Oh and for the wheelchairs and elderly, all you need are picnic tables (or
similar structures) with nice big long low containers on top...
---McG
----- Original Message -----
From: <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>; <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, January 24, 2009 11:03 PM
Subject: Re: [Community_garden] Wish I had...
At 3:53 PM -0800 1/24/09, Samantha Provencio wrote:
I have a great opportunity to use about 2 acres of city land to develop a
community garden. I am meeting next week to talk design issues. Anybody
have some "I wish I had..." thoughts that could help me cover all my bases
when I make requests. We are going to include some wheelchair/elderly
friendly gardening sites too. Any insights into that would be helpful.
Make the entrance/fence area beautiful and
welcoming, for both gardeners and passers-by.
Herbs and flowers planted en masse on
the edges will attract pollinators. Herbs are one
of the best things to grow communally, because
they are best fresh and you can pick the small
amount you need for daily use, but if the plots
are small they can take up a lot of space.
Mark the paths well and keep them well
maintained, so that visitors won't inadvertently
step on garden space and so that gardeners have
enough space for wheelbarrows between plots.
Well-defined paths and an open invitation to
visitors makes the garden an asset to the whole
community. I've found many people like to walk
through the community garden, though they may not
have gardens (or time to garden) themselves.
Path maintenance is a continuing problem, so make
it as easy as possible for gardeners to keep
their paths weed-free and well defined. For
instance, provide wheelbarrows, mulch, and
scheduled work days, for gardeners who never seem
to find the time for regular maintenance.
If you want to build community, shape the
space to encourage whatever communal activities
you anticipate, such as potlucks, seed swaps,
bulletin board, plant giveaways, mulch/compost
delivery, community composting, etc. Some of
these uses are practical; others are community
building. If there is a place to share excess
supplies and harvests, people will use it.
A garden shed is great if you have tools and supplies for communal use.
Invite local artists to contribute. The Peralta CG in Berkeley has a
beautiful gate and IIRC a gazebo.
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_______________________________________________
The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's
services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out
how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org
To post an e-mail to the list: [email protected]
To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription:
http://list.communitygarden.org/mailman/listinfo/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org
