[Community_garden] Starting from scratch: the smallCommunityGarden

[cordalie.benoit at aya.yale.edu]

Very important to have two coordinators, otherwise one person things it is 
MY garden, not a community garden.  check out this website for a clear set 
of issues which may arise.  http://garden.darien.org/

Also be grassroots.  Have your group make and inforce their own rules.  PS 
please join the CT Community Gardening Assoc. 
http://www.ctcommunitygardening.org/
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "jude carson" <cleobar at nbnet.nb.ca>
To: "Susan Shear" <s_shear at yahoo.com>; 
<community_garden at list.communitygarden.org>
Sent: Thursday, February 22, 2007 8:04 AM
Subject: Re: [Community_garden] Starting from scratch: the 
smallCommunityGarden


> Hi Susan et all;
> As one who had a similar interest in gardening and starting a community
> garden, I share both your enthusiasm and concern. From someone who is 
> still
> learning after seven years of running a community garden, here are a few
> suggestions:
>
> * Definitely try to get other interested parties involved in the startup 
> or
> you will be overwhelmed. Put out notices through the media and any method
> you have to attract people who might be interested in starting a garden.
> Perhaps, a local garden centre or educational facility or garden club 
> might
> turn up interested people.
>
> A community garden is supposed to be a COMMUNITY and that means more than
> one person should be responsible for keeping it running smoothly. Our 
> garden
> is still trying to achieve this but in reality, there are four or five
> dedicated souls who carry the project. I live in fear that they will tire 
> or
> fall ill or stop wanting to be involved in this project. We have one 
> person
> who acts as a manager, who knows all the gardeners and is the focus of 
> their
> concerns and problems, which she then discusses with the rest of us. We 
> have
> a dedicated(but bossy) chap who looks after the water system, which breaks
> down occasionally. He also does most of the mowing of the common grass 
> areas
> and repairs whatever needs to be done. Another  gardener looks after
> registration and assigning plots(we have 100 plots 25 ax 4 ft), and 
> another
> is the bag lady or treasurer. Another arranges social events, like an 
> annual
> bbq at the gardens. I act as the contact with the city and community 
> needs.
> *Have an organizational meeting to come up with the size of the garden(s),
> testing of the viability of the land, water access, security
> concerns(including wildlife), fees that should be charged, etc. You can 
> find
> out from this list serve examples of typical rules/bylaws for gardens or I
> can send you ours if you want. It's great if you can establish a good
> working relationship with your local government. EG, here in Saint John, 
> New
> Brunswick, Canada, our land was "loaned" by the city Parks and Rec dept.,
> water and lights are covered by the city, and they kicked in the $10,000
> needed for deer fencing. They also provide soil if we request it and a
> rental portapotty for the summer season. Supporting a project like this
> makes them look good and our gardens have even become a tourist attraction
> for all the cruise ship passengers in the summer months.
> *Once you've got the basics in place, put out the word and the gardeners
> will come. But may I stress again that you should try to make them
> understand that if they don't participate in the jobs that have to be 
> done:
> weeding, composting, etc. then they cannot be part of the garden. And 
> having
> said that, I will admit that we are still trying to achieve this!
> Finally, this is a wonderful thing you are trying to do so persist, and 
> seek
> help and moral support from this list serve. Some of these people are
> amazing and I'd love to visit all their gardens. Cheers,
>
> Jude in snow-bound New Brunswick
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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