Issue Date: May 17, 2009
Food. Flowers. And Friends.
Grow your own food and get to know your neighbors.
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As food prices rise and food safety concerns grow, more people are looking to community gardens as sources of food. "It's also a good way to get to know your neighbors," says Laura Lavid, American Community Gardening Association board member. Don't have a garden in your community? Here's how to start one:
Find out who's interested in gardening. "The key is having the community's support from the start," Lavid says. Talk to neighbors or hold a community meeting to gauge interest.
Find a sustainable site. Privately owned land can be sold, and that means possibly losing your garden. Look for vacant land owned by non-profits, schools, housing authorities, and parks and recreation departments. The average size of a community garden varies. In Denver, for example, it's 5,000 square feet, and individual plots range from 10 feet by 10 feet to 10 feet by 15 feet, Lavid says.
Be proactive. Find resources for educating the community and public officials about the benefits of a community garden at communitygarden.org.
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