Community garden in your neighborhood? (Raleigh, Greensboro: transplants, HOA, insurance)

[North_Raleigh_Guy]

My neighborhood in N. Raleigh has a 1/2 acre of common area land that is pretty much vacant and unused. It gets mowed once a week in the summer but otherwise does not see any regular activity. One of the residents has approached the HOA suggesting the idea that residents use a small portion of this land to create a small community garden that would be created and maintained by residents this spring. I think this is a neat idea and was wondering if anybody here lives in a neighborhood that has done something like this. I am interested to hear how it worked out for you and what challeges such a project would face. Thanks!

Example of a Community Garden

[PDXmom]

Oh NRG, you are a gardener after my own heart! I've thought of asking our HOA if we could do the same thing. But our little area does not have access to water and it gets direct sunlight, so I don't know how it would work.
BUT I did have a plot at a Community Garden in Portland where they are very popular. (http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/index.cfm?c=39846)

In Portland it is part of the parks and rec program and you paid a small yearly fee. And for most plots there was a waiting list. I waited 3 years before I got a call and that was 10+ years ago... I hear the wait is longer now.

I don't know if any of this is helpful since having an HOA govern it is different than Parks and Rec, but I'll give you an overview of how it worked. Each garden had a garden manager (a volunteer) who organizes things like compost deliveries (that members pay for), socials, crop shares w/ the food banks, but most importantly is the "heavy". In other words the garden manager has to make sure each member is living up to the rules and is tending to their plot. If not he/she has the fun job of calling the person and asking them to abide by the rules. There were very specific rules regarding weeds, pesticides, herbicides, cleanliness of the plot etc.

The link above outlines the rules in Garden Etiquette. You will probably want to think about animal control as well (are deer fences allowed etc). In Portland slugs were our biggest problems. Some gardens had raised beds and other just plots (20'x20'). They tried to reserve the raised beds for elderly and folks w/ medical conditions.

But I have to say, these gardens were always beautiful and such a wonderful thing to see in the middle of the city.

Our HOA prohibits crops like "corn" so check your covenents. BTW, google NC State and Community Garden. I got some interesting links where it looks like the ag extension group has helped folks form community gardens.

Please keep us updated with what you find out. I can't wait to hear how it goes!!! Good luck and happy planting!!!

[omamia]

There is a community garden in Carrboro off of Old Greensboro Rd. I often see people there on the weekend. Maybe contact the organizers?

Carrboro Community Garden Coalition

[Bilirubin]

Are you guys (with apologies to the person that hates the term "guys") thinking of a community co-op type garden where everyone works it then splits the fruits of your labors, or a plot that is divided into mini-gardens that each person tends to, and profits from, individually.

Personally, I think having separate, individual mini-gardens is the way to go, like what PDXmom talked about. That way people aren't arguing over who did more work and should get more tomatoes. Raised garden beds would be attractive and would "define" each individuals space. They are easy to make with 2x10s, 2x12s, or stacked 2x6s. These are easier to then fill with good soil and compost. They also keep the weeds out, and its easy to stretch plastic film over the frames to help with germination. Check out "square foot gardening", and see if that interests you. I've done my own version of it, and its great if you're well organized and can manage the crop rotations. I typically stick with peppers, tomatoes, and lettuces.

I recall seeing a website that helped people set up community gardens - how to plan and organize, etc. Here it is: American Community Gardening Association

This is exciting! Good luck!

[J_Lurk]

I just got this posting via the Carolina Farm Stewardship listserv. I can't find a link to the exact text of it, so I'll copy the whole thing. It describes a class that includes a tour of the Covenant Community Garden, which is apparently a community garden in the F-V area. The note I got with it also mentions that the class will be repeated "soon" in the Durham/Chapel Hill area, but presumably that wouldn't include the community garden tour.

"Local Organic Vegetable gardEning (LOVE)"
Sunday February 15th at Fuquay-Varina United Methodist Church & Covenant Community Garden
Sponsored by Carolina Farm Stewardship Association
This three - hour indoor class will give you the latest organic techniques for growing delicious vegetables !!
The instructor, Tony Kleese, is a knowledgeable and passionate organic grower with years of experience, including teaching our organic farm certification classes. Tony will be energizing you with info about soil building, growing from transplants, natural ways to deal with pests and disease and lots more about organic growing. Bring your vegetable garden questions and issues.
You will also get an opportunity to network with fellow organic growers and make new, enthusiastic gardening friends.
Plus, you will have a chance to tour the Covenant Community Garden, a wonderful community project.
What better year to have a productive organic garden! What better way to augment and compliment the fresh produce you already buy from our local growers. With this valuable and fun information, you can make sure that your spring garden is successful and provides delicious, healthy food for your family!

Register online today. Space is limited. No on-site registration. Online registration link.
Registration fee: $30 for CFSA members and Covenant Community Garden participants; $35 all others
(You may also mail a check, with your contact information, to the CFSA office.)

Check-in begins Sunday at 1:00 PM
Class runs from 1:30 to 4:30 PM
Location: 100 South Judd Parkway SE
Fuquay-Varina, NC (just minutes from Raleigh and Cary)

Directions: From the Raleigh area, reach Fuquay-Varina by going south on 55 or west on 401.

Via 401, travel about one mile after the welcome to F-V sign and turn left on Judd Parkway. (A Burger King is at the intersection.) Go less than a mile. The church is on the right, on a large open lot.

Via 55 south, go through downtown F-V and turn right on Judd Parkway. The church is at the intersection of Judd and Academy.

Questions, comments: Call Fred Broadwell or Cheryl Rettie at 919-542-2402.

[North_Raleigh_Guy]

Thanks for the great information and links everyone. I appreciate the help from each of you.

By the way, I've located yet another community Garden. This one is run by SEEDS in Durham. By the way, if you go to their website you will see they are looking to hire a part time Neighborhood Outreach Coordinator who will help manage the garden. It looks to be a part time position about 20 hours a week at $12/hr.

Again, Thanks!

[Chicky]

I think this is a wonderful idea! Our family had one in my mother's hometown that had passed through several generations. I have wonderful memories of going to the garden with my grandfather to dig up potatos and pick peas!

[Ben Noe]

BUT....in an HOA the "common area" is required to be available, equally, to all members. That is, unless a specified number [usually 67%] of the members vote to allow "taking" of common area for private use by a few. Common areas are to be of benefit to all members, thus their dues pay for taxes, insurance, and utilities [if any].

[evaofnc]

These types of gardens were VERY common where I was living previously. You basically "rented" a small plot and did with it as you wished. There were different rules and regs, and if you "abandoned" your plot, ie stopped working it and let it go fallow, you would lose your rights to it and it would go to the next person on the waitlist. I think it's important to have a system like that in place so you don't end up with empty plots within the garden when someone could be putting it to good use!

[BoBromhal]

Originally Posted by Ben Noe

BUT....in an HOA the "common area" is required to be available, equally, to all members. That is, unless a specified number [usually 67%] of the members vote to allow "taking" of common area for private use by a few. Common areas are to be of benefit to all members, thus their dues pay for taxes, insurance, and utilities [if any].

I'd think a good google search (better than I know how to do) would be your start.

From what it sounds like, you have an "active" HOA - that is, one that has and enforces rules - and so the land is the HOA's as a body, not any of you individually. In other words, your first step is to get a ton of info on the various types (even if its just two - the commune idea or the small individual plots) and then go to a HOA Board meeting and plead your case.

One might divine this is probably not going to come to FRUITION in the 2012 spring, but who knows ....