A community garden can help transform a group of strangers who live near each other into a supportive community. Community gardens celebrate diversity in individual plots while generating opportunities for people to work together and learn from each other—about gardening, food preparation, and more. Gardeners learn to respect one another’s differences and to appreciate what they have in common. Community gardens build relationships that last beyond the growing season.
Community gardens produce tangible societal benefits by promoting a more livable environment, creating beauty, and reducing crime (Draper and Freedman 2010; Hynes 1996; Warner 1987). In addition, they increase home values and improve the community’s public image (Been and Voicu 2008). Many of the skills acquired through developing a community garden empower participants to access economic and public policy resources, which can help them address neighborhood problems such as crime, homelessness, and urban blight (Armstrong 2000).
Benefits of Community Gardens
A garden can promote physical and emotional health, strengthen people’s connections with nature, teach life skills, and promote financial security (Malakoff 1995).
Health: Community gardens provide a place to grow healthy, nutritious food, resulting in gardeners and their families eating a wider variety and larger quantity (Alaimo et al. 2008) of fresh fruits and vegetables that are also higher in quality. In addition, gardeners reduce their stress and increase their physical activity and overall wellness (Van Den Berg and Custers 2011; Wakefield et al. 2007).
Nature: For many urban dwellers surrounded by high-rise buildings and concrete, a community garden may provide their only contact with nature, including plants, birds, and butterflies (Figure 1).
Lessons learned in the community garden about water conservation, water quality preservation, environmental stewardship, and sustainable land use may be implemented in homes, workplaces, and schools, improving environmental health (Figure 2).
Life Skills: In addition to acquiring a wealth of basic horticulture information, gardeners learn important life skills such as planning, organization, and teamwork.
Financial Security: Community gardens may benefit the gardeners and the landowner financially. Some gardeners sell the produce they grow, while others save money on their personal household food budget (Figure 3). Property owners may generate income by renting garden plots.
Figure 1. Harvesting in an urban community garden.
Photo by Lisa Valdivia. CC BY NC
Figure 2. Community gardens can showcase the benefits of environmentally sustainable practices like solar energy collection and rainwater harvesting.
Photo by Lucy Bradley. CC0
Figure 3. Gardener weighing tomatoes to track how much she has harvested.
Photo by Lisa Valdivia. CC BY-NC.
Types of Community Gardens
Community gardens are as varied as the neighborhoods in which they thrive. They can be found at schools, parks, housing projects, places of worship, vacant lots, and private properties. The gardens serve as catalysts for bringing people together and creating community.
Community gardens meet multiple objectives for participants who come together on common ground to grow fruits, vegetables, flowers, herbs, and ornamental plants. Some gardens focus on producing food for the gardeners themselves. Others donate their produce to the hungry. Some focus on education, others on nutrition and exercise, and still others on selling produce for income. Some simply provide a venue for sharing the love of gardening. All community gardens provide opportunities for neighborhood renewal and beautification.
Types of Community Gardens
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Plot Gardens (divided into individual plots)
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Cooperative Gardens (participants work as a team to tend a single large garden)
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Youth Gardens
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Entrepreneurial Market Gardens (managed for selling produce)
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Therapeutic Gardens
Plot Gardens: One familiar strategy is subdividing the garden into family-size plots ranging from 100 to 500 square feet. There is room for about 35 garden plots on a quarter-acre lot, each 10 feet × 20 feet separated by 3-foot-wide pathways. Sometimes gardeners reserve a section of the garden as a communal plot for growing crops too large for individual plots (for example, corn, pumpkins, watermelons, fruit trees, grapes, and berries). Gardeners share the bounty from these plots. Appendix 1 shows a sample design of a typical plot garden.
Cooperative Gardens: In a cooperative garden, the entire space is managed as one large garden through the coordinated efforts of many community members. Produce from the garden is sometimes distributed equitably to all the member gardeners. Often these gardens are associated with communities of faith, civic groups, or service organizations that donate part or all of the produce to charitable organizations such as food banks and soup kitchens.
Youth Gardens: Prior to participating in a youth garden, many children have no idea where the food in a supermarket comes from; they have never seen a garden and have no knowledge of how to grow food. With increased interest in science and nutrition education, many schools in the United States are planting gardens as outdoor learning laboratories. In those gardens, students are transformed into scientists, actively participating in research and discovery. Besides providing a motivating, hands-on setting for teaching skills in virtually every basic subject area, these gardens are a wonderful place to learn life skills, including responsibility, patience, self-esteem, self-confidence, curiosity, critical thinking, and the art of nurturing. Usually, raised-bed gardens, or a section of the school landscape, are assigned to classes. Hands-on curricula and activities are selected to supplement and support the standard course of study for science and nutrition for specific grade levels. In some cases, school gardens require extensive volunteer support so that classes may be split into small groups to work in the garden.
