rather than creating a garden for the community. create a garden
TRANSCRIPT
Muldoon, M.F., Taylor, A. K., Richman, N., Fisk, J., (2013), Innovations in Local Food Enterprise: Fresh ideas for a just & profitable food system. Arlington, VA: Wallace Center at Winrock International
Divided into plots for individual and family use.
Land may be borrowed, rented or owned by the gardeners.
Gardeners generally prepare, plant, maintain and harvest from their own plots.
Briggs Avenue Community GardenDurham, NC
Organized and gardened by a group of people who share in the work and rewards.
Produce is distributed among group members.
Sometimes produce is donated to a local food pantry. Piney Wood Chapel Missionary Baptist Church
Community GardenPowellsville, NC
Often open to the general public for display and classes.
Managed and maintained by garden members or a participating gardening group such as Extension Master Gardeners
Making Pitt Fit Community GardenGreenville, NC
May be established at a church, food pantry, food bank or other location.
Produce is often grown by volunteers and donated The Lord’s Acre
Fairview, NC
Provide horticultural therapy
A trained horticulture therapist often leads programs and classes.
Gardens may be located at hospitals, senior centers, prisons or other places. Photo by Sarah Harmon
Peterson Rehabilitation Hospital Garden
Students build a culture of ownership and stewardship at their school
Garden activities help infuse lessons with nutrition, science concepts, environmental awareness, and healthy behaviors.
George Putnam School Garden 1891
Teach job skills to youth or other groups.
Grow and sell the produce, honey, etc. that they produce
Proceeds may pay participants for their work.
Programs typically rely on outside sources of funding to offset costs. Growing Change, youth group
Scotland County, NC
1. Determine Interest2. Involve Your Community3. Define Garden Goals4. Establish Roles & Rules5. Gather Resources6. Develop Garden Site7. Educate. Celebrate!
Invite all levels of participationInform the community, increase visibility! Need core group of people
Rather than creating a garden for the community.
Create a garden with the community.
Photo from Joni Torres
Many ways to start/manage a community gardenEngage & empower those affected by the garden
at every stage of planning, building, & managing garden
Don’t do for others what they can do for themselves
People are motivated by their own self interests, find out what those interests are
Each community member has something to contribute
Source -- Growing Communities Curriculum: Community Building and Organizational Development through Community Gardening
by Jeanette Abi-Nader, David Buckley, Kendall Dunnigan and Kristen Markley
Things you have knowledge of that you
want to share.
Things you can do with your hands that you want
to share.
Things you really care about that will move you
to action.
Important relationships you have in your
community.
ConnectionsPassion
Skills Knowledge
Adapted fom ABCD, Community Resources Assessment PPT . www.abcdinstitute.org
Individual Capacity Inventory
A successful garden project starts with a good plan!
Example mission statement…to encourage community
involvement, promote stewardship of the earth and provide food and education for ourselves and our
neighbors in need.
Who will work in the garden?Who will the garden serve?Who will manage the garden?What will be the name of the garden?
UNC Asheville Community Garden
Form a steering/leadership group (coordinator, treasurer, secretary, etc.) Keep it simple!
Establish a decision making processChoose a communication strategy
Create gardener guidelines and garden rules collectively
Don’t reinvent the wheel
Gardener Guidelines Examples
A plot cannot be gardened until payment of fees and a signed agreement and liability release is received and approved.
Do not apply anything to, or pick anything from another person's plot without their consent.
All gardeners are required to volunteer at least 5 hours per year to help maintain the garden.
Start small!
Basic site requirementsIdentify land ownerAt least a 3 year lease Central/visible location 6-8 full hours of sunlightSoil test for nutrients & heavy metalsConsider past land use Availability of water Relatively flat with good drainage
Offer frequent educational opportunities Visit other community gardensWork, eat and celebrate together!
Determine Interest Involve Your Community Define Goals Establish Roles & Rules Gather Resources Develop Site Educate. Celebrate!
NC Cooperative Extension Local county offices
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/local-county-center/ NC Community Garden Portal
http://nccommunitygardens.ces.ncsu.eduNCCGP Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NCCGP NC community garden listserv
Go to www.NCCGP.org Contact listserv sign-upAmerican Community Gardening Association
www.communitygarden.orgOther community gardens!
Lisa Valdivia Extension Associate
The Cooperative Extension Program, NC A&T State University NCCGP Board Member