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Post by daylilydude on Dec 30, 2011 7:52:46 GMT -5
Can someone give details about this type of gardening, what does it cost, how much sq. ft. are you allowed, how long is your "lease" (I guess is a good word?)
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Post by izitmidnight on Dec 30, 2011 9:29:21 GMT -5
I am a member of the county park system community gardens here. THe size of the plot/s you are assigned varied based on the garden that you are assigned to. At my garden, there are 10x10 100sq ft, 20x20 400 sq ft, and 25x25 625 sq ft. I was blessed with two 20x20 plots on the northeast side of the garden. The south/west side of the garden are next to the woods. I digress. The county allows up to two plots per family. Rent is for 1 growing season (the spring/summer/fall season) and was $20 per family last year. Those who already have plots and those who were assigned new plots this fall are allowed to garden through the winter. Out of 8 community gardens in the system, my community garden is the only one with active winter gardeners (ie using tunnels, covers, etc or just growing winter crops). The only requirement to be in the garden, you must be a resident of the county.
Problems that exist in the community garden: "community" means that anyone (not just those who pay to garden) can harvest from that garden. I have watched people pull up to the fence with grocery bags and baskets to harvest what does not belong to them. I keep the fence locked when I am there alone and they yell at me to let them in. "Community" means that members of the garden can harvest from your garden because they think you have forgotten about your garden (especially when you are allowing the beans to dry for seed). You can't control the weeding habits of the gardeners surrounding youl. I have permission of two of the three gardeners around me to indulge in my urge to pull a weed going to seed. One of the three allows her garden to go completely to weeds but on the third sunday of April will come and completely clean the garden out, mulch it with straw and never see her again. It will remain weed free for the rest of the summer. Another issue in park community gardnens, you cannot harvest the garden fattened venison, rabbit or squirrel.
Anyway, that is only the particular type that I belong to. With all its problems, I am delighted to be able to put my hands in the soil and watch the miracle of plant life, and be able to eat the result.
Would love to hear of others community garden experiences!
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Post by coppice on Dec 30, 2011 13:23:21 GMT -5
If you have a profoundly propriatory nature, community gardening might not be for you.
In the past the ones I joined were year to year leases (?). Many do not grant the same plot each year, making perrenial planting problematic.
I never worried much if somebody else ate my labor. Some community gardens have profound vandalism problems. That, does irk my ire.
Access to water is an issue with some community gardens. If yours does not have access, garden some place else.
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desertrat
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Post by desertrat on Feb 7, 2012 11:42:08 GMT -5
I just signed up for a community garden plot run by a community college. The plots are 10 x 20 and you can request two. Right now the annual fee is $80 ea, that can go up if the college decides to charge for water. I paid a prorated fee of $50 and will have to renew in Sept. I can't water a plot that size for less than what they charge. We have the use of the ag dept. tillers and tools and the students will help with some labor. They provide a huge compost and mulch pile. Pilfering can be a problem but the school provides 24 hr security so that may help. It's only 10 min. away and I'm putting a small orchard in part of my garden area at home so this other plot will help a lot.
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Feb 8, 2012 9:02:48 GMT -5
Desertrat brings up a good point about additional fees. We have a community garden network here and when I inquired at the two closest to my new home, I found a wide range of prices and plots sizes. The range was from $40 to $90 a plot; even membership fees varied. The differences apparently had to do with charges for water usage, insurance costs and how many hours members are expected to volunteer in the gardens. Plots are rented on an annual basis. We are having another tool drive soon; hopefully they will get more than the last time. Some gardens are behind tall fences with locked gates, others are not able to supply such luxuries and can fall prey to thieves. I've heard people say they wouldn't mind if people who Need the food help themselves, but often it's just punks who pick the pumpkins and smash them on nearby sidewalks.
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Post by stratcat on Feb 8, 2012 22:24:49 GMT -5
Great posts! I've been thinking a lot about this topic and spent time today looking up the particulars.
