Start a New Community Garden
We’re delighted that you’d like to start a new Community Garden in your neighborhood!
We recommend that you download, print, and read the helpful step-by-step Community Garden Start Up Guide from the University of California Cooperative Extension, Los Angeles County Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
In preparation for a discussion about how the Los Angeles Community Garden Council can help with your unique garden, please answer the questions below:
- Have you identified land for the new garden? If so, do you know who owns the land and if they are willing to lease it? Do you know what the land was used for previously? Have you conducted a soil test?
- What type of community garden are you envisioning: traditional garden with family plots, educational garden, urban farm or a hybrid of these types?
- How much community support do you have for the garden?
- Have you formed a volunteer leadership group to organize your community garden?
- Do you plan to manage the garden’s finances or would you like the Los Angeles Community Garden Council to help you with this?
- Do you have funds available to cover any of the setup expenses, garden maintenance, and water bills?
Planting the Seeds of a Sustainable Community Garden
Los Angeles Community Garden Council can help you organize the local community, form a volunteer garden leadership group, write your articles of incorporation, bylaws, and gardener agreements, and to develop your community garden rules and guidelines. Please contact us.
Documents & Resources for Starting a Community Garden
The Los Angeles Community Garden Council has over 24 years of experience building community gardens and we know the challenges that occur. Below, you will find some helpful documents to determine costs, get people in the garden, start your plots off with the right plants, and more!
- LACGC Garden Rules: A sample of what garden rules typically look like to help you when your garden starts drafting your own
- LACGC Plot Application: An organized way to get gardeners assigned to plots, plot applications help get all the information you need in one place
- Community Garden Budget: A template to help you estimate the costs of starting and maintaining a community garden
- Garden Leader Responsibilities: Every great community garden needs great leadership! Learn more about what that entails
- Tool List for a New Community Garden: A list of the tools you’ll need to start your community garden
- Planting Guide for Southern California: Burpee’s comprehensive list of what to plant and when
- Ten Best Daily Practices for an Urban Farm:Lavender Hill Urban Farm’s manager fills you in on the ten things you must do daily to make sure your garden/farm thrives
Get a Garden Mentor
Community gardens all over have been blessed by dedicated volunteers that have started gardens, formed committees, and fostered successful places to grow food and share memories! These garden leaders are brimming with knowledge about what it takes to start a garden and the best way to deal with obstacles. If you’re interested in starting a community garden yourself but want some advice from a local expert, Contact Usand we’ll put you in touch with one of our expert community garden leaders!
We wish you many hours of pleasurable gardening, lots of healthy eating, and all the joy that comes from getting to know your neighbors!
