What is the Inspire plot?
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This is a private plot shared by multiple members who maintain and share the produce from the plot. The Inspire plot was founded in March 2017. The plot gives members (who otherwise wouldn't have the time and/or experience to be able to maintain a plot on their own) a chance to work with other gardeners to learn about gardening. The Inspire Plot holds work parties on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month in addition to other events with INSPIRE to help maintain the plot. The plot is intended to be a place to learn how to garden.
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Who works on the Inspire plot?
The inspire plot is shared by over 20 relocated partners. The plot is a safe place where people can learn from and support one another. The Inspire plot was made possible through the hard work of people from around the world. This interactive map shows the nationalities of our Inspire plot members.
Who runs the Inspire Plot?
The Inspire Plot is run by the Inspire Plot Council. A group of key members who vote on what and where to grow items on the Inspire plot. We meet to discuss what changes should be made on the plot and how we can better include all our members.
Inspire Plot Council
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Niki Vital Manager & Founder
I moved to the Berkeley Area from Germany in 2016. I currently work for the Nutrition Policy Institute and hope that my volunteer work with the University village garden and Inspire plot can help to encourage people to be more active and eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. I hope that the inspire plot serves as a space to build new bonds, to learn a life skill, improve health and help reduce our carbon footprint.
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Suma Karanam Assistant Manager
Suma has a Masters degree in mathematics and has taught undergraduate math to both arts and science students for five years at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. She relocated to Berkeley in March 2017 from Bangalore, India. She also volunteers as a committee member of the University Village community garden and Nature Village. She found the Inspire plot a great way to expand her horizons from container gardening and to meet a diverse and socially engaged group of people in a new city. 
Srilakshmi Anand Inspire Kids Coordinator
Srilakshmi Anand is originally from Tamil Nadu, India. She is an Electronics Engineer and worked at some multinational firms before calling Berkeley home. She is the founder of a playgroup for kids called Totally Tots. She is a VRA board member also serves as a treasurer. She is also into cooking expeditions and is at the very heart an incurable and, at times, an insane foodie. She loves gardening and found that INSPIRE plot offers a great way to work with gardeners from different nationalities and learn about plants specific to the bay regions and its uses.
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Chimi Wangmo Inspire Plot Beautification Coordinator
Chimmi is from Thimphu, Bhutan. She holds a Masters in Public Policy. Currently, she is an Overseas Marketing Officer for Smile Bhutan Tours. Chimi is currently the INSPIRE team Manager and Events Coordinator. After relocating to Berkeley in mid-2016, she volunteered with many organizations. She believes that gardening is one of the ways of being close to nature and appreciating it. Her message to the village residents is: “we can make our own food and not only buy them”. |
Special thanks to INSPIRE, the University Village Residents Association & the Berkeley Food Institute for helping support the Inspire plot
Inspire plot membership required
Want to become an Inspire Plot member?
To join Inspire plot you do not need to be a member of INSPIRE but you do need to be a University Village Resident. The Inspire Plot was created to give relocated partners a chance to develop a new skill. If you are a relocated partner that wants a chance to learn a new hobby with a great international team please fill out the member request form below.
