How To: Develop a Community Garden

1. How To: Develop a Community Garden Presentation by: Meghan Baker & Krystyna Adams HSCI 825 April 11th, 2013

2. Why community gardens?

3. Outline • SEEDS: Motivations for community gardens • ROOTS: Defining goals • SHOOTS: Get out and garden • FRUITS: Enjoying the fruits of your labour • HARVEST: Building community

4. SEEDS:What are the motivations? Community gardens are a catalyst for neighborhood and community development by: • stimulating social interaction • encouraging self-reliance • beautifying neighborhoods • producing nutritious food • reducing family food budgets • conserving resources • creating opportunities for recreation, exercise, therapy and education

5. SEEDS: Motivations for your garden Questions to ask yourself: 1) Who is already involved in community gardens and who is not? 2) Is there a need for a new garden? 3) What is that “need”?

6. Vancouver’s Community Gardens Vancouver has over 85 community gardens!

7. Vancouver’s Motivations • Vancouver’s vision: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsYlRW114nM • City policy: http://vancouver.ca/people-programs/start-a-new-community-garden.aspx

8. ROOTS: Defining goals Questions to consider: • Is there a strong desire and need for a garden? • What is the purpose of the garden? • What type of role will the garden play - food production, community building, environmental restoration, beautification, recreation? • Who will the garden serve - youth, seniors, a special population or the surrounding neighborhood? • What type of garden would you like to create - vegetable, flower, tree, fruit, herb, or a combination? • Who are the potential supporters of the garden - businesses, neighbors, schools?

9. Vancouver’s Goals Vancouver’s Vision 2020

10. Vancouver’s Goals

11. SHOOTS: Get out and grow!

12. SHOOTS: More Vancouver Examples • YWCA Metro Vancouver’s Rooftop Food Garden • Developed a list of what works and does not work to grow in Vancouver including: • Broccoli and cauliflower (eaten by crows) • Arugula (nobody likes arugula) • Heirloom varieties (they just looked weird, nobody likes to cook with stuff that looks weird)

13. FRUITS: Ensuring the fruits of your labour help meet your goals • Fresh Roots Urban Farm Society: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uh5oacG2RbY • Growing Chefs program: http://www.growingchefs.ca/

14. HARVEST: Building your community The ACGA: Community gardening as a participatory approach to leadership, and community and organizational development

15. HARVEST: Vancouver Example Intersectoral collaboration

16. Conclusion community…” "Gardens, scholars say, are the first sign of commitment to a community. When people plant corn they are saying, let's stay here. And by their connection to the land, they are connected to one another."
-  Anne Raver

17. What are your thoughts about…? Vancouver’s community garden plans or Vancouver’s vision 2020? What would you want to see next in Vancouver in relation to community gardens? Any other comments?

18. Helpful Resources 1) ACGA. (2013). American Community Garden Association. Retrieved from: http://www.communitygarden.org/about-acga/ 2) City of Vancouver. (2013). Community gardens. Retrieved from: http://vancouver.ca/people-programs/start-a-new-community-garden.aspx 3) ACGA. (2007). Rebel Tomato.* Retrieved from: http://www.communitygarden.org/rebeltomato/ * The layout for our powerpoint presentation was inspired by the Rebel Tomato Site

19. Other References • YWCA Metro Vancouver (2013). YWCA Metro Vancouver Rooftop Food Garden. Retrieved from http://www.ywcavan.org/content/YWCA_Metro_Vancouver_Rooftop_Food_Garden_/605 • Fresh Roots Urban Farm (2013). Retrieved from http://freshrootsurbancsa.wordpress.com • Vancouver School Board (2010). VBE School Food Garden Policy Statement. Retrieved from http://www.vsb.bc.ca/district-policy/io-garden-policy