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Jennifer Carlson © 2007
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.
*Jennifer Carlson lives in Seattle, Washington and has an organic garden at her home as well as a plot in a nearby community garden in order to grow food for her family and to share with her fellow gardeners.
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Creating a Community Garden
Jennifer Carlson © 2007So 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.
*Jennifer Carlson lives in Seattle, Washington and has an organic garden at her home as well as a plot in a nearby community garden in order to grow food for her family and to share with her fellow gardeners.