The first Community Garden I knew of was started one county away in 2009. I had belonged to a Master Gardener Association up there and the MG Volunteers were instrumental in getting the garden going. Unfortunately, my membership lapsed, so I wasn't there to help.
At Iosco Community Garden, the gardener gets a 10' x 12' (3m x 3.7m) allotment for $10 a season. They have water, and an 8' (2.4m) deer fence as they have deer in town. After the plot is cleaned up at the end of the season, the gardener gets the $10 deposit back and may retain the same plot for next year.
Last year, the Soil Conservation District started a Community Garden/Farmer's Market just outside the city limits of my town. The cost is $15 for a 10' x 10' (3m x 3m) plot.
I visited the first day of the Farmer's Market to see prisoners from our jail planting tomato starts close together in the garden. Some onions and marigolds. My first question was "Where's the water" followed by "Where's the fence?" There wasn't any.
A few more Saturdays I dropped in to chat with the vendors. I couldn't see that any locals had reserved and worked a plot. Of course, animals (not the kids) got into the small garden. From my house to the Community Garden, it's .6 miles (1km) and way further for many people. Everyone doesn't drive.
I'm hoping 2012 turns out better and the Community Garden gets fencing and water trucked in. Maybe a shed for tools.
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olgraybear
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Post by olgraybear on Sept 18, 2012 19:59:26 GMT -5
I would like to share the aspects of a community garden with everyone here also. I started a community garden at my church. After much reading and research, I tried to take into consideration and how to benefeit from all of problems that others had. We too had our problems, but at least we avoided most of the more common ones that could of happened. The original goal was to provide space for people to be able to plant their personal gardens with what they wanted to grow but because of circumstances they might not have the space or location to be able to plant a garden, i.e. they lived in an apartment complex or a residence with no yard, but to also have sections that would be used to grow produce for the families of single mothers, unemployed families with children, and needy.
We plowed up about 2 acres of land behind the church, divided up plots of 12 x 25 for the members and the rest was used to plant and grow for the charity portion. It started off great, but what we didnt consider was the extent of drought that we would have. So, we grew what we could until everything dried and burnt up. I am positive and optimistic with what we did accomplish and we are going to try it again now that the weather has broken.
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Post by stratcat on Sept 18, 2012 22:08:21 GMT -5
Thanks for sharing, Olgraybear. It's great that you started a Community Garden.
Our Community Garden and Farmer's Market fizzled this year. They didn't even work up the land.
Happy Belated Birthday! ;D
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olgraybear
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Post by olgraybear on Sept 18, 2012 22:16:54 GMT -5
Thanks for the Birthday shout out stratcat, another one down eh? So are you or your group going to try to get the community garden off to a start again? I would be very interested in hearing about how you set yours up (or gonna set up). I recently just came back from a mission trip to Italy, and I was amazed at how they farm and garden there, they are very resoursefull and utilize space very wisely.
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Post by stratcat on Sept 19, 2012 22:28:02 GMT -5
Thanks for the Birthday shout out stratcat, another one down eh? So are you or your group going to try to get the community garden off to a start again? I would be very interested in hearing about how you set yours up (or gonna set up). I recently just came back from a mission trip to Italy, and I was amazed at how they farm and garden there, they are very resoursefull and utilize space very wisely. Your welcome, olgraybear. Gotta keep on keepin' on. I'm not sure what's going on with the community garden. I had no involvement with it, but I sure was interested. The associated Farmer's Market didn't do anything when the crops are really coming on in the last few weeks. Your trip to Italy sounds like a wonderful experience.
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desertrat
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Post by desertrat on Sept 20, 2012 8:20:19 GMT -5
This is the second year for the community garden I joined. The annual fee went from $70 to $90 but I think still a fair price for a 10x20 ft. plot and is the only fee involved. The entire garden is now fenced and will soon be locked so only members can enter. I've applied for the plot adjoining mine which will more than double what I have as I can also incorporate the 3x20 ft. pathway. A lot of plots were not renewed, I think a lot of people didn't realize how much hard work is involved in keeping up even a small plot especially in the searing summer heat which lasts at least 5 months here. The director of the garden has also plowed up a large area for an organic "farm" and hopes to sell the produce at a farmers market he'll be starting. It has been a good experience for me and looking forward to getting the fall stuff planted this weekend.
