Starting a Community Garden
There’s something very different and special about gardening with others. Whether it’s other family members, friends or people from your neighbourhood, growing things together takes on a whole new dimension when you share the work with others. It gets people socialising, shares the workload for all the tedious jobs like weeding and it’s a whole lot of fun.
Community gardens have burgeoned over the last decade all around the world due perhaps to smaller building blocks or increased apartment living, a need to know where our food comes from and even a need to stretch the budget in times of rising cost of living. Whatever the reasons, people are finding that the joy of being involved in a community garden outweighs the physical benefits they provide.
The trend goes way back to post both World Wars. In those days they were called Victory Gardens and as well as helping ease Depression Era food shortages, they had the added benefit of bring communities together during difficult times and boosting morale.
These days the fringe benefits include stress-reduction, increased fitness and building inclusion and community spirit. This is particularly beneficial in multi-cultural communities helping to breakdown prejudices and broaden cultural awareness.
Of course the payoff in fresher, healthier food is the major reason most become involved but there’s no doubt that sharing the journey with other like-minded people also has its rewards in better mental health.
So, how do you go about creating one of these fabulous opportunities for community involvement? We’ve scoured the internet to put together some helpful steps that will get you started.
Community gardens have burgeoned over the last decade all around the world due perhaps to smaller building blocks or increased apartment living, a need to know where our food comes from and even a need to stretch the budget in times of rising cost of living. Whatever the reasons, people are finding that the joy of being involved in a community garden outweighs the physical benefits they provide.
The trend goes way back to post both World Wars. In those days they were called Victory Gardens and as well as helping ease Depression Era food shortages, they had the added benefit of bring communities together during difficult times and boosting morale.
These days the fringe benefits include stress-reduction, increased fitness and building inclusion and community spirit. This is particularly beneficial in multi-cultural communities helping to breakdown prejudices and broaden cultural awareness.
Of course the payoff in fresher, healthier food is the major reason most become involved but there’s no doubt that sharing the journey with other like-minded people also has its rewards in better mental health.
So, how do you go about creating one of these fabulous opportunities for community involvement? We’ve scoured the internet to put together some helpful steps that will get you started.
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Step 1: Generate community support.
There can be no community garden without a community. A successful project requires participation from local leaders and buy-in from trusted gatekeepers of the community. A great way to begin connecting with these influencers is to attend city council meetings and reach out to local government officials. It’s also important to develop a group of committed, like-minded volunteers. Holding informational sessions at local farmer’s markets can help to boost interest and identify community members who are interested in your project. A great way to organise participants is to create a public meeting. Do a letterbox drop around the neighbourhood or get your local paper to run a story for you. Make sure you give people a couple of weeks notice so they can plan to attend if they are interested. You’ll soon be able to gauge the level of support your community garden might generate. |
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Step 2: Form a Planning Committee.
- Determine if there really is a need and desire for a garden
- Form committees to accomplish tasks: Funding & Resource Development; Youth Activities; Construction; Communication
- Approach a sponsor, a business or individual willing to support your endeavour. Site sponsorship can be a tremendous asset. Contributions of land, tools, seeds, fencing, soil improvements or money are all vital to a successful community garden. Some community gardens can provide most of their provisions through fees charged to the membership; but for many, a garden sponsor is essential. Churches, schools, citizens groups, private businesses, local parks and recreation departments are all potential supporters. Community Development Block Grants are sometimes available through your municipality
- Make a list of what needs to be done
- Decide on a mailing address and central telephone number(s). Try to have at least three people who are very familiar with all pertinent information. Form a telephone tree to efficiently disseminate information among the volunteers
- If your community garden has a budget, keep administration in the hands of several people so there is no single responsibility
Step 3: Find “The Place”
Once you have recruited a group of enthusiastic people for your project, you can begin searching for an available space for the garden.
The best place to start your search is your local city or county parks and recreation department. Often these offices will have open space that may be available for community projects. In addition, this office is a great resource for possible funding for your tools and seeds.
You can also check with local charities or churches that have charitable outreach within the community.
If these options are not viable, the final solution can be finding privately owned land. If you discover a seemingly abandoned lot, contact the tax assessor’s office to find the current owner. Then you can contact the owner and request permission to use the space.
Some considerations:
Once you have recruited a group of enthusiastic people for your project, you can begin searching for an available space for the garden.
