#Community garden design how to
#Community garden design free

You'll probably also want a lockable storage shed for your supplies, benches, a meeting area and a weatherproof message board for posting important notices and work schedules. Next, designate one area of your garden as the composting area - otherwise, garden refuse will pile up quickly.

#Community garden design how to

Continue reading for tips on how to get things growing. Once you've secured a site for your garden, the real fun can begin. Everyone involved in the garden would need to sign the waiver. This is a statement explaining that any injuries are no fault of the owner. Some owners may worry about being held liable if anyone were injured on their property, in which case you can include a liability waver in the lease.

#Community garden design free

Some will treat it as a barter - you trade free maintenance or fresh-grown produce for the right to use the land. Often, especially if the land isn't being used for anything else, landowners will be more than willing to lease their land to you for a small fee. You'll then need to approach the owner about either buying or leasing the land. If you don't know who owns the property, write down the addresses so you can look up ownership records through your local tax assessor's office. Look for vacant or abandoned lots to get an idea of where you'd like to set up shop. With these guidelines in mind, walk around your area with a few group members. The shorter the travel time, the more likely people are to stay involved with the garden's maintenВance.

If there isn't a water source, you'll need to contact the local water provider to get a hookup and meter installed.ДЄbove all, the location should be close to everyone involved - preferably within walking distance and at most no more than a short drive. The lot should also be large enough to contain your garden, and it must have access to water.

On the next page, you'll learn how to find and secure a good site for your project. Once you've rounded up the troops and secured some funding, it's time to decide on a location. Several seed companies, such as Asgrow Seed and the America the Beautiful Fund, also offer seed donations to community or school garden projects. Depending on your area and your garden's focus, you might also qualify for federal assistance from government organizations like the USDA Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program or the EPA Environmental Education Grants. With a little digging, you might also find organizations in your state or community that offer grants, gardening materials or helpful guidance to startups like yours. Reliable sponsors can help not only by donating money or materials, but also by lending your garden moral support and making members feel accountable to something more than themselves. Be sure to describe the benefits your garden will bring to the community or to the business itself. Sponsors are often local businesses - you can approach them and ask for their support. Members can pay regular dues or hold fundraisers like yard sales or car washes. Funding could come from a number of sources. Your garden will almost certainly require a regular source of funding for tools, gardening supplies, water bills, trash pick-up and other expenses. Once you've organized your members, you can get down to business. You can find an example of bylaws in the links at the end of this article. You may also want to purchase liability insurance to protect yourself and your organization. You may also want to address limit of liability, which puts a cap on the compensation a person could collect in the event of injuries or damages related to the project. Specify dues or membership fees, and note anything else you feel is important for your group's purpose. Outline what's expected of members, and delineate any consequences for not meeting those expectations. Once you've answered these and any other questions, the next step is to draw up a contract that lists the group's rules or bylaws. Will the garden be one big group effort, or will participants get their own plots?.What will members' responsibilities be?.Will you grow food or focus on ornamental gardening?.