Community Service Initiative | Guidelines on Starting A Community Garden

Community Service Initiative Community Garden User Guideline

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What is a community garden?

A community garden is a single piece of land gardened collectively by a group of people.

Community gardens utilize either individual or shared plots on private or public land while producing fruit, vegetables, or plants.

Benefits of a community garden Providing an opportunity for socialization Growing and eating fresh food Education - sharing knowledge about gardening, about each other, environmental awareness, life brings life in every sense of the word.

STEP

1

Organize a Meeting Of Interested People

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Organise a meeting and invite anyone who is interested, eg: neighbours, tenants, community organizations.

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Run the meetings and draw out ideas from the group, ensuring the ideas and any objections are recorded.

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Ensure that everyone has the opportunity to voice out their opinions.

Purpose of the meeting: ● ● ●

Choose a name for the community garden.

Determine what kind of community garden it should be, eg: vegetables, flowers.

Determine who will the garden serve (kids, seniors, other special populations)

STEP

2

Form a Planning Committee

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A core group with a range of skills and experience should form the garden management committee.

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Choose a well-organized garden coordinator.

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Once the planning committee group is established, organise regular meetings to discuss the development of the garden.

Purpose: ●

To accomplish tasks, such as: - Funding and Resource Development - Youth Activities - Construction - Communication

STEP

3

Identify All Your Resources

In a community garden, people with landscape and gardening expertise are important to be your assistant. It is better to seek for advice from experts.

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Start a community assessment.

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Contact local municipal planners about possible sites.

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Look within the community for expertise in landscaping and gardening.

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Advice from experienced fundraisers to build successful fundraising events and programs.

STEP

4

Choose a suitable site

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Identify the owner of the land.

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Do the soil test for nutrients and heavy metals.

Consider availability of water.

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Try and get a lease or agreement which allows the space to be used at least for 3 years.

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Consider of the necessity of liability insurance.

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Consider of circulation and accessibility for community to the site.

STEP5

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Write an official letter and contact the local land office.

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The chosen site is assessed for compliance with all the site selection criteria.

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Feedbacks from the local community is taken into consideration by land office.

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Land office gives approval if the proposed garden is supported by the community, the committee, including the management plan and garden design.

Acquire Approval from Local Land Office Acquiring chosen site through the process of application in the local land office.

STEP6 Prepare And Develop The Site

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Clean the site.

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Gather resources for materials.

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Organize volunteer work crews.

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Decide on plot sizes, mark plots clearly with gardeners names.

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Include plans for a storage area for tools and other equipment, as well as a compost area.

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Have a rainproof bulletin board for announcing garden events and messages.

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Lay out garden to place flower or shrub beds around the visible perimeter.

STEP

7

Fund Raising

In order to meet basic needs of a community garden, growing money has an important role to play in its organizational development.

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Applying for grants - Look for private, corporate and community funding foundations offering start up or “seed” money for small community projects.

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Seek donations of services and resources. Publish it in newsletter and through the local press. Invite volunteers to contribute.

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Keep funders informed and develop a relationship with them.

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Decrease high start-up and operating costs - by collaborating with other farmers.

STEP

8

Organize and Plan Commence construction of garden. Document each process to help decide the next step of construction.

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Allocate specific roles and responsibilities.

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Start a garden diary or logbook for recording member activities and hours.

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Determine ground rules and put them in writing.

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Monitor funds usage and maintenance of gardening equipment.

STEP

9

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Soil rehabilitation treatments –ensure a suitable habitat for soil organisms that support growing plants.

Execution and Site Optimization

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Tillage to prepare for growing crops.

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Drainage control.

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Choose suitable plants

STEP

10

Maintain and manage the community garden

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Organize meeting between the committee from time to time.

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Organize ‘gotong-royong’ from time to time.

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Ensure the garden is kept clean and tidy, regularly weeded and free of damage to facilities.

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Practise self-sustaining ecosystem garden.

Brochure Inspiration

Draft layout

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