Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
York City's Green Thumb, Austin's Sustainable Food Center, and Chicago's NeighborSpace. Find out
if there is an organization like this in your area, and if there is, try to work with them.
Potential Benefits of Working with a Community Garden Support Organization
Established relationships with intercity organizations
Processes for establishing communities and gardens
Education programs
Leadership and organizational training
Liability insurance coverage
Plant and seed distribution
Access to free or low cost materials
If you are in a high-density urban area, land is often scarce; in suburban or rural areas, there may
be plenty of land, but it might not be convenient for would-be gardeners to get to. Don't get me wrong,
land is a good thing, and you have to work with what's available and where it's located. But it is im-
portant to remove as many obstacles as possible to get people involved early and enthusiastically, and
if a garden is highly visible and convenient, it will be easier to attract participants. Plus, the aesthetic
attributes of the garden will be a benefit to passersby. Some studies even indicate that the presence of a
community garden can deter crime, such as in the case of the Tri-Neighborhood Community Garden in
Norfolk, Virginia, mentioned earlier.
Types of Land
There are as many land scenarios as there are gardens, to be sure, but here are a few ways you can
identify potential locations for the community garden.
Institutions
Libraries, universities, hospitals, museums, police stations, schools, parks, and other organ-
izations often have property available. These institutions may also have a mandate that aligns with your
garden's mission, so you can help each other by putting in a community garden and bringing awareness
to both of your organizations through increased usage or positive press.
What makes this scenario work?
When underused resources gain more attention or traffic by be-
ing involved with community gardens, it benefits the institution that owns the property because they are
beholden, either unofficially or officially as part of their charter, to serve the community. A community
garden is a positive, visual reminder of an organization's commitments to its constituents.
Houses of worship
It is not unusual to find unused land around religious institutions, and their mandate
could line up with your garden's mission. In addition, they often have built-in communities that may
need access to healthy, fresh food or may already work with food and nutrition programs in their areas.
What makes this scenario work?
If your garden's mission is to grow food for those in need, work-
ing with a religious organization can be a slam-dunk relationship for both groups.
Businesses
Particularly in the suburbs, there are corporate office parks with huge swaths of land ideal
for community gardens. By partnering with a corporation, there is the potential to develop a garden that
