TRY COMMUNITY GARDENING

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PLAN AHEAD

You will, of course, need to work out the physical details and membership rules for your community garden before you hold a "sign up day" for growing plots. For instance, you should predetermine the size of an individual garden (NAG recommends 25' X 30' vegetable patches, because forty such plots—plus access walkways—will fit in a one-acre tract, and each of the moderate-sized gardens can provide a family of four's vegetables for most of the year). You'll have to arrange for a water supply, too (check with the local fire department) and decide whether to provide tools—which may be donated by a community-minded sponsor—and an on-site toolshed.

Your members should be told—in advance—about any fees that have been decided upon, what the consequences for neglecting their plots would be (usually the loss of growing privileges), whether organic and nonorganic growers will be separated, and where seeds and gardening information can be obtained.

DON'T FORGET TO PUBLICIZE

Many established community gardens have membership waiting lists, but—while you are getting "squared away"—you'll probably need to do some active recruiting. So type up an attention-getting press release that contains all the "wh o", "what", "when", "where", "why", and "how" information concerning your project. Disseminate the flyer to local radio stations, community groups, and the person on your town's newspaper staff who writes gardening news.

You can also start the following season's public relations effort during harvest time ... by holding—and publicizing—a homegrown banquet, a community food contest, a curbside "garden market", or even a charity giveaway of surplus goodies.

DO IT. . . YOU'LL BE GLAD YOU DID

There's a lot more "groundwork" to starting a successful community garden than just preparing some soil for spring planting, but it is, indeed, possible for almost anyone to organize a successful crop-growing group. What's more, the effort will probably make you several new friends . . . and enable a passel of people to eat — and live — a whole lot better!

EDITOR'S NOTE: The National Association for Gardening has published both a 38-page paperback book, Guide to Community Garden Organization, and a project coordinator's job description and timetable. These materials go into detail on all the tips mentioned in this article, and cover several other topics — such as "finding a sponsor", "ways around red tape", and "preventing thievery" — as well. You can get both items — for only $2.00 postpaid — from Larry Sommers, Gardens for All, 180 Flynn Avenue, Burlington, Vermont 05401. In addition, you can become a member of the non-profit gardening association (and receive its quarterly news publication) by sending $10.00 to the same address.

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