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olgraybear
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Post by olgraybear on Sept 21, 2012 17:14:08 GMT -5
Hi desertrat, does that garden have access to water and does the fee cover that expense?
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Post by ladymarmalade on Feb 25, 2013 11:31:01 GMT -5
Giving this thread a bump to get more information from everyone about community gardens. I'm signing up for one and I'm very, very excited about it. But I'm going into it with a cautionary attitude- I have no idea what kind of work I'll have to put into it to get it ready to plant, and things like that.
It's a 20x25 space, which is amazing. It has water on site, and the fee is absolutely ridiculous at only $15 per year. I'm hoping that once I have my space this year, that I'll get the same space every year, so I can amend the soil the way I want to and maybe even add a perennial herb or two.
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Post by izitmidnight on Feb 25, 2013 12:26:44 GMT -5
Giving this thread a bump to get more information from everyone about community gardens. I'm signing up for one and I'm very, very excited about it. But I'm going into it with a cautionary attitude- I have no idea what kind of work I'll have to put into it to get it ready to plant, and things like that. It's a 20x25 space, which is amazing. It has water on site, and the fee is absolutely ridiculous at only $15 per year. I'm hoping that once I have my space this year, that I'll get the same space every year, so I can amend the soil the way I want to and maybe even add a perennial herb or two. Check with your garden's management to find out if you can keep the same plot year to year before you start actively prepping the soil! Congratulations on getting a plot! The waiting lists around here are 2 years long and getting longer. I waited three years for mine.
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Post by ladymarmalade on Feb 25, 2013 15:04:11 GMT -5
Check with your garden's management to find out if you can keep the same plot year to year before you start actively prepping the soil! Congratulations on getting a plot! The waiting lists around here are 2 years long and getting longer. I waited three years for mine. I drove by the garden site last week where I will have my plot, and it's loaded with debris. There are still fences and support systems all over the place, so I'm fairly certain that everyone keeps their plots from year to year. I can't imagine they would ask everyone to clean up their spaces in the spring only to re-distribute them. But I won't find out anything for certain until the end of March when I actually pay for and am assigned my plot. I think I lucked out in that this space is a fairly new space for community gardening. It also happens to be out of the way for many people, but it couldn't be a more convenient spot for myself without actually being in my yard. On top of that, the director is really nice, and when I let her know I couldn't make it to the community-wide garden sign up, she made an appointment with me to come in before the official registration is open. Sigh. Is it spring yet? We have a long ways to go up here in the land of the frozen chosen.
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Post by izitmidnight on Feb 25, 2013 17:37:11 GMT -5
Spring planting is here! It was 65' on Sunday and only two of us were at the garden working.
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Post by stratcat on Feb 25, 2013 19:22:18 GMT -5
Sounds good, Izit! It'll be a while before Spring hits the Great White North.
The end of March will be here before we know it, Ladymarmalade. Sounds like you're getting quite a large plot!
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Post by ladymarmalade on Feb 26, 2013 9:48:53 GMT -5
Spring planting is here! It was 65' on Sunday and only two of us were at the garden working. Oh, that sounds lovely! We are getting into seed-starting time, so that's at least something here. I have super-hot peppers already going, but I'm itching to get more seeds in the dirt. My impatience has gotten worse since I found this garden plot and can multiply the number of tomato plants I start exponentially! Another thought I had about the community garden is about shading other people's plots. If I'm planning on planting corn and heirloom tomatoes, I don't want to be the bad guy and end up creating shade for someone else's bed. I guess this is another thing to wait on until I have the plot in hand and can see how everything is laid out.
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Post by izitmidnight on Feb 26, 2013 17:51:44 GMT -5
If your plot is surrounded by others on all 4 sides, plant your rows east/west with the tallest items in the center rows. This way, each part of your garden will get full sunshine with a little shade during the hottest part o the day. Put your lettuce, onions, carrots ect in the rows immediately to the north of the tall items. This way they get some shade and can last longer during the warmer months.
