Community Gardens PresentationRiverside Park Resident’s Association

Community gardens bring communities together.

Providing an opportunity for socialization, growing and eating fresh food, sharing knowledge about gardening, about each other, environmental awareness, life brings life in every sense of the word… So what can we expect?

Community Gardens PresentationRiverside Park Resident’s Association

Community gardens succeed because…

• Neighborhood champion• Committed volunteers• Understanding of gardening• Master gardener• Financial commitment• Organization• Resources/partners

Some examples of community gardens…

Swinton Community GardenDelray Beach, Florida

• Community garden on privately owned land

• Founded November 2008• Assigned individual plots• Organic best practices• Raised beds 4’x4’,10’x20’• Water provided by owner• Season October – June• Registration, contract &

annual fee $35

Swinton Community GardenDelray Beach, Florida

Swinton Community GardenDelray Beach, Florida

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Swinton Community Garden Plot Registration

Welcome to SCG!SCG’s gardening season is September 1st – May 31st.

Annual Membership Fee: $35This fee will be applied to water bills, annual mulch and other communal garden expenses.

Gardeners must complete a Release of all Claims form & submit membership fees before any work in the garden can begin.

• Each gardener is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of their garden plot. Watering, weeding, harvesting and any other garden related maintenance are all the responsibility of the gardener.

• If plots become unkempt, members will receive notice by email and/or phone, after which garden privileges are forfeited and that plot is subject to reassignment. • Swinton Community Garden is an organic garden. The application of herbicides, non-organic pesticides and non-organic fertilizers is prohibited. Any soil imported into

the garden should also be free of chemical fertilizers. • Once a garden space has been assigned, gardeners are expected to plant within two weeks (within growing season) and maintain their gardens from October to June,

at which time plants are to be removed from plots, and plots must be prepared for summer (see #15). • Plants are to be kept within the limits of the garden plots and not grow so tall or dense as to shade neighboring gardens. Plots may not be expanded beyond their

original size without the permission of SCG coordinators. Please also consult with SCG coordinators before constructing any structures in your plot. • Members may plant only within their own plots (not in open areas of the community garden plot), unless otherwise arranged with SCG coordinators. In general,

Members may grow any legal, edible plant and/or flowers, however SCG coordinators may make decisions about the appropriateness of certain plants, and may require that they be removed, if necessary.

• Any structures built within plots (e.g. supports for plants) must be approved by SCG coordinators. In general, structures must be made only of non-pressure treated

wood, and may not exceed 3’ in height. • HURRICANES: in the event of a hurricane, all garden structures and unsecured items in plots (posts, fencing, pots, lattices etc.) must be removed from SCG premises.

Take them home. After the storm has passed, they may be reinstalled. • SCG garden equipment and tools are for communal use in the garden, but must be stored in designated places when you are finished using them. The attached hose is

garden property and may be used by all garden members. Garden watering should be managed for best practices and water conservation. • • • •

Swinton Community Garden Plot Registration

• COMPOST: composting bins are provided, but PLEASE READ THE COMPOSTING GUIDELINES (provided by email and on site in SCG) prior to contributing anything to these bins.

• Workshops and any community gathering held on at the SCG other than gardening individual plots must first be approved by SCG coordinators.

• Members agree not to harvest or alter in any way other Member’s plots. Members agree not to leave any trash or other items, or build/install unauthorized plots or structures in SCG. Doing so is grounds for termination of membership.

• At the termination of garden membership, gardeners are responsible for clearing their plot of all plant material and structures. SCG coordinators

will reassign the plot. • If Members arrange to have non-members care for their plots at any time, SCG coordinators must be notified prior to non-members working in the

garden. • Children are welcome in the garden but must be accompanied by an adult and be supervised at all times. Pets are also welcome, but please keep

them on a leash. Garden guests are also welcome, but members must be present when guests are in the garden. • There will be no gardening in plots between June 1st – Sept 1st. Exceptions for AVID summer gardeners can be made. Please contact the SCG

coordinators to discuss.

Summer Plot Preparation: No later than June 1st plots must be covered. Gardeners may choose to either 1) solarize 2) mulch heavily to prevent weeds or 3) plant a “green manure cover crop” such as sweet potato, legumes, etc…

• The use of this privately-owned property on Swinton Avenue has been offered on a temporary basis. Should the land no longer be available,

members will be given advanced notice and adequate time to clear all plant and box material.

• GARDEN APPEARANCE: Swinton Community Garden is a privately owned, unique element of downtown Delray Beach, in a prominent historic district and subject, to some extent, to aesthetic and structural codes. It is important that SCG maintain an appearance in harmony with both the property owner’s needs, and the priorities of the city of Delray Beach. While there is no accounting for aesthetics, in an effort to support SCG’s longevity and maximize SCG’s contribution to the community and Delray Beach, SCG coordinators reserve the right to make decisions about garden appearance, and manage the garden accordingly.

SCG Membership Contract 2009 - 2010

SWINTON COMMUNITY GARDEN Plot Registration *Name ____________________________________________ Date______________________ Address__________________________________________________________________________ City ______________________________________________ Zipcode____________________ *Phone _____________________________ *Email ______________________________ *Required Commitment I have read and understand the Swinton Community Garden Membership Contract, and agree to abide by it. I understand breaking any rules within this Contract is cause for termination of

membership in the garden and loss of garden plot. Signed: ___________________________________ Date:________________ Once we have received your completed Registration form & Annual Membership fee, SCG will contact you, and your membership will be active! Please: PLEAES MAKE CHECKS FOR SEASONAL FEE OF $35 OUT TO: Michiko Kurisu MAIL CHECKS & THIS FORM TO: SWINTON COMMUNITY GARDEN1300 SW 21ST LANEBOCA RATON, FL 33486 Thank you !! Annual Membership Fee Paid

Release of All Claims Form

Release of All Claims

I, ______________________________ am a participant in the Swinton Community Garden (SCG). As a condition of being allowed to participate in the Community Garden I

agree to the following: I am duly aware of the risks and hazards that may arise through participation in the SCG, and assume any expenses and liabilities that I incur in the event of an accident, illness

or other incapacity. If I have had any questions about the SCG, its nature risks or hazards, I have contacted the Garden Coordinators and discussed those questions with him or her to my satisfaction.

