[Community_garden] the list as a class tool

[yarrow at sfo.com]

1. Make the entrance/fence area beautiful and 
welcoming, for both gardeners and passers-by. One 
of the gardens around here has raspberries 
growing *outside* the fence, with a sign inviting 
people to help themselves. The berries are easy 
to grow (hah! invasive) and having them outside 
the fence keeps people from trying to reach 
inside the fence (or that was the original idea, 
anyway). Herbs and flowers planted en masse on 
the edges will attract pollinators. Herbs are one 
of the best things to grow communally, because 
they are best fresh and you can pick the small 
amount you need for daily use, but if the plots 
are small they can take up a lot of space.

2. Mark the paths well and keep them well 
maintained, so that visitors won't inadvertently 
step on garden space and so that gardeners have 
enough space for wheelbarrows between plots. 
Well-defined paths and an open invitation to 
visitors makes the garden an asset to the whole 
community. I've found many people like to walk 
through the community garden, though they may not 
have gardens (or time to garden) themselves.
Path maintenance is a continuing problem, so make 
it as easy as possible for gardeners to keep 
their paths weed-free and well defined. For 
instance, provide wheelbarrows, mulch, and 
scheduled work days, for gardeners who never seem 
to find the time for regular maintenance.

3. If you want to build community, shape the 
space to encourage whatever communal activities 
you anticipate, such as potlucks, seed swaps, 
bulletin board, plant giveaways, mulch/compost 
delivery, community composting, etc. Some of 
these uses are practical; others are community 
building. If there is a place to share excess 
supplies and harvests, people will use it.
A garden shed is great if you have tools and supplies for communal use.

At 2:07 PM -0500 2/21/08, Bill Dawson wrote:
>  Here is this week’s question / scenario:
>I live in Columbus, Ohio and we have received a $1500.00 grant to improve a
>garden at our church. We will also be accepting donated items for the
>garden. We would like to have plots and communal gardens with annuals,
>perennials and fruits, herbs and veggies. We would be erecting a fence for
>that mental/ physical boundary of space. Community and church members,
>seniors and children will utilize the garden as well as serving the food
>pantry. Full sun. Water nearby. Could you list the top three things (and
>why) that we should consider in design of this space?