Community Garden Magazine Issue Five January 2016 | Page 23
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Community Garden Checklist
If you're looking for an activity that people of all ages can enjoy, start a community garden. Rallying support from your
neighbors, friends or community-led organizations is a great way to start a garden in your back yard -- so to speak.
Urban communities often find patches of land to host community gardens, and invite participants to help plant,
harvest and enjoy the produce -- and in turn incorporate the necessary fruits, vegetables, vitamins and
nutrients they need to stay healthy into their diets. The USDA's People's Garden initiative offers lots of useful
resources and a supportive network for both first-time planters and seasoned harvesters.
Before you start a garden of your own, read and download this step-by-step guide, which offers important information
about how to safely grow your own fruits and vegetables with others in your community:
Engage Your Community
Begin by bringing people and different organizations together to learn which issues are important to your community.
Discuss how a community garden – whether a communal space or individual plots – could serve the needs of the
community. If a community garden will benefit the community, build on this momentum by holding regular meetings to
collaborate on ideas and goals. Develop a plan of action. Get people energized and organized.
Identify Resources
Forming local partnerships is an excellent way to leverage resources and gain access to needed materials, tools,
funding, volunteers, and technical assistance. USDA’s People’s Garden website has how-to videos and databases
filled with garden-based learning curricula, free seed and funding sources, and healthy gardening practices. You can
call on an Extension Master Gardener volunteer in your area to help with gardening challenges. The long-term
success of your community garden will depend a great deal on relationships with partners. And be sure to check out
the Community Garden Resource Guide.
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