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CalArts Community Garden

A Community Garden is usually a piece of land, any land, that is taken care of by not just an individual, but a group or community. Typically it utilizes either a shared space of land (a plot) or a potting system. Community Gardens can grow anything: fruits, vegetables, herbs, or non-edible plants.
5 Plants that respond well to a community garden environment are:
Strawberries
Kale
Radishes
Snow Peas
Blueberries
Plants best for Southern California Gardening:
Turnips
Carrots
Radishes
Lettuce
Celery
Spinach
Kale
Chard

Steps in creating a  community garden:
From communitygarden.org

 1: Organize a group of people that are interested in taking care of the garden.
Find people who are interested in helping facilitate and participate in the garden. This is an opportunity to identify a group that could benefit from a garden. Gardens are great at providing a stress relief outlet, a positive hobby, bringing community together, and for providing the community with food that they have complete control over.

2: Make a committee that will plan & coordinate the garden.
Find a smaller group that is very organized and dedicated to the garden to make plans and organize the logistics.

3: Identify your resources.
Know what kind of land and plot you are working with. Identify the skills of your community.

4: Try to find sponsorship.
Another option is to charge a small community garden fee (ex $5/square in)

5: Choose a site.
Decide for a plot on pots.

6: Prepare and Develop the site.
This is best done with the counsel of a landscape architect.

7: Organize the Garden.
The planning committee can develop a system of what is planted where.

8: Plan for Children.
Make children friendly aspects on the garden.

9: Determine rules and put them in writing.
Posting the rules near the garden often helps remind community members.

10: Find a way for members to communicate.
Open communication and involvement will increase engagement with and success of the garden.

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