County Corner: Marion
Tips on Establishing a Community Garden
By Norma Samuel, Marion County Urban Horticulture Agent
Over the last two months I’ve received calls from clients wanting information on community and victory gardens. These types of gardens are a great way to bring the community together to develop
friendships, healthy lifestyle habits, save money, and for those intergenerational gardens that involve both youth and adults—build lifeskills in youth.
I developed a community garden in South Carolina seven years ago that is still in operation today. Here's a list of things to consider when developing a community garden.
- Information gathering Visit other community gardens to see how they operate. Gather information from the web. The National Community Garden Association is an excellent resource.
- Marketing and recruitment If the garden is the idea of one or two individuals, market it to others in the community. Make presentations to the local neighborhood association, churches, city council or county commissions, and other organizations to get residents interested in participating in the garden.
- Form a garden committee After a core group has been identified, select a chair, co-chair, secretary, treasurer, and other officers that you would like for the garden.
- Locate potential site Site chosen should receive 6–8 hours of sunlight per day and located close to a water source. Gather information on the ownership and history of the site. Try not to locate your garden in an area that might have been previously contaminated by toxic products. If the land is owned by the city or county, approach them for permission to use the land, provide free water, and or fencing.
- Decide on a name for the garden Ask the garden participants to suggest a name for the garden and have them vote to make the final selection. This helps to develop a sense of ownership.
- Garden plan Decide if everyone will farm the entire area together and share the produce, or if each person will be assigned individual plots. Raised beds of 4 x 16 feet works well as individual plots. Depending on the size of the family or group working together assign one or more plots. Decide on location of storage shed and compost area. Flowers on the perimeter of the garden will make it very attractive.
- Develop a budget Seek funding in monetary or in-kind contributions for land preparation, storage shed, garden tools, seeds, fertilizer, compost bins, and so on.
- Educational programs Each person participating in the garden project will have different level of knowledge on gardening. Contact your County Extension Office to find out about upcoming gardening programs, or to have a talk designed specifically for your group.
- Garden rules Work with participants to develop list of rules for the garden. Keep them simple. Each adult or parent of minors participating in the garden should sign the rules. Keep a copy on file and give them a copy.
- Land preparation and planting Get the soil tested. Submit a soil sample to the University of Florida to determine the pH and nutrients available in the soil. It takes about six weeks before you get to see the effect of lime if your pH is low, so get the soil tested early. After the land is prepared organize a workday for garden participants to come and install the raised beds. Assign plots and provide a means or suggest ways for them to identify their plots. Try and arrange for all garden participants to plant their plots at the same time, or within as short a time frame possible. This ensures that crops in all plots are about the same stage of development and make the transition to another growing season easier.
- Plant a row for the hungry Consider planting an area of the garden where produce harvested will be donated to a local soup kitchen.
- Garden keys If the garden is fenced, assign each garden participant a key. Keys should be returned when a person no longer has a plot in the garden.
- Watchful eye If the garden is in a residential area ask the person who lives across the street to keep watch in the event of a mishap. Consider giving them a key so they can assist in handling any emergency that may arise.
- Garden notice board Install an enclosed notice board with Plexiglass® at the front of the garden to keep gardeners apprised of garden events.
- Garden meetings Conduct regular garden meetings to discuss business or provide educational information as necessary.
- Garden calendar Develop a yearly calendar of the planting dates for different crops and garden events and for them to keep a journal. The calendar can also include a list of garden participants and their phone numbers.
- Garden duty assignments Divide garden participants into groups and assign chores for common areas, for example, pulling weeds in flower beds and turning compost piles.
- Pest control This will be critical to the success of the garden. Garden participants should be taught the importance early detection and how to properly scout their garden plot to keep pests at a minimum. If a pest problem develops that warrants chemical pest control, select the least toxic product available. Post a notice so garden participants know the garden has been treated and when it will be safe for them to re-enter.
- Cooking lessons It is important that participants learn how to utilize the vegetables grown. Organize a cooking class using healthy recipes. Provide copies of the recipes, so they can have them for future reference.
- Celebrate successes Organize a garden open house. Provide education stations for the public to learn about garden membership, crops, insects, or foods prepared. Invite the media to come and tour the garden at the open house.
If you follow these tips you will have a productive garden that is vibrant with activity, serve as an excellent outdoor classroom and a place where lasting friendships are developed.
Do you have a success story?
We’re looking for inspiring Florida-friendly success stories like this one from Marion County. Submit yours today at gardening@ifas.ufl.edu.
