Community Garden Start-up Guide
Local governments can use community gardens as tools to address many financial, health, and environmental issues. For example, community gardens can help the environment by, among other things, reducing the distance food travels. They can also keep people active while providing them with natural, locally grown food. Community gardeners can save money on their food bills and potentially sell excess produce. Moreover, community gardens can beautify neighborhoods and serve as a focal point that promotes resident interaction.
Sustainability Officers interested in promoting community gardens can refer to “Community Garden Start-Up Guide,” prepared by the University of California Cooperative Extension, Los Angeles County. It outlines the general steps required for the development and maintenance of a community garden in an easy-to-understand framework. It also contains a sample community garden contract.
For more information on the role of local governments in supporting community gardens as well as a list of useful resources and contacts, refer to “Cultivating Community Gardens: The Role of Local Government in Creating Healthy, Livable Neighborhoods,” a publication by Local Government Commission, a nonprofit seeking to build livable communities.
