each

year - everything priced at between one and four euros) and our proposed

 vegetable plant exchange (in spring everyone comes with their surplus

small

plants and swaps them with others).

If anyone is prepared to help us out by becoming an "adhérent", I'd be

 really grateful. Just let me know and I'll add your name to the list and

when the time comes, arrange to collect your money and have a card printed

with your photo.

 Many thanks for taking the time to read this and for those of you who

don't

 know the garden please have a look at our website

 *www.jardindesparadis.eu*

Best wishes, Pauline