HOW TO START A COMMUNITY GARDEN

Starting a community garden involves several steps including: 1) identifying goals, 2) deciding on the group garden structure, 3) selecting a site, 4) developing the site, 5) and creating a budget. The following section provides some basic questions to help you begin thinking through each of these steps.

Step 1: Identifying Goals of the Garden

What is the primary goal of the garden and who will it serve? For example:

Your group wants to make use of a vacant lot to grow tasty fuits and vegetables to be shared among the gardeners
Families that are needing to lower food costs
Church or businesses growing food for the hungry
Neighbors wanting a healthy alternative to junk food for their families.

What other goals do you have for the garden?

Educational
Beautification
Community building and Socialization
Therapy

Step 2: Identify the Group Garden Structure

Garden plots/beds serving individual gardeners vs. community plots or a combination of individual and community
Will there be children's plots?
How large should plots be?
How will plots be assigned (by family member, by residency, etc.,)?

Step 3: Site Selection - Picking the BEST Site

Find land and determine who owns it.
Consider the location of the land and its proximity to the gardeners
What was the previous use of the land?
Is there existing vegetation on the land and can you identify what it is?
Consider the sun exposure. Make sure the site gets at least 6 hours of sunlight daily
Consider soil conditions. Do a soil test for nutrients and heavy metals.
Consider the drainage and slope of the land.
Consider availability and source for water.

Step 4: Make a Garden Development Plan

Identify garden type. Will the garden be organic? What will you grow?
Determine requirements for soil preparation. How will plowing be done?
What are the watering requirements?
Is fencing needed to mark plots or to protect plants from animals such as rabits and deer?
What tools will be needed and will these be shared among gardeners?
Consider planting flowers or shrubs around the visible perimeter to create a more aesthetically pleasing garden.

Step 5: Create a Budget

What are your start-up costs - soil preparation, plants, tools, etc.,?
Account for you on-going, operational costs such as tilling, seeds, fertilizer, mulch, water, etc.,