The best place to start your search is your local city or county parks and recreation department. Often these offices will have open space that may be available for community projects. In addition, this office is a great resource for possible funding for your tools and seeds.
You can also check with local charities or churches that have charitable outreach within the community.
If these options are not viable, the final solution can be finding privately owned land. If you discover a seemingly abandoned lot, contact the tax assessor’s office to find the current owner. Then you can contact the owner and request permission to use the space.
Some considerations:
- Make sure the site gets at least six full hours of sunlight daily (for vegetables)
- Do a soil test in the fall (Autumn) for nutrients & heavy metals
- Try and get a lease or agreement which allows the space to be used at least for three years
- Consider past uses of the land. Is there any contamination?
Setting up a new community garden organisation.
Many garden groups are organized very informally and operate successfully. Leaders "rise to the occasion" to propose ideas and carry out tasks. However, as the workload expands, many groups choose a more formal structure for their organization.
A structured program is a means to an end. It is a conscious, planned effort to create a system so that each person can participate fully and the group can perform effectively. It's vital that the leadership be responsive to the members. Structure will help an organization to last; it will promote trust; it will help your group grow and create new opportunities for leaders to develop.
If your group is new, have several planning meetings to discuss your program and organization. Try out suggestions raised at these meetings and after a few months of operation, you'll be in a better position to develop bylaws or organizational guidelines. A community garden project should be kept simple as possible, whether large or small.
Bylaws are rules which govern the internal affairs of an organization. They are required when you form a non-profit corporation, but are useful even if your group is a club or a group of neighbours. Many battles are won simply because one side has more pieces of paper to wave than the other. It's helpful to look over bylaws from other similar organizations if you are incorporating. Guidelines and Rules are less formal than bylaws, and are often adequate enough for a garden group that has no intention of incorporating.
You’ll find some helpful information on Bylaws, Organisation and Troubleshooting at the end of this article.
Many garden groups are organized very informally and operate successfully. Leaders "rise to the occasion" to propose ideas and carry out tasks. However, as the workload expands, many groups choose a more formal structure for their organization.
A structured program is a means to an end. It is a conscious, planned effort to create a system so that each person can participate fully and the group can perform effectively. It's vital that the leadership be responsive to the members. Structure will help an organization to last; it will promote trust; it will help your group grow and create new opportunities for leaders to develop.
If your group is new, have several planning meetings to discuss your program and organization. Try out suggestions raised at these meetings and after a few months of operation, you'll be in a better position to develop bylaws or organizational guidelines. A community garden project should be kept simple as possible, whether large or small.
Bylaws are rules which govern the internal affairs of an organization. They are required when you form a non-profit corporation, but are useful even if your group is a club or a group of neighbours. Many battles are won simply because one side has more pieces of paper to wave than the other. It's helpful to look over bylaws from other similar organizations if you are incorporating. Guidelines and Rules are less formal than bylaws, and are often adequate enough for a garden group that has no intention of incorporating.
You’ll find some helpful information on Bylaws, Organisation and Troubleshooting at the end of this article.
There are many garden planning apps that could be of assistance.
Step 4: Plan the garden
Getting things properly organised before you start any work will result in a smoother journey. For example, how will the garden be laid out? Will there be small plots worked by individuals to grow their own crops or will it be a large common garden that everyone works together and benefits from? It may pay to consider the following:
Getting things properly organised before you start any work will result in a smoother journey. For example, how will the garden be laid out? Will there be small plots worked by individuals to grow their own crops or will it be a large common garden that everyone works together and benefits from? It may pay to consider the following:
- What is your purpose? What are your short and long-term objectives?
- How are decisions to be made? Who chooses leaders and how?
- How will work be shared? Who does what?
- How will you raise money? Membership dues, fund raising, grants, sponsors?
- Do you want to be incorporated or act as a club?
- Are there conditions for membership (residence, dues, agreement with rules)?
- Will the garden be organic?
- If there are individual plots, how will these be assigned (by family size, by residency, by need, by group- i.e., youth, elderly, etc.)?
- How large should plots be (or should there be several sizes based on family size or other factors?
- How should plots be laid out?
- If the group charges dues, how will the money be used? What services, if any, will be provided to gardeners in return?
- Will the group do certain things cooperatively (such as turning the soil in Spring, planting cover crops, or composting)?
