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Introduction to Community Gardening
Community Gardening ISEJuly 14 and 15, 2009
Bill McKelvey - MU Extension - Healthy Lifestyle Initiative
Presentation Overview
• Definition• History of Community Gardening• Benefits• Types of Community Gardens• Challenges
Definition
A Community Garden is “any piece of land gardened by a group of people.” (American
Community Gardening Association)
Recent History
• Rebirth in the 1970s– Response to urban abandonment,
inflation, environmental concerns– Focus on networking and building
community
The Community Gardening Movement
• Today– In Missouri
• Gateway Greening (St. Louis) • Kansas City Community Gardens• Community Garden Coalition (Columbia)• Well-Fed Neighbor Alliance (Ozarks/Springfield)• Other towns/communities throughout the state
– Nationally• American Community Gardening Association• Many other local organizations
Why are people taking interest today?
• Rediscovering the value of growing your own
• Social and community benefits• Rising energy and food prices
Community Gardening in Context
• Part of larger Local/Community Food movement – Farmers’ Markets– Community Supported Agriculture– Farm to School– Direct sales to Restaurants, Grocery
Stores, Corner Markets– Urban Agriculture– Front and Backyard Farming
Types of Community Gardens
Neighborhood Gardens• Land subdivided into plots• Plots assigned to individuals, families,
small groups• Food grown for consumption, not market• Garden managed by gardeners• One or more Garden Leaders• All, in theory, share in organization and
upkeep
Types of Community Gardens
Neighborhood Gardens• Land may be rented, borrowed or
owned• Located on vacant lots, church
property, agencies, other non-profits• May incorporate educational, job
training, business development programming
Other types of community gardens
• Communal/Collective Gardens• Food Pantry or Sharing Gardens• Demonstration Gardens• Therapy Gardens• Yard Sharing
Rural Community Gardens
• Don’t assume traditional Neighborhood Garden model will work– Think about incorporating other elements
– demonstration, education, sharing, communal, youth
– Involve existing agencies, work in partnerships
– “Community assisted” home gardens– Plan but be flexible
Challenges• Management• Maintenance• Participation• Theft and Vandalism• Gardening Skills• Leadership• Services and supplies• Water• Site permanency
Is this a growing movement in your region?
• What are you hearing from the field?• What about Master Gardener enrollment?• What about canning classes?• What about the news?• The Garden Writer’s Association Trend
Survey reports that “almost half of American households with a yard or garden plan to add or expand a vegetable garden in their yard this spring or summer.” This represents a 12% increase in the past year.
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