Growing the Community Garden of Your Dreams Suggestions for a Path to Sustainability

Joni Torres, Pitt County Cooperative Extension Mary Jac Brennan, Forsyth County Cooperative Extension

Quick Plug: Growing Communities Curriculum Workbook developed by the American Community Gardening Association. Workshops teach practices and strategies community organizers use to develop garden leaders and use a participatory approach to community building. Most recent NC workshop was held in October 2012 in Clemmons .

Available at: http://www.communitygarden.org/acga-store.php

Goals for Today • Growing the Community – Core Beliefs of Community Building

• Organizing the Garden– Governance

• Growing the Plants – Horticultural

• Telling the Story – Communications

Wow! That’s a lot of information.

Assumption: The garden has already been

started.

Growing the Community Growing roots in the gardeners and the

community

Reasons for Garden Losses in the last 5 years

1992 1998 2012 Lack of interest by gardeners

n/a 49% 37%

Loss of land to private organizations

46% 15% 17%

Loss of land to public agency

54% 20% 13%

Loss of funding for program staff

n/a n/a 15%

Other n/a n/a 17%

Source: Community Gardening Organization Survey 2011-2012. By Laura Lawson and Luke Drake. ACGA Community Greening Review 2013

Three Most Challenging Issues

Issues % Respondents Funding 61% People- getting new people involved, keeping them involved, community building

58%

Land- access to new sites and securing it long term

23%

Materials used in the garden 22%

Source: Community Gardening Organization Survey 2011-2012. By Laura Lawson and Luke Drake. ACGA Community Greening Review 2013

Community Building Core Beliefs • Many different ways to manage a community garden.

• The garden should grow and adapt based on the strengths, needs and desires of the local community.

• Diverse participation and leadership, at all phases of garden operation, enrich and strengthen a community garden.

• Each community member has something to contribute.

• Gardens are communities in themselves, as well as part of a larger community.

Source: Growing Communities: How to Build Community Through Community Gardening by Jeanette Abi-Nader, David Buckley, Kendall Dunnigan and Kristen Markley

Garden Longevity

“Community gardening is most successful and long lasting when

the people affected by the garden have a role in leading the

development of the garden”

(Abi-Nader et al., p. 13).

What is the Mission of the Garden?

Develop a mission in the early stages and then build in regular opportunities for renewing it.

Renewing your garden’s mission will help it to stay in touch with the changing needs of the

people involved and the local community

Developing a Mission for the Garden

Who will use the garden and what will they use it for?

What community needs could the community garden help to meet?

What issues in your community could the community garden help to address?

Example: To provide a local source of organically grown fruits and vegetables, educate young people and adults about the benefits of gardening, and cultivate a community of individuals committed to sustainable land use in an urban setting.

Depends on the size of the garden. Foster relationships among the larger community. Grow the community to support the garden

Source: http://www.communitygardenswa.org.au/media/articles/Resources---Resources-To-Download/ Community-Gardening-Success-Factors.pdf

How Many People Does it Take to Grow a Community Garden?

Have Fun while Fundraising

Celebrate at every opportunity

Grow the Gardener and you will grow the

Garden Sow the Seeds for Community Growth

Combat theft by offering to share

Use your garden as a neighborhood outreach

Conduct activities for youth

Establish a positive presence in the community

Garden Governance Guiding the garden towards self-management

• A plot cannot be gardened until payment of fees and a signed agreement and liability release is received and approved.

• Gardeners must show planting progress by May 1, or contact the Garden Manager with a valid reason.

• All gardeners are required to volunteer at least 5 hours per year to help maintain the garden. Please sign up for one of the garden jobs/crews .

• Keep your plot and the adjoining pathways neat and well tended. Habitual lack of plot cleanup will result in a loss of the plot and cleanup deposit.

Example of Gardener Guidelines Adapted from the Community Garden Coalition (cgc.missouri.org/) Gardener Guidelines.

Guidelines • If your plot appears to be untended for a period of time,

and you haven’t contacted the garden manager, you will be contacted and your plot may be assigned to another gardener.

• Put cut up and put weeds and dead plants into the compost bins. Diseased plants or seedy or invasive weeds are to be removed from the premises to prevent contaminating the compost.

• Do not apply anything to, or pick anything from another person's plot without their consent.

Bulletin Board

Recycling

Vacationing Gardener Make it Easy to Follow the Guidelines

Signage keeps everyone informed

Everyone Should Have a Job

• Determine what tasks need to be done to keep garden growing and going.

• Give people the opportunity to sign up according to their interests and abilities.

• Have co-leaders for each group (people move).

