More than just a place to grow fruits and vegetables, community gardens can make a rich and lasting environmental, economic, and social impact on their surrounding neighborhoods. Gardening can also be a form of community resistance-building resilience and autonomy, and connecting people to the earth.

Gardens add green space, help combat “heat islandsHeat islands are usually urban areas in which heat is trapped by concentrated human activities and environmental degradation, causing higher temperatures than outside surroundings” in urban environments, protect against the erosion of soil, and provide a source of local fruits and vegetables for residents, reducing food insecurity. They’re also a place for residents to learn about growing, harvesting, and cooking food while providing an opportunity for physical activity and building relationships with fellow community members. From an economic perspective, they can also add value to nearby properties and give residents a sense of investment and pride in their neighborhoods.

Form a group

If you’d like to create a community garden in your neighborhood, start by seeking out a diverse group of people who will take on the project alongside you. Seek out those with gardening or organizing experience, but be sure to include long-time residents and any other locals who are actively involved in the community. Your group should reflect the make-up of the neighborhood. Dedicate your community garden to inclusivity and democracy by removing any membership barriers to the garden.

Research and connect

Once you’ve made connections with like-minded individuals and formed a dedicated group, search for information online about establishing a community garden in your city to find out what steps your group will need to take. Note that the horticultural society in your area may be willing to help, so be sure to reach out to them to see if they can serve as a resource.

Select a site

In looking for a spot for your garden, you’ll need to consider factors such as:

• Exposure to six to eight hours of sunlight a day, ideally
• Access to water and drainage
• Proximity to nearby homes, so residents can easily access the site
• The flow of traffic directly around the site.

Find out who owns the land (the city or a private entity) and how it’s zoned. Zoning information can usually be found online through local government websites. It’s important to ensure that the area where you’re proposing your community garden does not prohibit this type of land use. Once you’ve verified the zoning for your preferred site, contact the current owners. If they agree to having a community garden on their land, you’ll need to secure the necessary lease agreements and take out an insurance policy.

Look for financial support

At this point, you will want to start seeking out financial sponsorship or other support from organizations in your area. Local businesses and community organizations may be willing to provide in-kind donations such as materials to build out your site, seeds for starting your garden, and more. With the help of local restaurants, breweries, musicians, and artists, your group can also hold fundraising events like cookouts and dinners, bake sales, concerts, and art auctions. If you’ve already secured your site, you may even be able to hold events on your plot, with the added benefit of bringing attention to the project.

Gather volunteers and plant your garden

Once you have completed all the necessary documentation to secure your site and you’ve been able to gather materials and tools, you can begin building out your garden. You’ll probably need some additional volunteers to help get your garden up and running: get the word out about your space on social media and through local neighborhood groups.

Work with your group/volunteers to plan out a layout and design for your garden. Survey your neighbors to determine what traditional crops would provide the greatest collective joy and fulfillment. Find ways to turn the garden into a collective, mutual aid project in which everyone finds ways to work together rather than on small, isolated plots. If at all possible, set up a plan to distribute food once harvested to those in need, or create a food cooperative to work in tandem with the garden. Once you’ve settled on something that meets your community’s needs, start planting!

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