[Community_garden] Forming a Non-Profit Group

Julie Burleigh jburleigh13 at mac.com
Wed Jul 11 20:16:01 EDT 2007 

Hi Judy,

Actually, I would like to know more about the outreach you mentioned  
-- my first plan of action was to go around with a petition and some  
information to leave with people -- talking to them (with my spanish  
speaking daughter in tow) about the plans and benefits of community  
gardening -- what else should I do?

thanks -- julie


On Jul 11, 2007, at 12:50 PM, grow19 at aol.com wrote:

> thanks for the additional info.  do be in touch with the two land  
> trust groups, too.  and of course look for community gardening  
> allies already active in other parts of LA and for talented  
> community organizers.  be in touch with the American Community  
> GArdening Association to find these folks.
>
> first things first. this endeavor will need a lot of people.   
> foremost the people who WANT to garden there if it becomes a  
> garden.  can't put the cart before the horse.  can't think of  
> buying the land til there are people 'bursting' to grow food and  
> flowers and community on the land.  'course they may be skeptical  
> about the opportunity, but indeed they will need to take a leap of  
> faith.  best to start out step by step working to involve the  
> people who live the very closest to the land.  for example first  
> the people who live on the same block as the land.  maybe that will  
> provide the 30 who WANT to garden.
>
> outreach to these people is a strategy and skill unto itself.  let  
> me know how much you know about this or how much help you'd like.   
> it is kind of a weird dance, 'cause you need the people in order to  
> move forward, but the people might want to know that its going to  
> happen before they'll 'lean forward'.  and the goal is to get them  
> to understand that possibilities require energy and commitment.
>
> after finding people then more can happen.
>
> that said, lots can come of connecting to the people regardless of  
> whether or not the garden happens quickly or slower.  so, the aim  
> is to find ways to connect to the people in small ways that help  
> form community and hopefully a community garden.
>
> more as you like,
>
> judy
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Julie Burleigh <jburleigh13 at mac.com>
> To: grow19 at aol.com
> Cc: community_garden at list.communitygarden.org
> Sent: Wed, 11 Jul 2007 3:20 pm
> Subject: Re: [Community_garden] Forming a Non-Profit Group
>
>
> Thanks -- the land is NOT currently a community garden -- it is  
> owned by a notorious person (many arsons & bankruptcies under her  
> belt) -- it has been vacant for aobut 10 years. I have lived in the  
> neighborhood for 5 years. I live in a low/mixed income community  
> with many apartment buildings and homes, a section 8 building or 2.  
> Multi-ethnic, black, hispanic and white... plus lots of USC students.
>
> I am hoping to get between 20-30 plots in the garden once  
> established (the lot is 60' x 120').
>
> I will check out the clinton gardne -- thanks,
>
> julie
>
> On Jul 11, 2007, at 12:15 PM, grow19 at aol.com wrote:
>
>> buying the land is a good goal. talk to the Trust for Public Land >
> and the Land Trust Alliance (both work with ownership of open >  
> lands) and the Clinton Community Garden in NYC (they purchased >  
> their community garden).
>>
>> but in the meantime, is the land already being used as a community >
> garden? for how many years? how many plots? how many gardeners? >  
> work well? people really involved? what are the demographics of >  
> the neighborhood - single family? apartments? ages? ethnicity? >  
> income level? how long have you lived in the neighborhood >  
> yourself? etc. ...
>>
>> judy
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Julie Burleigh <jburleigh13 at mac.com>
>> To: grow19 at aol.com
>> Cc: community_garden at list.communitygarden.org
>> Sent: Wed, 11 Jul 2007 3:06 pm
>> Subject: Re: [Community_garden] Forming a Non-Profit Group
>>
>>
>> Yes -- I just learned that my Neighborhood Council might be >
> interested in being my "parent" organization, and could be the non- 
> > profit that receives the funds to put toward buying the land... >  
> Since it is a part of a larger city system, they would have the >  
> clout to help make it happen...
>>
>> I know there are ways to find land that the city already owns and >
> lease it from them (there are probably some of these lots within >  
> the 10 block radius of my home), but I really want to buy the lot >  
> on my block! My block really need it, as there are many gang >  
> problems, etc... I would hope that the connection people on this >  
> block would feel via gardening together wold make the neighborhood  
> > more powerful and safer (and more beautiful)...
>>
>> Thanks for the help (keep it coming!).
>>
>> Julie
>>
>> On Jul 11, 2007, at 10:13 AM, grow19 at aol.com wrote:
>>
>>> could do this, but could also partner with a like-minded 501(c)(3) >
>> in LA that can serve as your fiscal agent and guide. and > >
> regarding income, first step is -- with the gardeneners -- to > >  
> create a budget and figure out how much can/will come directly from  
> > > the gardeners in the form of the 'dues' that they pay each  
> year. > > the more investment from the gardeners, the more  
> leadership and > > responsibility taken in the long run. even if it  
> means phasing in > > expenses (ie, dues won't cover all of the  
> expenses, then put off > > some expenses to next year). i can chat  
> with you more on this if > > you tell me more about the situation.
>>> judy
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Julie Burleigh <jburleigh13 at mac.com>
>>> To: community_garden at list.communitygarden.org
>>> Sent: Wed, 11 Jul 2007 12:30 pm
>>> Subject: [Community_garden] Forming a Non-Profit Group
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Hi Everyone,
>>>
>>> Still working on figuring out the community garden in my
> neighborhood
>>> in Los Angeles, and learned that the next step I need to do in
>>> getting some funds is to form a non-profit group/organization (to be
>>> able to ask for money). So, has anyone done this, and if so, can you
>>> tell me how to start the process (paperwork/forms??)?
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>>
>>> Julie
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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