These are some of the lessons that I learned. Fortunately, I dont have any neighbors on the north side of the garden. I did have the misfortune of a neighbor who planted their corn on the side next to my strawberries. Sadly, they did not see sunshine for three months, because of the corn. But I learned to ask the neighbors what they are planting were before the major planning of the garden.
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Post by izitmidnight on Feb 26, 2013 17:53:49 GMT -5
If your plot is surrounded by others on all 4 sides, plant your rows east/west with the tallest items just north of the center of your plot. This way, each part of your garden will get full sunshine with a little shade during the hottest part o the day. Put your lettuce, onions, carrots ect in the rows immediately to the north of the tall items. This way they get some shade and can last longer during the warmer months. The other thing of course is perhaps trying some of the shorter varieties of corn. Just some ideas... These are some of the lessons that I learned. Fortunately, I dont have any neighbors on the north side of the garden. I did have the misfortune of a neighbor who planted their corn on the side next to my strawberries. Sadly, they did not see sunshine for three months, because of the corn. But I learned to ask the neighbors what they are planting were before the major planning of the garden.
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Post by paquebot on Mar 1, 2013 14:15:28 GMT -5
Our community garden plots are 18x24, 432 square feet, and rent for $35. Same plots may be rented each year. Water is supplied, whole works plowed in the fall, disked and dragged in the spring, and laid out again. Whole thing is just over 1½ acres. There is some thievery but not much since there's seldom a minute of daylight hours when someone is not in one of the 148 plots. At one time, I had 7 plots until it was taken over by another city department which changed the rules to allow only 2 plots. It is now back in private hands and I plan on gardening in 8 plots this year.
Martin
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Post by izitmidnight on Apr 8, 2013 17:45:45 GMT -5
Our community garden plots are 18x24, 432 square feet, and rent for $35. Same plots may be rented each year. Water is supplied, whole works plowed in the fall, disked and dragged in the spring, and laid out again. Whole thing is just over 1½ acres. There is some thievery but not much since there's seldom a minute of daylight hours when someone is not in one of the 148 plots. At one time, I had 7 plots until it was taken over by another city department which changed the rules to allow only 2 plots. It is now back in private hands and I plan on gardening in 8 plots this year. Martin Martin, I would love to have that many plots. Sadly, we are restricted to two plots. One day .... Well, our first trouble maker, for this year, in the community garden has surfaced. She is causing a disturbance and now gardeners run when she comes to the garden.
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Post by stratcat on Apr 9, 2013 0:28:25 GMT -5
I hate to hear that. As gardening can be tedious, I expect us to have some peace during the long hours we put in.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2013 17:54:02 GMT -5
Our family finally got a community garden plot at the local university arboretum this spring, after being on the waiting list for almost 5 years. Plots are hard to come by here. All the 30 some plots are 15'x15' and are fenced. The cost for it is $100 per year and that includes the water. Our plot had not been worked for several years and was densely overgrown with stuff. It took us several trips to clear it and then haul the debri out to the parking lot and away home to dispose of. We have a raised bed kit to assemble there soon one 4x4' and two 8x12'. The other side of the plot will be planted by our 'girls group' , 10 fellow homeschool girls,friends, and they will journal their project of planting, growing and then sharing the extra harvest with less fortunate. I have been told not to plant anything that I will be heartbroken over if some two legged predator takes. There is a gate and I have a lock but they could reach over on two sides of the plot, as I am on a corner and harvest whatever they could reach. This is our first year at the community garden plot and it is an adventure for sure.
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Post by izitmidnight on Apr 11, 2013 0:02:41 GMT -5
Congratulations on getting in! I only waited three years for my garden.
