Lisa Valdivia
Extension Associate
The Cooperative Extension Program at NC A&T State University
Muldoon, M.F., Taylor, A. K., Richman, N., Fisk, J., (2013), Innovations in Local Food Enterprise:
Fresh ideas for a just & profitable food system. Arlington, VA: Wallace Center at Winrock International
 Divided into plots for
individual and family use.
 Land may be borrowed,
rented or owned by the
gardeners.
 Gardeners generally
prepare, plant, maintain
and harvest from their
own plots.
Briggs Avenue Community Garden
Durham, NC
 Organized and
gardened by a group
of people who share in
the work and rewards.
 Produce is distributed
among group
members.
 Sometimes produce is
donated to a local
food pantry.
Piney Wood Chapel Missionary Baptist Church
Community Garden
Powellsville, NC
 Often open to the
general public for
display and classes.
 Managed and
maintained by garden
members or a
participating
gardening group such
as Extension Master
Gardeners
Making Pitt Fit Community Garden
Greenville, NC
 May be
established at a
church, food
pantry, food bank
or other location.
 Produce is often
grown by
volunteers and
donated
The Lord’s Acre
Fairview, NC
 Provide horticultural
therapy
 A trained horticulture
therapist often leads
programs and classes.
 Gardens may be
located at hospitals,
senior centers, prisons
or other places.
Photo by Sarah Harmon
Peterson Rehabilitation Hospital Garden
 Students build a
culture of ownership
and stewardship at
their school
 Garden activities help
infuse lessons with
nutrition, science
concepts,
environmental
awareness, and healthy
behaviors.
George Putnam School Garden 1891
 Teach job skills to youth or
other groups.
 Grow and sell the produce,
honey, etc. that they
produce
 Proceeds may pay
participants for their work.
 Programs typically rely on
outside sources of funding
to offset costs.
Growing Change, youth group
Scotland County, NC
Briggs Avenue Community Garden
Durham, NC
1. Determine Interest
2. Involve Your Community
3. Define Garden Goals
4. Establish Roles & Rules
5. Gather Resources
6. Develop Garden Site
7. Educate. Celebrate!
 Does your community want a community garden?
 Is there broad support for it?
 Invite all levels of participation
 Inform the community,
increase visibility!
 Need core group of people
Rather than creating a garden
for the community.
Create a garden with the
community.
Photo from Joni Torres
 Many ways to start/manage a community garden
 Engage & empower those affected by the garden at
every stage of planning, building, & managing garden
 Don’t do for others what they can do for themselves
 People are motivated by their own self interests, find
out what those interests are
 Each community member has something to contribute
Source -- Growing Communities Curriculum:
Community Building and Organizational Development through Community Gardening
by Jeanette Abi-Nader, David Buckley, Kendall Dunnigan and Kristen Markley
Individual Capacity Inventory
Skills
Things you can do with your
hands that you want to share.
Passion
Things you really care about
that will move you to action.
Knowledge
Things you have knowledge of
that you want to share.
Connections
Important relationships you
have in your community.
Adapted fom ABCD, Community Resources Assessment PPT . www.abcdinstitute.org
 Cooperative Extension Agents
 Local government
 Parks & Recreation …
A successful garden project starts
with a good plan!
Example mission statement
…to encourage community involvement,
promote stewardship of the earth and
provide food and education for ourselves
and our neighbors in need.
 Who will work in the garden?
 Who will the garden serve?
 Who will manage the garden?
 What will be the name of the garden?
UNC Asheville Community Garden
 Form a steering/leadership group (coordinator,
treasurer, secretary, etc.) Keep it simple!
 Establish a decision making process
 Choose a communication strategy
 Create gardener guidelines and
garden rules collectively
 Don’t reinvent the wheel
Gardener Guidelines Examples
A plot cannot be gardened until payment of fees and a signed agreement
and liability release is received and approved.
Do not apply anything to, or pick anything from another person's plot
without their consent.
All gardeners are required to volunteer at least 5 hours per year to help
maintain the garden.
 Find a sponsor!
 Fundraise creatively
 Secure in-kind donations
 Start small!
Basic site requirements
Identify land owner
At least a 3 year lease
Central/visible location
6-8 full hours of sunlight
Soil test for nutrients & heavy
metals
Consider past land use
Availability of water
Relatively flat with good drainage
 Offer frequent educational
opportunities
 Visit other community gardens
 Work, eat and celebrate
together!
 Determine Interest
 Involve Your Community
 Define Goals
 Establish Roles & Rules
 Gather Resources
 Develop Site
 Educate. Celebrate!
www.NCCGP.org
 NC Cooperative Extension
 Local county offices
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/local-county-center/
 NC Community Garden Portal
http://nccommunitygardens.ces.ncsu.edu
 NCCGP Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NCCGP
 NC community garden listserv
Go to www.NCCGP.org  Contact  listserv sign-up
 American Community Gardening Association
www.communitygarden.org
 Other community gardens!
Lisa Valdivia
Extension Associate
The Cooperative Extension Program, NC A&T State University
NCCGP Board Member
eaposer@ncat.edu
336.285.4622