Introduction to Community Gardening

Community Gardening ISEJuly 14 and 15, 2009

Bill McKelvey - MU Extension - Healthy Lifestyle Initiative

Presentation Overview

• Definition• History of Community Gardening• Benefits• Types of Community Gardens• Challenges

Definition

A Community Garden is “any piece of land gardened by a group of people.” (American

Community Gardening Association)

The History of Community Gardening

Recent History

• Rebirth in the 1970s– Response to urban abandonment,

inflation, environmental concerns– Focus on networking and building

community

Benefits

• Food production/access• Nutrition• Exercise• Mental health• Community• Education

Benefits

• Opportunities for youth• Income• Crime prevention• Increased property values

The Community Gardening Movement

• Today– In Missouri

• Gateway Greening (St. Louis) • Kansas City Community Gardens• Community Garden Coalition (Columbia)• Well-Fed Neighbor Alliance (Ozarks/Springfield)• Other towns/communities throughout the state

– Nationally• American Community Gardening Association• Many other local organizations

Why are people taking interest today?

• Rediscovering the value of growing your own

• Social and community benefits• Rising energy and food prices

Community Gardening in Context

• Part of larger Local/Community Food movement – Farmers’ Markets– Community Supported Agriculture– Farm to School– Direct sales to Restaurants, Grocery

Stores, Corner Markets– Urban Agriculture– Front and Backyard Farming

Types of Community Gardens

Neighborhood Gardens• Land subdivided into plots• Plots assigned to individuals, families,

small groups• Food grown for consumption, not market• Garden managed by gardeners• One or more Garden Leaders• All, in theory, share in organization and

upkeep

Types of Community Gardens

Neighborhood Gardens• Land may be rented, borrowed or

owned• Located on vacant lots, church

property, agencies, other non-profits• May incorporate educational, job

training, business development programming

Other types of community gardens

• Youth/School Gardens

Other types of community gardens

• Entrepreneurial/Job Training Gardens

Other types of community gardens

• Communal/Collective Gardens• Food Pantry or Sharing Gardens• Demonstration Gardens• Therapy Gardens• Yard Sharing

Rural Community Gardens

• Don’t assume traditional Neighborhood Garden model will work– Think about incorporating other elements

– demonstration, education, sharing, communal, youth

– Involve existing agencies, work in partnerships

– “Community assisted” home gardens– Plan but be flexible

Challenges• Management• Maintenance• Participation• Theft and Vandalism• Gardening Skills• Leadership• Services and supplies• Water• Site permanency

Is this a growing movement in your region?

• What are you hearing from the field?• What about Master Gardener enrollment?• What about canning classes?• What about the news?• The Garden Writer’s Association Trend

Survey reports that “almost half of American households with a yard or garden plan to add or expand a vegetable garden in their yard this spring or summer.” This represents a 12% increase in the past year.

Questions and Comments

• Community Gardening Toolkit (University of Missouri Extension Publication MP906)