The two legged critters can get you down! But you do learn to be sneaky... Grown green colored tomatos. They don't know that they wont change colors. I am growing yellow smooth skin melons mixed in with the yellow smooth skin mini spaghetti squash. For the last two years, I have grown hot peppers that change five colors. They never bothered them after the first taste. This year those same five color peppers are sweet peppers, but they won't know that. Oh yes, another trick that makes a big difference is to sprinkle white flour all over the plants and vegetables. they won't know it is not poisonous without you telling them. Be sure to put the flour in an unmarked container first!
As far as the theivery, they mostly want the large red tomatos, watermelons and cantalope, and sometimes sweet peppers. They usually leave the squash alone, just when you wish they would take it. Like you, I have a corner garden. Mine is the first garden they see when aproaching the garden.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2013 0:17:11 GMT -5
ah ha.... thanks for the good trickery advice izitmidnight...lol. I am not sure what we will grow since I cant seem to get more than about 3 or 4 hours of sunshine into the plot thanks to a very very very old tree nearby. This year will mostly be an experiment there I think. The stuff I want to eat will probably mostly be grown in topsyturvy's and 5 gallon containers here at home. We went to the arboretum community plot yesterday and made it look pretty for their annual garden show all next week. I built a BID heart in the center of the plot with rocks from the river and then we planted pink and HOT pink coleus inside the heart... looks adorable. I expect to start planting edibles there by May 1st. Until then my kitchen is FULL of seedlings of all sorts...lol.
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Post by ladymarmalade on Oct 26, 2013 21:36:21 GMT -5
Well, my first year with the community garden has come to a close. What a year. My garden was an awful mess when I got to it- whoever had it before me planted edible weeds. Literally. One-third of it was purslane, one-third was Egyptian Walking Onions, and the last third was mint.
Back in the spring, we had to suddenly and unexpectedly move out of our home- we spent almost a month without a home, so my plants had to go in the ground prematurely- and they went into that weedy ground. I did till the weeds under, but it didn't take them long to start coming out with a vengeance. It was a terrible year for me, as I just didn't have the time to tend my garden as I wanted. I did get some great tomatoes though, and a nice load of hot peppers.
Today I went and spent the day at the garden removing every last scrap. I pulled my dead plants, but then took the time to pull out all the weeds that I just kind of tried to live with. I started a compost pile within my plot, and I'm eyeing up the neighbor plot, which looks like it was forgotton long ago. I've mentioned to the director that I would love to have an adjacent plot if one of them was not renewed. We'll see.
Despite the terrible growing year, I am already so excited and hopeful for next year. That's what I really love about gardening- there's always another year.
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Post by izitmidnight on Oct 29, 2013 22:41:39 GMT -5
Glad to hear that you have your garden cleaned up and put to bed! It will be ready and waiting for spring when you get the need to play in the dirt. Don't forget to pay your dues on time. One of our members lost their garden for that reason. Can't wait to hear about your adventures next year!!
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Post by ladymarmalade on Oct 30, 2013 9:55:09 GMT -5
Glad to hear that you have your garden cleaned up and put to bed! It will be ready and waiting for spring when you get the need to play in the dirt. Don't forget to pay your dues on time. One of our members lost their garden for that reason. Can't wait to hear about your adventures next year!! Our garden association is really on top of things! We already paid our dues and renewed our plots for next year! They do this in the fall so that they can figure out what is needed before the spring registration for new gardeners. They're expanding several of the gardens in our area because there is a spike in interest in community gardening and they have a waiting list, and are hoping to be able to fill all of those and then some. I've already got next year's garden visualized in my head, but I think I need to head out there one more time and take measurements so that I make sure I start what I have room for.
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rintintin
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Post by rintintin on Mar 2, 2014 16:23:21 GMT -5
I had a 10'x10' plot in Seattle for $20 per year. You could keep the same plot each year, as long as you paid up each spring. 5 years ago, the waiting list was over 2 years long, but is most likely much longer now.
I had heard of the complaints about pilfering before everything was ripe, so I planned ahead. I planted green when ripe tomatoes. Everybody else was complaining that they never got a ripe tomato, but nobody touched my (ripe) green tomatoes.
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