In consideration of being granted the opportunity to participate in the SCG, I, for myself, my executors, administrators, agents and assigns to do hereby release and forever

discharge the Garden Committee, Garden Coordinators, volunteers, other gardeners, and the cooperating landowners from all claims of damages, demands and any actions whatsoever, including those based on negligence, in any manner arising out of my participation in this activity. I understand that this Release means that, among other things, I am giving up my right to sue for any losses, damages, injury or costs that I may incur.

I represent and certify that my true age is either 18 years or older or, if I am under 18 years old on this date, my parent or legal guardian has read and signed this form. I have

read this entire Release, fully understand it, and I agree to be legally bound by it. Participant’s Signature____________________________________ Printed Name__________________________________________ Date_________ Parent/Guardian’s Signature_______________________________ Printed Name__________________________________________ Date_________

Miramar Community Gardenat Fairway Park Miramar, Florida

• Community garden on city owned land

• Founded May 2010• No individual plots• Organic best practices• Season year round• Volunteer application,

background check, attestation of good character

Miramar Community Gardenat Fairway Park Miramar, Florida

• Garden championed by Mayor and local residents

• 3,100 sq. ft.• 22 dedicated resident

volunteers • “Sweat equity” = produce• Provide gardening information

and hands-on by experienced & master gardeners

• City provided land, basic materials and guidance

• Volunteers from City and community to establish garden

• Sponsorship (Harvest Circle)

Miramar Community Gardenat Fairway Park Miramar, Florida

Method used for garden:

Grow bags – pilot program for Micro-Urban-Farm

• Compost• Drip irrigation with rain barrels

(timer)• Water supplemented with city

run lines• Vocational training in

sustainable agriculture• Perimeter fence• Estimated budget $12,120

Miramar Community Gardenat Fairway Park Miramar, Florida

Miramar Community Gardenat Fairway Park Miramar, Florida

Miramar Community Gardenat Fairway Park Miramar, Florida

“Composting is still a work in progress to find the best method. With a revolving composting barrel it gets turned once a day so the compost gets aerated and the compost tea drops below.”

Miramar Community Gardenat Fairway Park Miramar, Florida

Batch composter :

Add all of your ingredients at once, turn it periodically and produce a "batch" of compost in four to eight weeks. A batch composter is the fastest way to create compost, but needs to be turned daily and checked for sufficient moisture. You also need to stockpile the materials in a separate area until you have enough to make a batch. For fastest results, shred or chop up the materials before putting them into the composter.

Miramar Community Gardenat Fairway Park Miramar, Florida

Continuous composter:

Good choice if you primarily want to recycle kitchen and garden waste, and you are not concerned about how quickly you produce a finished product. You add the organic materials as you generate them, mix occasionally, and produce compost over time.         If you generate a lot of organic material, you may want to use both types of composters, for the best of both worlds. While the batch composter is making compost, stockpile the next batch of materials in your continuous composter. When the batch of compost is ready for your garden, transfer the continuous pile into the now empty batch composter.

Miramar Community Gardenat Fairway Park Miramar, Florida

Miramar Community Gardenat Fairway Park Miramar, Florida

Roots of the Garden GroveCoconut Grove, Florida

• Community garden on privately owned land (church)

• Founded November 2008• No individual plots• As organic as possible• Raised beds• Season year round

Roots of the Garden GroveCoconut Grove, Florida

Roots of the Garden GroveCoconut Grove, Florida

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Roots of the Garden GroveCoconut Grove, Florida

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Legacy green EmpowermentProgram

• Gardening, culinary grant• 20 weeks classroom, hands-

on training• “32 strong” graduated• Full-time employment• Gardening, farmer’s market• Restaurant• Marketing

the Harvest of Love GardenLiberty Square, Florida

• Community garden on public housing land

• Founded 2009, • Revitalized 2010• No individual plots• Organic best practices• Cement blocks• Season year round

Community Gardens PresentationRiverside Park Resident’s Association

L. Thomas Chancey, owner of Softscapes has offered the property at 16 SW 19th. Avenue to develop into a community garden

Currently:• No water on site.• Soil not usable for in-ground

planting• No perimeter fence

Possible solutions:Water brought on site- City can provide water meter?

Hose bib? Piped from neighbor?

Plantings in bags, pots or raised beds

Donation(s) by local business for supply and placement of fence

Community Gardens PresentationRiverside Park Resident’s Association

Resources available:

• Within the neighborhood• City of Fort Lauderdale• Broward County• State of Florida• Universities, schools• Other community gardens• Internet• Library• Pablo del Real – Tool Library

Additional resources?

Community Gardens PresentationRiverside Park Resident’s Association

Ten Steps:

1. Organize a meeting of interested people2. Form a planning committee3. Identify all your resources4. Approach a sponsor5. Choose a site6. Prepare and develop the site7. Organize the garden8. Plan for children9. Determine the rules and put them in writing10. Help members keep in touch with each other

Provided by the American Community Gardening Association