Ten Easy Steps For Starting A Community Garden

Community gardens provide people with an effective way to connect with nature and provide neighborhoods with an efficient way to grow fresh produce, says Greenleaf Communities. It is also a good way to subsidize food costs in low-income areas. According to Garden Pals, every dollar grown in community gardens produces approximately $6 of edible fruits and vegetables from just 10 square feet.

Even if you worry that you don't know enough about gardening or growing food, given the right conditions, a little knowledge, and the support of friends and neighbors, you'll be amazed at how much that is possible. Also, a community garden can be more than just a place to grow food. According to Science Direct, community gardens offer a number of therapeutic benefits, including relief from physical and mental stress. Bring a community garden to your neighborhood with these simple steps.

Formation of a planning committee of enthusiastic citizens

Citizens working in the community garden

You don't need to build an army to start a community garden. Urban Harvest explains that a group of dedicated people, three to five, can combine experience, network, and funds to create a garden.

Having a gardener on board is desirable, but certainly not required. Many professionals, including carpenters, landscapers, florists, mechanics, and attorneys, can bring their unique expertise to this group (See What Grows). Plus, beginners can learn the tricks of the trade (and gardening tricks) from the green-fingered folks.

Connect with the community

The American Community Gardening Association says it's critical to involve community members in all parts of the planning process. You may also consider involving local community leaders, government agencies, and the local health department (through the Nobel Research Institute). These relationships can help alleviate the bureaucratic frustrations that many projects face.

This is also the time to connect with a local pastor. In exchange for garden signage, companies such as landscaping companies or fencing companies may be willing to donate labor and materials.

Select your location

Public lands, such as parks and schools, are suitable for community gardens because they ensure community access to the garden for years to come. But private spaces, such as places of worship and apartment complexes, can also be wonderful places.

While a potential site may seem ideal, without soil testing you won't know if your garden can thrive there. Successful gardens must receive six or more hours of sunlight per day, have an adequate water supply, good soil drainage, and easy access to the community.

Make it legal

Once you have chosen a suitable site, whether it is public or private, you will need legal permission to build a community garden on the land. The American Community Horticulture Association recommends a minimum lease term of three years, but a longer term will add some security to the garden.

You should also obtain liability insurance; Indeed, it is impossible to obtain a lease without it. This type of insurance typically covers the landowner and the organization responsible for it, not the individual gardeners who may work in the garden, Michigan State University explains.

Buy resources to build a park

Even the most austere garden needs money to purchase tools, seeds, fertilizer, and other materials. Although you can start a small community garden for next to nothing, the average investment to start a garden ranges from $1,500 to $4,000. You'll also need to set aside a few hundred dollars each year for maintenance costs.

Gardens can raise money in a number of ways. Fundraising events, grants, sponsorships, and membership fees can add to the treasury.

Decide what you will grow

Now comes the fun part of visualizing your community garden. Will you grow vegetables? fruit? herbs. flowers? Will your garden be traditional or organic? Do you need raised beds, or does your area have enough soil to grow in? What plants benefit your community the most?

Also note that some garden elements such as shrubs and fruit trees can take five or even ten years to produce edible fruit. Other vegetable crops can be ready in 45 days.

Create Community Guidelines

Once the planning is complete, it's time to explore how the garden will operate on a day-to-day basis. Creating a framework, including rules, conditions, and enforcement, can help all participants work together effectively. Putting it all in writing and making the information readily available to participants ensures ease of use.

This is also the time when you need to finalize how you will make future decisions. Some parks do everything through a committee, while others appoint someone to oversee decisions.

Liven up your garden!

After securing the land and developing an operational plan, you can clear the area and begin gardening. Let your creativity flow. Your garden can be as unique as the community it represents.

If the garden does not yet have a fence, think about how to protect the fruits of your labor from hungry pests. Flowers or shrubs make good natural borders, but more creative options such as branches or surrounding rocks can help define the perimeter of a garden.

include everyone

Although vandalism tends to be more theoretical than practical, you can create an atmosphere that deters potential vandalism rather than attracting it. Good lighting, especially at night, along with thorny plants such as rose and pampas grass, act as natural deterrents.

Involving the entire area in the park can help reduce the risk of interference due to exclusion. This is especially true for children. By giving children a special place in the garden, they can become the best caretakers of your garden.

Keep lines of communication open

A successful community garden not only allows residents to connect with nature and food, but also serves as a social hub for the neighborhood. In addition to posting to a bulletin board, you can also create a newsletter or create a social media page, Utopia suggests.

Your garden can also be a great community space to hold meetings about issues facing the community. In other words, the most important part of a community garden is the community. With good communication, both plants and people benefit.

read more. 30 Small Backyard Landscaping Ideas That Will Transform Your Space!