Grounds Composting

Garden Manager Events

Communications Monitors

Larger Gardens Will Need More Committees

• Create a calendar and assign gardeners to specific time (if they fail to sign up).

• Post calendar for all to see

• Educate, remind, revise, and adapt.

• Change takes time.

• Recognize success when it occurs

Fundraising Education

Volunteer Coordinator

Orientation

Maintenance Surplus produce

October Calendar of Activities

• Have a garden clean-up day for everyone to clean their plots and help with

common areas.

• Prepare the garden for winter by planting cover

crops

All plots should be put to bed by November 1.

• Make sure compost areas are not overflowing and

all plant material has been chopped into small pieces.

• Store cleaned tools and supplies for

winter.

No cages or mobile supports should be left standing in the garden

Let garden manager know if you are

renewing for next year.

• Have an end-of-season potluck to celebrate

successes.

• Prepare a final report of activities and evaluate the

season for next year’s improvements.

Source: Growing Community Gardens A Denver Urban Gardens’ Best Practices Handbook for Creating and Sustaining Community Gardens, 2012

Gardeners gain new knowledge and develop leadership skills.

Make it open to the public to provide outreach to the community and reward volunteers who help to support and maintain the garden

Organic Pest Management Workshop

Provide frequent learning opportunities

“People need to experience a sense of their own power.” Schedule regular workdays.

Hold regular meetings.

Develop leaders and knowledge base

Leverage Capacity Awareness

Compost team at work

Orientation Tours for New Members

Provides a group welcome

Chance to meet others

Reminds new members of their responsibilities

Locate tools and identify procedures

Ex: Coffee and Cookies

Consider: Follow-Up Orientation Survey

Another chance to educate and build awareness

Clear up any misconceptions

Ex: Please don’t take all the compost!

Yes No Not sure

How to lock the gates and sheds? How the compost system works? Where to access tools? What sort of information is found on the bulletin board? How to find committee members in emergencies or for information? Where is the nearest toilet? How to find the Garden’s web page? Where print copies of the orientation handout are kept?

The Community Garden wants new members to feel welcome and to ensure that they are aware of their rights and obligations, the facilities available, the way the Garden is run and the opportunities for social interaction among members. Your feedback on your orientation session will help us to improve the way we do this. 1.When was your orientation session?

2. Are you confident that you understand the following:

Source: http://www.communitygardenswa.org.au/media/articles/Resources---Resources-To-Download/ Community-Gardening-Success-Factors.pdf

Example: Post-orientation survey

Develop Your Own Garden Manual

Share the garden’s history

Provides common resources for all gardeners

Build continuity in garden management and allow for succession

Organize the organization

http://communitygarden.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/ops_manual_26aug08.pdf

Free Organizational tools

To schedule a meeting or event: www.doodle.com

To work on a project together www.dropbox.com

Organizing an event www.bringit.bz

More tools

Flyer templates: www.microsoft.com

Any you would like to share?

To conduct surveys or gather opinions: www.google.drive.com

Don’t do for others what they can do for themselves. Build community not dependency

“Go slow to go fast”

Source: Growing Communities: How to Build Community Through Community Gardening by Jeanette Abi-Nader, David Buckley, Kendall Dunnigan and Kristen Markley

Making Decisions by Consensus • A group arrives at a mutual agreement by trying to address all

concerns.

• Takes longer than other processes, but it fosters creativity, cooperation and commitment to final decisions.

• Asks people to step out of their personal agendas and to make decisions that are in the best interest of the whole group.

• A block is only used when a person has a strong moral disagreement or thinks that the decision will fundamentally damage the group.

Source: Growing Communities: How to Build Community Through Community Gardening by Jeanette Abi-Nader, David Buckley, Kendall Dunnigan and Kristen Markley

Consensus Decision Making Process: • State the issue. What are we talking about?

• Clarify the question. What needs to be decided?

• Discussion. What are all the viewpoints?

• Make a proposal. Try to incorporate all viewpoints.

• Discussion. Members express support or concerns

• Modify the proposal. Or create a new proposal

• Test for consensus. Call for concerns, objections, blocks

• Consensus reached. Show visual or oral agreement.

• Decision implemented Who does what when?

Observe clearly marked recycling bin

Look inside

Gardeners are improperly using recycling container

Garden manager wants to try “Pack it in, pack it out approach”

What makes for a successful community garden?

