For most of my adult life, I have lived in a home with a yard. Thus, always fortunate to garden on my own property. However, my husband and I now spend 6 months a year living in a condominium in Florida. Besides a few containers on a small porch, there is not much space to garden. That’s why I decided to explore Community Gardens.
Luckily, there is a community garden in our town. As a Master Gardener, I have visited other community gardens, but this was my first opportunity to become a member of a community garden. I can tell you from experience, there is absolutely no downside to joining a community garden.
In this article, we will explore the history of community gardens, their structure, and their benefits.
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Brief History of Community Gardens
In the United States, community gardens got their start in the 1890s during an economic recession. Detroit was the first city to start community gardens on vacant lots. Due to a significant amount of unemployment and hunger, these vacant lot gardens helped fill an essential need.
Following vacant lot gardens were school gardens. In urban settings, schools wanted to connect children to nature. Then, three significant events impacted US history. World War I in 1917, the Great Depression of the 1930s, and World War II in the 1940s. Gardens provided food security for millions of families. During WWII, it’s estimated that Victory Gardens provided 40% of all fresh vegetables.
During the 1960s, environmental stewardship became important. Individuals and organizations came together to build and promote community gardening. In 2020, the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic struck. In the early months of COVID, things were locked down and most people spent a significant amount of time at home. During this time, gardening became one of the most popular activities.
Structure
An allotment garden is a common format for a community garden. In this format, a plot of land is set aside and divided up into smaller plots for the specific purpose of gardening. A central organization, like a Park Department within a town, manages the operation of the garden. Individuals can ‘rent’ a plot for a nominal fee each year. They are responsible for planting and harvesting what is grown.
Another format for a community garden is a collective community garden. In this type of format, members work together and share collectively in the harvest.
Common features
Below is a list of common features that you may find in community gardens.
- Garden Coordinator is responsible for ensuring the upkeep of the overall garden. In addition, this person is the point of contact for individuals who rent a plot within the garden.
- Convenient access to water should be available for each plot. In some cases, a community garden may provide drip irrigation to each plot. However, it’s more common for there to be multiple water spickets around the garden with access to hoses. In some cases, plot owners need to supply their own hose.
- Water barrels to collect rainwater.
- Fences secure the area from animals and usually have a lock. The combination to the lock is only available to members of the garden.
- Sheds are helpful for storing large tools that can be collectively used by members of the garden. Common tools include wheelbarrows, rakes, hoes, and shovels.
- Food Preparation Area might include both produce and hand washing areas.
- Greenhouse is especially useful for seed starting and extending the garden season.
- A gathering area that consists of benches or picnic tables where members can sit, rest and collaborate.
- Composting area
- Garden mentors are gardeners with years of experience in gardening. Mentors usually have a plot at the community garden. Anyone can approach these mendors for gardening advice.
In addition to the above, on a periodic basis, community gardens may provide soil and mulch to use within the individual plots.
Benefits
- Nutrition – gardeners consume more fruits and vegetables than those who do not garden.
- Beautify neighborhoods – a community garden can have a statistically significant impact on the property within 1000 feet of the garden
- Stress relief – studies have shown that gardening can reduce stress. Being outdoors, increased physical activity and collaborating with others contributs to lower stress.
Summary
Each time I meet someone new in the garden, I detect a sense of joy and pride in what they are doing. As I said at the beginning, there really is no downside to joining a community garden.
Additional Information
You may find these posts to be of interest as you plan your vegetable garden.
- Creating and maintaining an organic vegetable garden – Part One
- Creating and maintaining an organic vegetable garden – Part Two
- How to use floating row cover in your organic garden
- Managing garden pests with an integrated approach
- Companion planting for pest management in the vegetable garden
- Getting started with seeds, 4 secrets for successful seed starting
- Five pieces of planning advice for the vegetable gardener
- What has become of scarecrows in the garden
- A charming small-scale market garden – Brookstone Gardens
Please check your email to confirm subscription.