Getting Dirty: Planning a Community Garden for Your HOA

During my recent walk around my neighborhood last week I couldn’t help but notice the crocuses peaking from beneath the soggy earth.  Immediately my mind began dancing with thoughts of warmer weather, longer days, and planning for my vegetable garden.  No matter how busy life can get, there’s something to be said for witnessing the fruit of my hard work spring to life in my garden year after year. 

While it does require time and commitment, it’s therapeutic.  Yes, it’s true: this manicure loving girl longs for some dirt beneath her nails!

Though many choose to garden in the comfort of their own back yard, you can also choose the option of paying a small fee for access to a plot of land within a community garden.  Without a doubt, these community gardens are gaining in popularity and popping up around many metropolitan areas. 

If you have some unused common area space within your association, surveying your neighbors to find out if there is interest in implementing a community garden could be a great way to not only provide nourishment for your family, but get to know your neighbors and further gain a sense of “community”.  Consider the points found below when starting a community garden in your neighborhood:

• Have a location in mind!  When selecting a site, keep in mind availability and accessibility of water, the condition of the soil (tested for possible pollutants), and the amount of sunshine the plot of land gets.
• Hold a meeting with interested neighbors and formalize a planning committee to work in tandem with your Board of Directors.
• Read up!  Look within your association’s documents to find any language that would prohibit the members from identifying natural common area to utilize for gardening purposes.  If language like this exists, consider creating an amendment and going through the appropriate channels to formalize this revision within association documents.  In addition to reviewing basic association documents, it’s wise to determine a set of ground rules specific to the community garden and formally adopt these set of rules.  Decide a) whether there will be a fee and agree on an amount, b) if gardening tools will be shared or if each gardener is expected to use their own tools, c) how will plots be divided, d) will there be a schedule of maintenance that each gardener can expect to adhere to, among many other things to consider.
• Organize a crew of volunteers to prepare the site allowing space for a shed, an area for composting, and paths between plots.
• Stay in contact with your fellow gardening neighbors.  Create an e-mail list, or use your association’s web portal for sharing news or schedules related to the garden.  Remember – this can be a fantastic way to strengthen your relationships within the community you’ve chosen to invest in. 

By Elizabeth Ribera, The Management Trust-Northwest

Have you ever participated in a community garden? We would love to hear about your experience! Respond below:

via:http://www.managementtrust.com/blog/bid/105102/Getting-Dirty-Planning-a-Community-Garden-for-Your-HOA