How it Works
Credit: https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/kindergarden/CHILD/COM/COMMUN.HTM
- Establish a group
Reach out to family, friends, and neighbors in person or through the internet to establish a group of enthusiastic participants. Organize a meeting to discuss what kind of garden the group wants to create- vegetable, flower, trees, a combination?
- Choose a site
Maybe someone has a backyard that is just waiting to be cultivated or your local school or church is willing to host your group. Make sure the site gets at least six hours of full sunlight daily (for vegetables) and do a soil test in the fall for nutrients and heavy metals. Learn about the water availability for the site and consider past uses of the land, is there any contamination?
- Prepare and develop the site
Clean your new site and develop a design with the help of the group. Decide on plot sizes and mark them clearly. If need be, include a plan for a storage area for tools and other equipment as well as a compost area.
- Organize meetings and develop garden rules
How often will the group meet? Will there be a shift schedule for watering, especially in the hotter months? Develop a set of rules so that the garden runs smoothly. Shall each family or participant have their own plot or are plots shared? How do you introduce new members? When it comes time to harvest organize how the produce will be distributed? Work together to find the best solutions for everyone involved.
5. Community Garden Work & Harvesting
Many hands make light work, so encourage everyone to put in their time in the community garden to keep up with the workload.
Everybody Wins!
There is a great feeling knowing that you have raised your own food. It’s even better when that feeling is shared with friends, family, and neighbors.
