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Starting a Community Garden??????
My husband and I have discussed this several times and for a long time, but it seems like something that is becoming more needed as time goes by, if that makes sense...Anyways we have spotted a Great piece of property in our little town that would make a Prime Community Garden...Our problem is trying to get people involved and trying to convince them that it would be for the Betterment (is that a word? lol) of the whole community and could do so much good for our town (330 people in town)...We just can't seem to get people to CARE!!!
We have a pre-K thru 12th grade school that could also benefit from this garden,not only from the food, but as a teaching perspective also... but NO ONE CARES...ughhh talk about feeling defeated.
Any ideas of what we could do to drum up interest in this?
As I am sure everyone here understands, this could really change peoples lives for the better, if we could get them to listen and care.
Thanks so much for any input you could give to enlighten us on this situation.
Peace and Blessings
Tags: community, gardens, getting, started
Views: 23
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Trell Johnson on -
You do have a small problem here.. literally. In a very small community like yours, most people are likely to already have a garden. I would suggest starting at the school level with the grade 10-12 students. What you need to do is engage with them and find a student (or 6) that is(are) interested in gardening. Most schools systems offer some form of "Special Projects" class. Offer the student and his school administrator your assistance as a course advisor. Make sure to have a plan for this, with a course outline and a schedule of events and field trips. You will probably need help from a local farmer to design this, based on the growing/gardening conditions in your area.
Once you succeed in this process, engage your local media. Small town media outlets are often on the hunt for "Local Interest" stories and this sounds like a winner. The more exposure you get, the more likely it is that community members will get involved.
Offer the output of the garden to your local food bank or possibly, your local resturant may be interested in a trade of produce for services.. perhaps trading catering for the schools graduation in exchange for regular deliveries of fresh, local produce.
Alice Waters has designed a similar program to this, tons of information available at http://www.edibleschoolyard.org/
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Permalink Reply by Dr. John F. Houpt II, PhD on -
Tonye, Just go for it. Start with results in mind. People now a days need to be shown results. And you can't blame theme. There is a lot of talk and theory being passed around as what is right but little practical application. Trell has the right direction. Start small, focus on success - what business calls the low hanging fruit - and "show" folks just how important this garden is. Defintely keep the media in the loop with what you are doing. They can be your best friend or worst enemy. Maybe run a mothly newspaper insert showing a running "diary" of the garden and MENTION THE KIDS and the their successes!!!!! As adults, we don't make a great human interest as the kids will! LOL!!! Please keep us in the know as well. Peace and light to you and your husband.
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Permalink Reply by Cornelia on -
Joe Lamp'l - aka Joe the Gardener sent this tip along (courtesy of a Twitter convo - I deal with Twitter because sometimes gems like this sift out). Hope it's helpful - at least inspiring.
Tip 148: Develop an eco-friendly garden in your neighborhood.
I once read somewhere that “great walls make great neighbors”. I guess if you’re really into privacy, there’s an argument in favor of that statement. But is that really how you want to live? I propose a new statement: “Great gardens make great neighbors”. And honestly, it doesn’t have to be great. But whether your neighborhood has a vacant lot, a small park or play ground, or any plantable common ground, it's a green opportunity just waiting to happen.
Stories abound about how neighborhoods across the country transformed from crime infested war zones to a bee hive of all things good when a neighborhood or community garden was installed. There’s something magical about a garden. Strangers become friends and neighborhoods come together in a community garden. What better way to beautify an unadorned space while creating a place to connect people across intergenerational and multi-cultural boundaries.
There’s a magnetic quality that just draws people into a garden. When neighbors come together to create a common garden, it often becomes the catalyst to stimulate social interaction and neighborhood and community development. Quality of life improves and neighborhoods are beautified.
As you create a common garden, an organizing body may decide on the ground rules for the garden. Maybe the space is used as a community vegetable garden and everyone works together in one common plot. Or, neighbors may be allotted individual spaces for their own personal gardening where they can plant whatever they want.
