Creating a Community Garden

So you want to create a community garden? Before you lift a hoe, here are a few things you may want to consider:

Gardening Activities

• What is the purpose of the garden?
• Is it going to be a quiet, contemplative place, reserved just for garden plots or will it be a more active, celebratory space as well?
• How will the activities in the garden impact the surrounding property owners?
• Will there be domestic animals kept in the garden? Will well-behaved, leashed dogs be allowed in the garden?
• Will the community garden be used just during daylight hours or also at night?
• Will the site be used year-round or only on a seasonal basis?
• Will the community garden serve an educational purpose?

Location of the property

• Is the community garden site perceived as a safe area?
• Is the proposed garden easy to find?
• Is there bus access to the site?
• Can people easily walk to the site?
• Is the site accessible for wheel chair, strollers, and walkers?

Resources currently on the site

• Is there a minimum of 6 hours of full sun on the site, per day, year-round?
• Is there access to water on the property?
• Is there adequate parking space on the property?

Property ownership and Management

• Who currently owns the property where the community garden is proposed?

Property amenities

• Is there garbage disposal on the site?
• Are there restroom facilities on the site?
• Will there be tool storage on the site?

The challenges of community gardens…

• Unless there is a neighbor nearby, some isolated gardens can get vandalized.
• Sometimes a less-than-honest neighbor or visitor may steal your ripe vegetables and fruit.
• Occasional differences occur between gardeners regarding overgrown paths, shading your neighbors’ plot with your glorious dahlias or vines, or loud music.

Whom to Contact for More Information:

• Your county extension offices.
• Your city community garden offices, if there is one.
• U-pick farmers – ask them how they got started.
• Farmers who have seasonal fruit stands and harvest days
• Your small business administration office – (The SBA can help you create a business plan, a budget for ongoing maintenance, and sometimes provide information about insurance and liability issues).
• Web sites, including the American Community Gardening Association.