- When someone leaves a plot, how will the next tenant be chosen?
- How will the group deal with possible vandalism?
- If it is to be one common garden how will it be laid out?
- How will you decide what to grow?
- How will you organise your work schedules and participation?
- Should there be a children’s plot?
- Will the gardeners meet regularly? If so, how often and for what purpose?
- Will the gardeners share tools and other resources?
- How will general maintenance be organised?
- Will there be a written set of rules that gardeners must abide by? If so, how will they be enforced?
- Should your group incorporate and consider eventually owning your site?
Step 5: Prepare the site.
Your site will have to be cleared, so hopefully you’ll have generated lots of willing workers. You should have drawn up a plan of the garden based on input from your members so now it is just a case of digging and preparing the beds, laying paths and organising storage. It’s wise to place flower or shrub beds around the perimeter of your garden to promote good-will with non-gardening neighbours, passers-by and municipal authorities.
Include a storage area for tools and other equipment in your layout, as well as a composting space.
It’s also a good idea to install a rainproof bulletin board to promote the aims of the garden, any events you might organise and to enable messages to be posted.
Hopefully you will have sourced some sponsorship support so gather your resources from any free materials or from the members themselves. Organise your volunteer work crews and plan your work sessions with clear tasks and goals.
Your site will have to be cleared, so hopefully you’ll have generated lots of willing workers. You should have drawn up a plan of the garden based on input from your members so now it is just a case of digging and preparing the beds, laying paths and organising storage. It’s wise to place flower or shrub beds around the perimeter of your garden to promote good-will with non-gardening neighbours, passers-by and municipal authorities.
Include a storage area for tools and other equipment in your layout, as well as a composting space.
It’s also a good idea to install a rainproof bulletin board to promote the aims of the garden, any events you might organise and to enable messages to be posted.
Hopefully you will have sourced some sponsorship support so gather your resources from any free materials or from the members themselves. Organise your volunteer work crews and plan your work sessions with clear tasks and goals.
Step 6: Pick your crops.
Creating a nice, lush garden is more than just finding available space and volunteers. There are many other factors that can affect the success of your garden:
1. Know the planting season for your area. Most seeds are planted in spring or early summer, but this varies by region and also among plants. Consult the Farmer’s Almanac in the US or similar sites elsewhere, for yearly planting date/time projections.
2. Make sure you check which plants grow well together and which should be spaced apart. For example, beets do not do well when planted next to garlic or onion. (You’ll find our Companion Planting Guides HERE.) In addition, many plants need extra room to grow or may need a trellis installed for proper support.
For a detailed Garden Planner Worksheet, check out NRCS’s guide, that helps you find the most suitable veggies for your project!
Creating a nice, lush garden is more than just finding available space and volunteers. There are many other factors that can affect the success of your garden:
1. Know the planting season for your area. Most seeds are planted in spring or early summer, but this varies by region and also among plants. Consult the Farmer’s Almanac in the US or similar sites elsewhere, for yearly planting date/time projections.
2. Make sure you check which plants grow well together and which should be spaced apart. For example, beets do not do well when planted next to garlic or onion. (You’ll find our Companion Planting Guides HERE.) In addition, many plants need extra room to grow or may need a trellis installed for proper support.
For a detailed Garden Planner Worksheet, check out NRCS’s guide, that helps you find the most suitable veggies for your project!
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Step 7: Cultivate and seed.
If you’ve already prepared the garden beds all you’ll need to do is plant. However if you haven’t, you need to dig the beds over and add mulch or compost if necessary to improve the soil. It might also pay to get a PH reading of the soil to determine if you need any other additives. You can plant seeds or seedlings as you prefer, though seeds will work out cheaper. Always buy from a reputable source to ensure the quality of what you plant is worth the effort. Step 8: Develop Work and Harvesting Schedules.
The hard work doesn’t end with cultivating and planting. Vegetable plants need a lot of care and attention in order to produce good quality fruit. You should develop a schedule for the group in which each member is assigned tasks and times to water, weed and check on the plants. Always try to use organic means to de-bug and de-pest your gardens. |
People, problems and solutions.
Angry neighbours and bad gardeners pose problems for a community garden. Usually the two are related. Neighbours complain to municipal governments about messy, unkempt gardens or rowdy behaviour; most gardens can ill afford poor relations with neighbours, local politicians or potential sponsors. Therefore, choose bylaws carefully so you have procedures to follow when members fail to keep their plots clean and up to code. A well-organized garden with strong leadership will also be more enjoyable to belong to than one which is poorly administered.