Entrepreneurial Market Gardens: Gardeners of all ages learn business principles and skills by selling harvested produce to local farmers markets, grocery stores, and restaurants. Entrepreneurial market gardeners learn not only how to grow food but also how to develop and manage a business plan including a budget. In addition, they gain skills in marketing and customer service. A leader guides the team through the entrepreneurial process that begins with planning the garden and ends with selling the produce.
Therapeutic Gardens: These gardens use plants to improve the social, educational, psychological, and physical well-being of the gardeners and their caregivers, family, and friends. Located in hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, retirement communities, outpatient treatment centers, botanical gardens, and other settings, therapeutic gardens are generally designed to be accessible to people with physical limitations. They may include elevated planting beds and firm pathways for participants in wheelchairs, Braille signage for blind gardeners, special tools for gardeners with limited physical strength, and other special accommodations (Figure 4). Therapeutic gardens may be designed for active gardening programs or as a quiet space for reflection.
Figure 4. Accessible garden beds at Covenant Community Garden, Fuquay-Varina, NC.
Photo by Chris Burtner.
How to Start a Community Garden
This guide focuses on the steps for initiating and managing a community garden with individual family-size plots. Creating a community garden is a substantial project requiring sustained effort over several years. Developing a successful garden requires a strong commitment from at least five people. Begin by identifying who will be gardening. Will it be youth, families (Figure 5), seniors, a special population, or people in a specific geographic region? All your decisions should be driven by the goal of meeting the specific needs of targeted gardeners. Engage the community from the beginning. A garden designed and built by outsiders is seldom adopted and sustained by a community.
Many types of organizations sponsor community gardens. The following groups may have land, resources, and interested employees or clients.
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Citizen groups
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Colleges and universities
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Community and senior centers
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Community service or development organizations
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Cooperative Extension
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Food banks
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Health departments
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High-density housing developments
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Housing and social service authorities
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Municipalities
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Neighborhood associations
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Parks and recreation
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Places of worship
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Private businesses
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Retirement communities
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Schools
Form a Planning Committee and Make Preliminary Decisions
Identify and invite leaders within the community and other interested people to an organizational meeting and social gathering. Including food at events is always a plus. Invite those who will be gardening, nearby residents, and potential partners.
Some potential recruiting strategies include:
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contacting community organizations such as places of worship and schools
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posting flyers
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advertising through local media
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connecting with residents who can help spread the news
Develop a well-organized leadership team with committees assigned to specific tasks (for example, recruitment, partnership development, special events, and garden organization). Develop bylaws (see Appendix 2) that clarify the purpose and objectives of the garden. Determine how decisions will be made and what process will be used to select leaders. Clarify how work will be shared and who will be responsible for what tasks. Decide on the scope of the garden, including the size and the components (for example, individual plots plus a shared community plot for large crops). Make management decisions, including whether there will be any restrictions on the use of pesticides and fertilizers. Choose a name for the garden.
Create a prioritized budget and a wish list of desired donations and update it regularly (see Appendix 5 and Appendix 6). Identify how you will raise money (for example, membership dues, fundraising, grants, and sponsors).
Consider the need for insurance. Explore potential sources and costs. Determine whether partnering organizations can provide insurance for free or at a minimal cost. Many landowners require liability insurance, but insurance carriers and their underwriters are often reluctant to cover community gardens. Consider working with a firm that represents many different insurance carriers and getting at least one quote from one of the 10 largest carriers.
Identify Potential Partners, Sponsors, or Funders
Seek donations of money, labor, land, soil amendments, tools, seeds, plants, fencing, and other supplies. See the sample budget worksheet (Appendix 5) and potential funding sources (Appendix 7). To build effective relationships with partners, donors, or funders, track several kinds of information: (1) contact information; (2) actual contacts (who from the garden contacted whom); (3) date of contact, request made, and the outcome; and (4) gift history. Appendix 6 includes a sample donor tracking form.
Choose a Site
Several essentials are necessary for an appropriate garden site—including a clean, easily accessible, affordable source of water for irrigation; healthy soil (local or imported); six hours of sunlight exposure per day; and a location in which gardeners feel safe. The site should be convenient to the intended audience.
Research the history of previous uses of the land to identify potential contamination. Do not plant an edible garden in a floodplain. Stormwater can wash in biological contaminants like sewage from flooded septic tanks and chemical pollutants from various sources. Do proper soil testing to identify the existing nutrient levels and ensure the absence of heavy metals. The North Carolina Department of Agricultural & Consumer Services Agronomic Services Division offers a variety of diagnostic testing services.