• Shared Leadership

• Shared work

• Shared fun

• Shared Communication

• Shared Decision making

• Shared Vision, Guidelines and Plan

• Regular contact

• Everyone can participate and everyone feels welcome

• Presence in the Community

• The Garden has Partners

Source: www.foodshare.net

Sustainable Horticulture Tips and toolkit resources

How to find Cooperative Extension Information

Easy search to access resources To find organic agriculture information

http://www.extension.org/organic_production

https://search.extension.org/

Some NC Resources

http://www.nccgp.org/ http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/local-county-center/

http://nccommunitygardens.ces.ncsu.edu/

More NC Resources

http://www.carolinafarmstewards.org/ http://www.cefs.ncsu.edu/

What to grow in the community garden? A few simple questions will help to guide you in plant selection: Who is the garden being grown for? If it is for yourself, what do you like to eat? How much time will you devote to the garden? What time of the year will you be gardening? How big is your garden?

Selected Crop Choices for Community Gardens

• For small raised beds: greens of all kinds, squash, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, root crops, herbs-intensive planting. Avoid corn and vining plants! Be a good neighbor.

• For communal plots with plenty of space: corn, melons, sweet potatoes-may be traditional rows with furrows or permanent wide beds.

• For communal plots with limited volunteers: Create an event! Plant one type crop such as sweet potatoes, cowpeas, corn, or collards.

Plant Flowers for Beneficial Insects & the Neighbors

• Providing a home for natural enemies of insects (predators and parasitoids) and pollinators (bees) can help manage pests and increase crop yields.

• Many beneficial insects rely on plants for nectar and pollen or shelter.

• Everyone enjoys flowers

Image Source:http://nativeplants.msu.edu/uploads/files/E2973.pdf

PLAN before you PLANT!

Read seed catalogs and

check planting calendar

Talk with other

gardeners

Take a class offered by

Cooperative Extension or local

community garden

Prepare your soil and

purchase seeds or transplants

Now what?

• Early Spring: Feb, Early March

• Plant cool season crops outside to harvest through early summer (June)

• Spring: April, May

• Plant warm season crops outside to produce through summer (usually finish by August)

• Late Summer: Aug, Sept

• Plant quick maturing warm season crops to harvest through first frost

• Plant cool season crops • Quick maturing, half hardy – harvest in fall through Dec. • Long season, hardy – stand through winter See regional garden calendars for more information

Vegetable Garden Calendar

North Carolina has a long growing season. With season extension, food can be grown year-round!

Keep records of what you plant and where you plant for crop rotation planning.

See regional garden calendars on resource list

Practice Crop Rotation

Do not grow crop from

same family in the same spot year after year

Prevent build-up of insects, diseases, and

weeds

Rotate areas crops are grown

Must know which plants are related to plan rotation

• Divide growing area into separate spaces

• Example, if have 4 raised beds, come up with a 4 year plan

• Consider different seasons • Designate cool season and

warm season crops for each bed

Crop Rotation Planning

Tomatoes, Peppers, Egglplants - summer

Potatoes - winter

Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplants - summer

Potatoes - winter

Squash, Cucumbers, Melons - summer

Green manure - winter

Squash, Cucumbers, Melons – summer

Green Manure - Winter

Corn – summer

Spinach, Lettuce - Fall

Corn – summer

Spinach, Lettuce - Fall

Beans – summer Brassicas – fall and winter

Beans – summer Brassicas – fall and winter

Group 1 Group 2 Group 1

Group 2 Group 3 Group 3 Group 4

Group 4

Year 1 Year 2

Soil Fertility Considerations • Always start with free soil test!

• Base fertilizer and other amendment rates on soil test results and recommendations for crop

• Only add what you need!

• Excessive fertilizer applications end up in rivers and streams

• Note: $4 peak season fee from Dec-March

Excess Nutrients in Streams Cause Algal Blooms and Fish Kills

Consider downstream consequences: Non-sustainable for the fish!!!

pH: What’s it all about?

• Most vegetables grow best at a pH of 6.2 to 6.7

• pH extremes cause nutrients to be unavailable and may increase concentration of toxic elements

• Low pH reduces activity of soil organisms

• Adding lime raises soil pH

What fertilizer to use?

• Fertilizers are sometimes needed to supply some of the nutrients garden plants need

• Synthetic fertilizers usually have higher concentrations of nutrients & become readily available

What’s in the bag or pile of manure? • For both organic and synthetic fertilizers,

analysis (nutrient content) must be stated on bag.

• E.g. 32-10-10

• Numbers are percentages (32%)

• Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium, are always represented in that order

• For Piles: Need waste analysis on manure for accurate fertilization

• See orgfertval.pdf on the resource page for more information

N – P - K

What fertilizer to use? • Organic fertilizers are better for soil health,

(encourage microorganisms) are less likely to cause water pollution, have lower concentrations of nutrients and are slowly made available to plants

USE CAUTION WHEN USING ANIMAL MANURES!

Organic Matter

Improves all Soil Types!