Angry neighbours and bad gardeners pose problems for a community garden. Usually the two are related. Neighbours complain to municipal governments about messy, unkempt gardens or rowdy behaviour; most gardens can ill afford poor relations with neighbours, local politicians or potential sponsors. Therefore, choose bylaws carefully so you have procedures to follow when members fail to keep their plots clean and up to code. A well-organized garden with strong leadership will also be more enjoyable to belong to than one which is poorly administered.
Growing Your Community Garden.
The biggest challenge/opportunity (depending on your outlook!) is working with other people. Depending on the size of your community garden you will want lots of volunteers to help share the work and keep the garden as productive as possible.
Helpers at my local community orchard run hugely popular apple days, complete with folk music, apple pressing and all-round merriment. It’s a great recruitment vehicle and it demonstrates to the wider public what an asset community projects like this can be. Other projects are very public indeed, with communal beds and tubs of produce next to walkways or within train stations, for example. These offer daily encouragement to would-be participants to get involved and give it a grow!
Aim to make your community garden as inclusive as possible. While barrowloads of wholesome fruits and vegetables is what everyone is working towards, the biggest benefit is likely to be the joy and sense of purpose it brings to people’s lives. Volunteer days and persuasive diplomacy will go a long way towards keeping everyone happy and on side.
It’s the people element that makes community gardens so unique. It doesn’t matter who you are or what your background is, when you’re tending your crops together there’s a real sense of oneness, of shared purpose, cooperation and kinship. And isn’t that what community is all about?
The biggest challenge/opportunity (depending on your outlook!) is working with other people. Depending on the size of your community garden you will want lots of volunteers to help share the work and keep the garden as productive as possible.
Helpers at my local community orchard run hugely popular apple days, complete with folk music, apple pressing and all-round merriment. It’s a great recruitment vehicle and it demonstrates to the wider public what an asset community projects like this can be. Other projects are very public indeed, with communal beds and tubs of produce next to walkways or within train stations, for example. These offer daily encouragement to would-be participants to get involved and give it a grow!
Aim to make your community garden as inclusive as possible. While barrowloads of wholesome fruits and vegetables is what everyone is working towards, the biggest benefit is likely to be the joy and sense of purpose it brings to people’s lives. Volunteer days and persuasive diplomacy will go a long way towards keeping everyone happy and on side.
It’s the people element that makes community gardens so unique. It doesn’t matter who you are or what your background is, when you’re tending your crops together there’s a real sense of oneness, of shared purpose, cooperation and kinship. And isn’t that what community is all about?
Step 9: Pay it forward.
Once up and going, vegetable and herb gardens can produce a surprisingly large amount of food. In order to avoid waste, you should donate the extra food to local food banks or aid programs.
Well, now you know the essential parts of creating a community garden, so hopefully you will have been motivated to give one a try. If you just want to join an existing one, google Community Gardens and hopefully you’ll find one close by. Happy gardening.
Once up and going, vegetable and herb gardens can produce a surprisingly large amount of food. In order to avoid waste, you should donate the extra food to local food banks or aid programs.
Well, now you know the essential parts of creating a community garden, so hopefully you will have been motivated to give one a try. If you just want to join an existing one, google Community Gardens and hopefully you’ll find one close by. Happy gardening.
What goes into formal bylaws.
- Full official name of organization and legal address.
- The purpose, goals and philosophy of the organization.
- Membership categories and eligibility requirements.
- Membership dues, how much and when paid.
- Specify when and how often regular or special meetings of the membership are to be held, as well as regular and annual meetings of the board of directors.
- State what officers are necessary, how they are chosen, length of term, their duties and how vacancies are filled.
- State special committees, their purpose and how they operate.
- Establish a system so that bylaws can be rescinded or amended, maybe by a simple majority.
- State any official policies or practices:eg. garden group will avoid the use of hazardous substances; group will agree to keep all adjacent sidewalks in good repair and free of ice and snow in season; group will make all repairs necessary to keep equipment, fences and furniture in good order and repair.
