Contents
- How to Start a Community Garden
- Presentations
- Introduction – Germinating Partnerships [powerpoint]
- Aging Network & Gardens – Connecting Seniors to Community Gardens [powerpoint]
- Nationalities Senior Center Garden [powerpoint]
- Maps – Locations of Parks, Senior Centers, Libraries, Community Gardens, etc.[pdf]
- Seniors & Community Gardens Listserv - To signup email genphilly at gmail.com
Phase 1 – Basic Planning
- Is there commitment and organizational capacity to begin, plan, and sustain a community garden?
- Where will the garden be located? Who will be eligible to garden?
- Is there interest within the surrounding Opposition?
- How can I secure necessary resources and build key partnerships? (Seed money for years 1-3, technical assistance, etc.)
- Is there a person to lead garden development, organize meetings, and move the planning process along?
- Did I record measurements and draft a set of blueprints?
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Phase 2 – Starting a Garden
- Is there an easily accessible water source for the garden?
- Do you want to plant in raised beds, container beds, or in the ground? If in the ground, has the soil been tested?
- How much sunlight reaches the garden? For how long each day?
- What is the best season to plant for the specific types of food/flowers I want to grow?
- Is there on-site storage for tools?
- Garden Security Policy?
- Are there any local schools willing to develop a youth stewardship program?
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Phase 3 – Sustainability
- How many volunteers do I have on board? Do I have a plan for managing them? How can I market the garden to recruit more volunteers?
- Where can I look for grants to secure funding for the garden?
- What rules will apply to the garden, and who will enforce them?
- What will happen to the food/flowers grown once they are ready for harvest?
- Have I taken the necessary actions at the end of the growing season to protect the soil and plants through the winter?
- Have I organized fall maintenance cleanups?
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Tool Checklist
- Gloves
- Seeds
- Soil/Compost
- Tags for Plants
- Plants
- Watering Cans
- Hoses
- Rakes
- Stakes
- Wheel Barrow
- Garden Beds
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Resources and Helpful Websites
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society: 215.988.8777
Technical Assistance, Experience, Teaching, Garden Start-up
Go to: Pennhort.libguides.com/GardenTenders
Primex Garden Center: 215.887.7500 – Ask for Jennifer Hendricks
Friendly Gardening Center to Assist in Purchase of Garden Supplies
Go To: www.primexgardencenter.com
Neighborhood Gardens Association: 215.988.8797
Assistance in Water Source Connections, Permanent Ownership of Land Issues
Go To: www.ngalandtrust.org
Mayor’s Office of Sustainability: 215.686.3649
Potential Urban Garden Site Identification
Go To: www.phila.gov/green
Mayor’s Office of Civic Engagement and Volunteer Service: 267.402.7974
Volunteer Opportunities focused on Environmental Vitality
Go To: www.ServePhiladelphia.com/
Greensgrow Farm: 215.427.2702
Tours, Visit, Learning Opportunities
Go To: www.greensgrow.org
Mill Creek Farm
Farm in West Philadelphia, Tours, Visits
Go To: Mill Creek Farm: www.millcreekurbanfarm.org
GenPhilly: 215.765.9000 ext. 5072 – Ask for Kate Clark, Chair
If you are an emerging leader and want to join the network email kclark@pcaphl.org
Go To: www.genphilly.org to learn more and sign up for the events listserv
Penn State Cooperative Extension, Philadelphia County:
Technical Assistance, Planting Season Information, Gardening Resources
Go To: Philadelphia.extension.psu.edu/horticulture/plantingguide.html
Klein and Stiffel JCC, RSVP Program: 215.698.7300 ext. 193 – Ask for Sue Aistrop
Coordinate Volunteers, Capacity Building, Start-up Assistance with Gardens
Go To: www.kleinjcc.org/volunteerRSVP.htm
Philadelphia Urban Farm Network: pufn@googlegroups.com
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