How to Start a Community Garden
Find participants., Choose the type of garden., Scout sites., Set some ground rules., Prepare the land., Plant flower beds around the perimeter of vegetable gardens to promote goodwill with neighbors., Share your bounty.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Find participants.
Organize a meeting of friends and neighbors who are interested in starting a community garden.
If you think there are enough people interested, make a joint decision to go ahead with creating a community garden. -
Step 2: Choose the type of garden.
There are a number of things that should be worked out in advance.
Things to decide on together include:
Whether you want a vegetable garden, a flower garden, or a combination of both.
Whether or not it will be organic.
Will each member will have their own plot or will you all work the land together? Discuss whether to approach local businesses to sponsor or donate seeds, gardening tools, and so on.
Alternatively, do the rounds of family members who do have gardens, to see if they can donate items. , Find a site with a water source and, if you’re growing vegetables, at least six full hours of sunlight daily.
Approach the owner about using or leasing the property.
Many landowners require that you pay for liability insurance. , Set ground rules, like maintenance of common areas and what happens if a member neglects or abandons their plot.
It's a good idea to restrict members from planting tall crops that will block a neighboring plot’s shade. , Test the soil to see what nutrients it might need; kits are available at gardening centers.
Then get everyone together to clean, fertilize, and till the site.
Mark plots clearly with each gardener’s name.
Include a common compost area. , Check out LifeGuide Hub's article on companion planting for ideas of which plants live in harmony, and which don't! , Enjoy your bounty! Have a bumper crop of vegetables? Share your harvest with a local food bank or sell them at a farmer’s market.
That way, even more people can enjoy the fruits of your labor. -
Step 3: Scout sites.
-
Step 4: Set some ground rules.
-
Step 5: Prepare the land.
-
Step 6: Plant flower beds around the perimeter of vegetable gardens to promote goodwill with neighbors.
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Step 7: Share your bounty.
Detailed Guide
Organize a meeting of friends and neighbors who are interested in starting a community garden.
If you think there are enough people interested, make a joint decision to go ahead with creating a community garden.
There are a number of things that should be worked out in advance.
Things to decide on together include:
Whether you want a vegetable garden, a flower garden, or a combination of both.
Whether or not it will be organic.
Will each member will have their own plot or will you all work the land together? Discuss whether to approach local businesses to sponsor or donate seeds, gardening tools, and so on.
Alternatively, do the rounds of family members who do have gardens, to see if they can donate items. , Find a site with a water source and, if you’re growing vegetables, at least six full hours of sunlight daily.
Approach the owner about using or leasing the property.
Many landowners require that you pay for liability insurance. , Set ground rules, like maintenance of common areas and what happens if a member neglects or abandons their plot.
It's a good idea to restrict members from planting tall crops that will block a neighboring plot’s shade. , Test the soil to see what nutrients it might need; kits are available at gardening centers.
Then get everyone together to clean, fertilize, and till the site.
Mark plots clearly with each gardener’s name.
Include a common compost area. , Check out LifeGuide Hub's article on companion planting for ideas of which plants live in harmony, and which don't! , Enjoy your bounty! Have a bumper crop of vegetables? Share your harvest with a local food bank or sell them at a farmer’s market.
That way, even more people can enjoy the fruits of your labor.
About the Author
Margaret Thomas
Writer and educator with a focus on practical creative arts knowledge.
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