- Include a Hold Harmless clause (sample):
"We the undersigned members of the (name) garden group hereby agree to hold harmless (name owner) from and against any damage, loss, liability, claim, demand, suit, cost and expense directly or indirectly resulting from, arising out of or in connection with the use of the (name) garden by the garden group, its successors, assigns, employees, agents and invites."
How to manage your Community Garden
In order to offer a high quality community garden program, good management techniques are essential. Included in this fact sheet are the main ideas to consider in management, along with many different ways to carry them out. Having written rules is very important with older groups as well as new gardens, since they spell out exactly what is expected of a gardener. They also make it much easier to eliminate dead wood should the need arise.
Sample Guidelines and Rules -- Some may be more relevant to vegetable gardens than to com munity flower gardens or parks. Pick and choose what best fits your situation.
In order to offer a high quality community garden program, good management techniques are essential. Included in this fact sheet are the main ideas to consider in management, along with many different ways to carry them out. Having written rules is very important with older groups as well as new gardens, since they spell out exactly what is expected of a gardener. They also make it much easier to eliminate dead wood should the need arise.
Sample Guidelines and Rules -- Some may be more relevant to vegetable gardens than to com munity flower gardens or parks. Pick and choose what best fits your situation.
- I will pay a fee of $______ to help cover garden expenses. I understand that ___ of this will be refunded to me when I clean up my plot at the end of the season.
- I will have something planted in the garden by (date) and keep it planted all summer long.
- If I must abandon my plot for any reason, I will notify the manager.
- I will keep weeds down and maintain the areas immediately surrounding my plot if any.
- If my plot becomes unkempt, I understand I will be given 1 week's notice to clean it up. At that time, it will be reassigned or tilled in.
- I will keep trash and litter cleaned from the plot, as well as from adjacent pathways and fences.
- I will participate in the fall clean-up of the garden. I understand that the $____ deposit will be refunded only to those who do participate.
- I will plant tall crops where they will not shade neighboring plots.
- I will pick only my own crops unless given permission by the plot user.
- I will not use fertilizers, insecticides or weed repellents that will in any way affect other plots.
- I agree to volunteer_____hours toward community gardening efforts. (include a list of volunteer tasks which your garden needs).
- I will not bring pets to the garden.
- I understand that neither the garden group nor owners of the land are responsible for my actions. I THEREFORE AGREE TO HOLD HARMLESS THE GARDEN GROUP AND OWNERS OF THE LAND FOR ANY LIABILITY , DAMAGE, LOSS OR CLAIM THAT OCCURS IN CONNECTION WITH USE OF THE GARDEN BY ME OR ANY OF MY GUESTS.
Troubleshooting.
Vandalism is a common fear among community gardeners. However, the fear tends to be much greater than the actual incidence. Try these proven methods to deter vandalism:
Vandalism is a common fear among community gardeners. However, the fear tends to be much greater than the actual incidence. Try these proven methods to deter vandalism:
- Make a sign for the garden. Let people know to whom the garden belongs and that it is a neighbourhood project.
- Fences can be of almost any material. They serve as much to mark possession of a property as to prevent entry, since nothing short of razor-wire and landmines will keep a determined vandal from getting in. Short picket fences or turkeywire/chicken wire will keep out dogs and honest people.
- Create a shady meeting area in the garden and spend time there.
- Invite everyone in the neighbourhood to participate from the very beginning. Persons excluded from the garden are potential vandals.
- Involve the neighbourhood children in learning gardens. They can be the garden's best protectors.
- Plant raspberries, roses or other thorny plants along the fence as a barrier to fence climbers.
- Make friends with neighbours whose windows overlook the garden. Trade them flowers and vegetables for a protective eye.
- Harvest all ripe fruit and vegetables on a daily basis. Red tomatoes falling from the vines invite trouble.
- Plant potatoes, other root crops or a less popular vegetable such as kohlrabi along the sidewalk or fence. Plant the purple varieties of cauliflower and beans or the white eggplant to confuse a vandal.
- Plant a "vandal's garden" at the entrance. Mark it with a sign: "If you must take food, please take it from here.
Sources:
Bernard Van Heems - https://www.growveg.com.au/guides/starting-a-community-garden/
Corey Harnish - https://www.betterworldinternational.org/planet/create-community-garden-in-6-steps/
Bernard Van Heems - https://www.growveg.com.au/guides/starting-a-community-garden/
Corey Harnish - https://www.betterworldinternational.org/planet/create-community-garden-in-6-steps/