Add OM each year with Compost, Cover crops, or Mulch

1-2” layer on surface

Incorporate into top 6” of soil

Till if necessary

Use broadfork for least soil disturbance

Or use a shovel or garden fork.

Minimize disruption of soil ecosystem

Build not destroy The broadfork is used to break up densely packed

soil, and to improve aeration and drainage without too much disturbance of the soil layers.

• 1% of soil organic matter in the top 6 inches of soil contains: • 1,000 lbs of Nitrogen = $500 • 100 lbs of Phosphorus =$70 • 100 lbs of Potassium = $40

• 100 lbs of sulfur = $50 • 5 tons of carbon = $20

• Total value = $680

Source: http://www.sare.org/Learning-Center/Project-Products/North-Central-SARE-Project-Products/Understanding-Soil-Microbes-and-Nutrient-Recycling

Value of Soil Organic Matter

Sustain Soil Health: Grow Cover Crops • Fall cover crops: Red Clover & Cereal Rye mix works

well, clover is a legume & adds nitrogen, cereal rye has an allelopathic effect on germinating seeds

• Summer cover crops: Cow pea Is a legume & adds nitrogen, buckwheat, and millet are fast growing and can become a pesky weed if not managed well.

• Cover crops protect the soil from erosion, add organic matter when turned under, and can reduce weed populations.

Cultivate beneficial soil organisms: Feed the web

Image Source: http://sacgardens.blogspot.com/2010_11_01_archive.html

Grow your own fertilizer and organic matter by growing cover crops. NO $ or resources spent on manufacture packaging, transport and disposal NO concerns about harmful residues

Mulch your garden to retain soil moisture, reduce weeds, and to add organic matter

• 2”-4” deep to block light and reduce weed seed germination • Know the source of the mulch to avoid herbicide damage (ex. grass clippings)

• Newspaper + Straw (beds) • Cardboard + wood or straw (paths) • Use straw (NOT HAY)

• Beds: turn in mulch at end of season

• Paths: replenish mulch as needed

Conserve Water Wise Use Practices

Conserve Water • Most vegetables require ~ 1” water per week from rain or

irrigation-check soil with finger 1-2” below soil surface • Water deeply not frequently (unless starting seeds) • Soaker hoses work well

• Less water lost through evaporation • Place close to base of plants Water the roots and soil not the leaves Wet foliage = Disease problems Water early in the morning or in the evening Remember: Not the leaves Mulch soil to reduce water loss by evaporation

If you can’t drink the water, do not apply it to your fruits, herbs or vegetables • The best practice is to use a regulated, treated

water source. Water authorities treat and test the water to ensure it meets EPA drinking water standards

• If you are using another source, such as a well, have the water tested and make sure it is up to EPA standards before using it for watering plants or washing hands, equipment or food.

Source: http://growingsafergardens.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/foodsafetywebcurriculum-10-24-12.pdf

Food Safety in the Garden

• 1. Clean and sanitized hands.

• 2. Safe soil amendments.

• 3. Clean water.

• 4. Clean and sanitized surfaces.

• Read manual for complete details

Image Source: http://growingsafergardens.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/foodsafetywebcurriculum-10-24-12.pdf

Harvesting and Food Safety • Wear one-use only gloves when harvesting or simply wash

hands before harvesting.

• Put the harvest into clean, sanitized containers.

• If you are not sure when the harvesting containers were last washed, put the harvest into new plastic bags.

• Wash and sanitize tools before harvesting.

• Always wash harvest before eating.

For more information see: Food Safety for School and Community Gardens

Communication Grow your community through communication

Communicate, don’t irritate

Image Source: http://www.fredcavazza.net/2012/02/22/social-media-landscape-2012/

Lots of Competition out there

Time is money

Why should they

spend it with you?

Help them find you

Register:

www.nccgp.org/ www.communitygarden.

org/

Local Exposure:

University Service Site Chamber of Commerce City and County Sites Seek local partners

So many options, so little time

Image Source: http://spinsucks.com/social-media/how-to-choose-social-media-tools/

Consider

Target audience Goals

Message Skills needed Time involved

Tools

Signs in the garden Bulletin board

E-mail Snail mail

Garden website facebook Twitter Pinterest

Potable water

Keeping track of the harvest

Composting

Keep tools handy Communicate by every means possible

Verbal and Visual

Develop your Elevator Speech!

Turn to a neighbor and tell them in 3 sentences about your community garden

(OK maybe 4!)

Practice! Practice! Practice!

Tell your Story!

To the Community

To Each Other

It’s Time to Stop Dreaming and Start

Growing…… The Community Garden of

Your Dreams

“It takes team work to make the dream work”