Further Considerations for Continued Success

Management

Once you have started the ball rolling in the process of getting your garden established, an important consideration is a plan of how your garden will be managed. Formalising this before the garden is actually created helps to show the authorities that are in charge of your site (i.e.: City or Parks Board) that your group is committed to this endeavour for the long term and is investing thought in the future of the garden.

A management plan will include guidelines on all the aspects of your garden’s operations. These will provide structure for your day-to-day activities as well as broad directions in which to develop the garden. Many successful gardens have found it important that their management plans encourage active involvement by its members.

What your management plan includes will be guided by what your members find works for them. Here are some example guidelines and advice that we have garnered from existing community gardens.

  • Have a transparent democratically elected executive that is elected on an annual basis
  • Have regular bi-weekly or monthly meetings where the garden can be assessed, concerns can be aired, and ideas can be shared.
  • Make sure that the minutes from garden meetings are recorded and made available (APPENDIX L , is an example provided by Maple Community Gardens)
  • Create a Membership Guidelines contract (example in APPENDIX M)
  • Have a Member fee (usually around $5-$10 a year) and Plot fee (a general range is $15- $40 a year). Having two fees can allow those that do not want an individual plot the option to garden in a communal section. These fees contribute to the long-term sustainability of many gardens and help pay for materials or costs.
  • Have a bank or credit union account for the garden.
  • Have a reliable and fair waiting list system that is renewed on an annual basis. By renewing annually you prevent flagging interest and ensure that the people on the waiting list are still interested and have not moved on.
  • Have communal maintenance parties a couple of times a year and make it mandatory for all members to attend a minimum number.
  • Make sure that you have a good relationship with your surrounding neighbourhood by being conscious of “eye sores” (garbage and tools lying around) and noise (i.e.: don’t use any power tools or weed-eaters early on Sunday morning).

    • Maintenance

    Most gardens do not require a lot of capital once they have been started, since the main costs are generated by the creation of the garden. However, there are continuing maintenance fees and other costs that need to be accounted for. Annual costs range approximately $350- $700, depending on how large the garden is and what the maintenance needs for that year were. The following is a list of some of the approximate costs that most gardens incur on an annual basis.

  • Water: $250
  • Land rent: $1-25 - depending on who owns the land
  • Fencing and plot maintenance: $50 - $200 - this is not necessarily annual, but if you invest in a good fence to begin with, there is lower maintenance costs required)
  • Seeds and plants for communal area: $50-$100
  • Food for meetings/work parties: $50 - this cost is optional; you can take the potluck option in which everyone contributes
  • Fixing up or buying new tools: $100 - depends on how well tools are cared for
  • Compost: $10/5m2 $ this depends on whether you have your own compost or get it from the City; and whether you have it delivered or you pick it up $ compost from the City is free for non-profit organisation
  • Garden ornaments (i.e.: bricks, lumber, bird baths, etc.): variable - many gardens search for materials that can be recycled and re-used, such as bricks and wood from construction sites.
  • Any paper-work that requires printing or professional skills (i.e.: accounting): variable
  • Miscellaneous: $40- $80 - it is important to account for un-thought of fees

    • With strong membership and involvement, many of these maintenance costs can be paid for through membership and/or plot fees and in-kind donations. In addition to member fees and applying for grants, here are some creative ways to fund-raise for your community garden and to gather the community together.

  • Invite musicians to donate their time and have a picnic in the garden when people donate money for the music to the garden
  • Have a benefit dance with an entrance fee with proceeds going to the garden
  • If you obtain non-profit and charitable status, advertise that donations can receive taxdeductible receipts for their contributions
  • Have an annual plant sale
  • Have a community barbeque