But however it’s laid out, it is good to decide ahead of time the issues that are most important for the individual gardeners and the community as a whole. Your group may want the garden to be entirely eco-friendly. It certainly would be an environmentally responsible way to act locally to protect children and pets, neighbors, the community and the environment from the hazards associated with nonsustainable gardening practices.
When it comes to funding the start up and ongoing costs, for smaller projects, individuals may chip into the pot. It is also possible that grants for such plans might be available from the city, state, or federal government or others to subsidize your project. The city manager's office or state Department of Natural Resources is a good starting point. Corporations that focus on gardening often set aside grant money to promote community gardening efforts. Working with the reference librarian at your local library can more easily help you track down possible grants.
Planting an eco-friendly garden in your neighborhood builds a sense of community like nothing else. They provide opportunities for exercise, education, therapy and relaxation and social interaction. In addition, green space is preserved and resources are conserved. Neighborhoods can even come together through their gardens for community outreach programs like Plant a Row for the Hungry. The eco-friendly garden in your community or neighborhood is limited only by your imagination and commitment—but the benefits can reach far beyond the boundaries that define it.
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Permalink Reply by Tonye Banks on
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Thanks so much for all the imput, I found it to be helpful and putting us on the right path...Thanks again everyone :)
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Permalink Reply by thewhatleys on -
Keep beating the drum!! :-)
Hit your local newspaper and try to post "calls for volunteers" free, if they have a section for community news.
Find one or two people willing to help and pull together a local fundraiser.
Post on Craig's List for your area and ask people to donate seeds, help plant the garden, and otherwise kick in.
If you'd like, I'll post info on your efforts on our website (growandshare.org). We're trying to build a network of gardeners across the USA who will grow gardens and share their harvests. Let me know what area you are in, and what info you'd like me to mention on our site blog.
Good luck!
Kay
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Sooo Excited and had to share with you all...I just got word that the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma is going Green...Well what better way for them to get even better props in the community than to use the land they have here in our town as a community garden...It would benefit everyone, Them included...I am gonna talk to them about using their land behind the community center for that very purpose...What do ya'll think? It's too late for alot of the early spring plantings around here, but not to late to plant for a fall harvest if we can get the ball rolling in time... :)
Peace and Blessings
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Wow that would be fantastic...I would love to help out...we are in Southeastern Oklahoma...Let me talk to the Choctaws first and see what we can get rolling before you put anything down for sure...would not want any confusion...especially since it will be their land that is used...I can't say for sure what they will be willing to do. Thanks so much for helping get the word out for us little people.
Peace and Blessings
thewhatleys said:Keep beating the drum!! :-)
Hit your local newspaper and try to post "calls for volunteers" free, if they have a section for community news.
Find one or two people willing to help and pull together a local fundraiser.
Post on Craig's List for your area and ask people to donate seeds, help plant the garden, and otherwise kick in.
If you'd like, I'll post info on your efforts on our website (growandshare.org). We're trying to build a network of gardeners across the USA who will grow gardens and share their harvests. Let me know what area you are in, and what info you'd like me to mention on our site blog.
Good luck!
Kay
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Permalink Reply by Stephanie on -
When I was teaching I did a project with my class that was a HUGE success. Keep in mind it took some convincing... We "grew" pizza. The class discussed their favorites sans meat and we grew it. We started by sprouting beans in damp tissue for an up close look at growing and then with seedlings in peat containers and eventually planted them in a small plot on campus. When the veggies were ready, we harvested and prepared. There were tomatoes, chives, green onion, bell pepper, basil, beans potatoes (yes, potatoes) and so on. The students even tried veggies they said were not favorites just because they were part of it. After our feast we fed the other classes.
This project employed math skills, reading, geometry, sharing, teamwork, science, social studies and world culture, and so on. Magical things happen between all of us and our "world" when we get back to basics...
Keep trying, just maybe look a little further outside of the box and employ others as your partners in crime..
xo
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