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Community Garden Models

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Here are some simple descriptions of different community garden models.  Please keep in mind that the models and styles of community gardening vary from place to place depending on the needs, wants, and assets of each community.

 Although the models described below are used by many community gardens, rather than choosing a model from this list, I recommend you focus on designing a model that best suits your community. Some common models include:

  1. Allotments
  2. Communal
  3. Mixed
  4. Teaching Gardens
  5. Youth Garden
  6. Community Orchard
  7. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
  8. Donation Garden
  9. Neighbourhood Garden Networks

Allotments

This model of community gardening is very popular. The community garden is divided into plots/sections. There are no rules about the size or shape of the plots and some gardens have been quite creative in the design and layout of the garden. The garden plots are rented out to members of the public. Each person, family, or group is responsible for their own plot and can choose the gardening practices and plant varieties that suit their abilities and needs as long as they follow the general rules of the garden. In general, the gardeners share the maintenance of the common areas so that the entire community garden space is tidy, safe, weeded, and looked after by everyone.

Communal

There are many ways community gardeners can share a communal space. In comparison to the allotment gardens, in a communal garden the entire garden and the garden work are shared by the community. This garden model usually requires organised meetings, working bees, events, workshops, potlucks, and celebrations. There can be a variety of garden beds demonstrating gardening systems, or a garden bed might be dedicated to growing a specific crop. For example, the community might want to grow a large area with corn. Everyone helps plant, care for, harvest, and eat the corn. This model can also be left very open so that anyone at any time can plant whatever they want, wherever they want.

Mixed

Some community gardens have a mix of allotments and communal gardens. This way, the garden can tend to a variety of needs. The communal spot can be used as an example, or a place for volunteers to work. The communal garden can also provide an income for the garden.

Teaching Gardens

The purpose of Teaching Gardens are to demonstrate different gardening systems and models to the local public. The gardens act as an example. There are usually mentors or teachers who provide weekly classes in the garden. The ultimate goal is to inspire people to grow food at home. Here are two examples of Teaching Gardens:

  • In Devonport, a group of people got permission from council to use a piece of land in their local reserve. The land was already fenced off with a lock. The garden is only open on Sundays. On Sundays any member of the public can attend the scheduled workshops, activities, and guest gardeners. The garden is used as a learning centre in the hopes that people go home to practice what they have learned.
  • In Manukau, the Parks Department has started four teaching gardens. Two of these gardens are on old bowling greens, and the other two are in public parks. These gardens are allotments gardens which are leased out for 22 weeks at a time. In the 22 weeks the plot owner can use the garden space and come to any of the weekly garden classes. All supplies and materials are provided. At the end of the 22 weeks the plot is rented to someone else.

Youth Garden

Youth gardens are very popular in the United States. They don't need to be on school property but can be. The garden is geared towards children and educating them about gardening, health, soil science, working together, seasons, weather, cooking, or anything garden related. The garden is generally used for after-school programmes, holiday programmes, school field trips, class projects, troubled youth, and alternative education programmes.

Community Orchard

Community orchards are based on the same model as community gardens. There are a variety of ways to start and run a community orchard. Waiheke has one and recently the community of Parau has started an orchard through the Trees for Babies programme with Keep Waitakere Beautiful Trust. If there is not enough space to plant a proper orchard, a community orchard can be as simple as everyone on the same street planting a different tree in their front yard in the hopes that everyone will share their fruit. This model is often called an Urban Orchard.

Community Sustained Agriculture

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a very popular system used all over the world, especially in the United States. This model involves a farm selling produce to their local community. CSA’s have the goal of localising our food, connecting farmer and customer, providing fresh produce, supporting local growers, and protecting small scale, non-corporate farming careers.
The system usually works like a subscription. The farmer sells a certain amount of subscriptions which come in the form of a weekly box with a variety of seasonal, freshly harvested produce. The subscriber agrees to the subscription terms and pays in full or through regular payments. The farmer decides how large the boxes will be and how long the subscription lasts, which determines the price. For example the farmer might decide to sell 50 weekly boxes for eight months. There are CSA's in New Zealand including Simply Good Food in the Wairarapa. Most CSA's are run by private farmers but the model is available to community gardeners as a way to raise funds. If the community garden is producing enough food, the gardeners can arrange to sell weekly boxes. It is okay to start small.

Donation Garden

Donation gardens don't necessarily have to be the entire community garden but an aspect of a community garden. Maybe a certain percentage of the food or certain beds are dedicated to donating produce to charities like soup kitchens, local shelters, or women's refuge.

Neighbourhood Garden Networks

The benefits of community gardening like sharing knowledge, tools, skills, and produce can exist within neighbourhood backyard gardens. Residents within a local area can support each other to start gardens, maintain them, or share and swap the produce.

 

For more information, please contact EcoMatters' Community Gardens Facilitator