4 • The Southwest Portland Post
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May 2014
Ten things to do to start a
community garden
GARDEN MIND
By Rebecca Hart
In the four-plus years since I first
published this primer on making
a public garden, our culture has
moved to a broader commitment
to the essential act of growing our
own food.
Whether to preserve organic
integrity, to engage in “hands-
on’”activities, or to get to know our
neighbors, for many folks a commu-
nity garden space is a great solution.
However, it’s not always clear
how to move forward with success.
Here are my suggestions for start-
ing a community garden in your
neighborhood:
1. Gather like-minded people
and organize into a group. When
the plot is located and you are ready
to begin, apportion and delegate
tasks. For tips on organizing a gar-
den community, writing a compact
for the group, formulating rules,
allocating plots and so on, google
community gardens, local exten-
sion offices, or inquire of other local
groups.
2. Locate suitable land with ac-
cess to water and electricity. You'll
need fencing to keep out four-
legged marauders. Vacant lots,
schoolyards, retirement homes and
churchyards are all potential sites.
Get permission from property own-
ers, in the form of a written agree-
ment (it doesn’t need to be fancy to
be binding).
3. Plan and design your garden
carefully. Gardens need full sun
for a minimum of six to eight hours
a day. Consider how big a plot for
each family. When laying out plots
be sure to leave enough space for
paths for walking and trundling
wheelbarrows or carts. Remember:
most gardens grow in under six
months; typically from May, after
last frost and when soil has dried
out from spring rains, through Oc-
tober, or first killing frost.
4. Explain clearly the work and
commitment involved. It takes hard
work to grow plants successfully
and to make sure everyone commits
to sharing the labor. Inventory the
skills of members. Ask neighbor-
hood gardeners to share their expe-
rience. For good basic information
on plants, see websites of groups
like one popular community garden
group (see footnote #1).
5. Decide whether your garden
will be organic, natural or “any-
thing goes.” Incorporate this essen-
tial decision into your contract rules.
Compost pile? Educate members
about how carbon- and nitrogen-
based compost differs; also explain
what does not go into the pile. One
of the best discussions on the role
of bacteria-enriched compost can
be found in Wendy Johnson’s book
(see footnote #2).
6. Barter where you can to cut
expenses. If you need a toolshed
built, trade produce for carpentry
skills. Scour yard sales. Need to
raise money for fencing or building
materials? Create a fundraiser tai-
lored your needs. Ask local business
for contributions; nothing ventured,
nothing gained!
7. Assemble tools and supplies:
hoses, couplings, sprinklers, wa-
tering devices, wheelbarrows.
Decide which tools and supplies are
for communal use. Are new soil or
amendments necessary. It’s much
less expensive in truckloads! (You
Gardening with children or grandchildren fosters communications and offers an
opportunity to work toward a common goal.
(Photo courtesy of Oregon Public Health Institute)
may be able to go in on shares with
private gardens.)
8. Write down your garden's
goals and record the progress in a
garden journal. Set up a website.
Tweet and blog your successes!
Spread the word to local media
outlets. Ask farmers at your local
farmers' market for expert advice on
problems you're having with your
crop. Chances are pretty good that
your problem is not unique and that
you will find a solution. See footnote
#3, if you live in an urban area.
9. Share your produce. Plant
extra! Encourage neighbors to join
you next season. According to fig-
ures, one in six Americans faced
hunger in 2013; many relied on food
pantries to help sustain their fami-
lies. Plant more than you need and
regularly harvest and donate your
surplus (see footnote #4).
10. Get to work now! If you
can’t begin a garden now, it is still
a good time to plan. FYI: Grants
are available for getting a garden
started or for taking gardens to
another level. For more ideas, see
footnote #5.
It may take more than one season
to get things underway, but don’t
fret that our pre-growing season is
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It is my hope that this short
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Food can be grown almost any-
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1. Additional information
o n s t a r t i n g a g a rd e n : w w w.
communitygarden.org.
2. “Gardening at the Drag-
on’s Gate” by Wendy Johnson
(www.gardeningatthedragonsgate.
com)
3. For information on urban
community gardens, visit www.
foodsecurity.org/urbanag.
4. www.feedingamerica.org/
hunger-in-america/hunger-facts.
aspx
5. Visit www.kidsgardening.org
for lots of ideas for gardening with
children.
“Ten things to do to start a com-
munity garden,” is a mash-up of an
article the author first wrote for The
Nation, published Sept. 21, 2009.
Reprinted in Huffington Post, Oct.
20, 2009 and Pathways to Family
Wellness, Winter 2011.
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