Community and senior centers, where people gather with the expectation of participating in organized activities, have excellent potential as community garden sites. Becoming involved prior to construction increases the likelihood of appropriate space being reserved for gardening.
Vacant lots are widely available in large cities. Often city officials are happy to save money by having someone else take care of the property. Check with your local planning and zoning departments for leads.
Once you have found a suitable lot, contact the landowner to see if he or she is interested.
Negotiate a lease or written agreement that allows the space to be used as a community garden for at least five years. In the written agreement, clearly identify
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who is responsible for providing water and security,
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what liability insurance is required,
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what fee, if any, will be required and when it is due,
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who will be responsible for clearing the property to prepare it for gardening,
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what, if any, resources the owner will provide,
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grounds for terminating the contract, and
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contact information for the primary gardener and the property owner.
Create a Management Plan
Keep governance simple and responsive. An informal structure may be all you need in the beginning (and in the long term for small gardens). As the number of participants and workload expand, a more formal structure may enable each gardener to participate fully and the group to perform effectively. Structure can promote stability, trust, and a foundation for growth. It also provides a framework within which new leaders can be cultivated.
Establish criteria for membership in the garden: for example, residence in a specific geographic region, payment of dues, agreement with rules, and participation in upkeep of common areas. Identify the selection process for initial gardeners and gardeners chosen to fill vacancies. Determine a strategy for assigning plots (family size, residency, need, or order of requests). Specify in the bylaws (Appendix 2) and the garden rules (Appendix 4) expectations for maintenance of common areas and equipment; if enforcement becomes necessary, equitability will be transparent. Review sample bylaws from respected organizations. To clarify expectations, have each gardener sign an agreement to abide by the garden rules. This document should identify requirements, timelines, and consequences for not adhering to rules.
Identify how dues (if applicable) will be used and what services, if any, will be provided to gardeners in return. If you obtain communal tools, hoses, and supplies, identify how they will be stored and distributed. Decide how often the gardeners will be expected to participate in group workdays. Social events enhance the success of the garden, so schedule group projects, workdays, and potlucks (Figure 6). Consider the pros and cons of forming a nonprofit organization and working toward owning the garden site.
Develop the Garden Site
Create a garden plan with plot sizes and location. Reserve space in the garden plan for all of the components you hope to eventually add to the garden, even if you do not have resources to install them initially (Figure 7). Consider including space for storage sheds, compost bins, picnic tables, gathering space, a rainproof bulletin board, a children’s plot, ornamental perimeter plantings (for curb appeal), and an irrigation system. Wide pathways make for good neighbors. A minimum of 3 feet is necessary to allow for wheelbarrows and carts to pass without damaging individual plots.
Plan community workdays to remove existing rubbish and weeds, lay out the beds, and prepare the soil. Install an irrigation system if desired—this might include installing a 1-inch PVC pipe underground to connect to strategically located spigots or installing drip irrigation for individual beds (Figure 8). Consider freeze-proofing the plumbing to prevent the expense and inconvenience of flooding due to burst pipes.
Install a sign with contact information (Figure 9) and a bulletin board to share educational information, meeting notices, contact information, and tasks (Figure 10).
Figure 5. Family in a community garden.
Photo by D-Olwen-Dee. CC BY.
Figure 6. Community Help Day at Fayetteville Community Garden, Fayetteville, NC.
Photo by Sandhills Area Land Trust.
Figure 7. Garden design with key components identified. The Lord’s Acre, Fairview, NC, Buncombe County.
Image by Ambient Design Group, PLLC.
Figure 9. A welcoming, informative sign invites participation.
Photo by Nadine Ford.
Figure 10. Information Center in the Keeping Pitt Fit Community Garden, Greenville, NC.
Photo by Lucy Bradley. CC0
Potential Problems and Solutions
Removed or Contaminated Topsoil
Prevention: Learning about previous land use can help you determine what contaminants might be in the soil and whether the native topsoil has been removed. Carefully examine the history of land use for the garden site and surrounding lots. Review city records to identify zoning information as well as current and previous owners. Check with local and state agencies for an environmental evaluation and to determine if the property is listed in the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality's Division of Waste Management Brownfields Redevelopment Section database. Long-time neighbors can also be valuable sources of information. For more information, see Minimizing Risks of Soil Contaminants in Urban Gardens.
Management: Raised beds with imported topsoil may be needed. Beds should be 12 to 24 inches deep. If there is concern about existing soil contamination, seal off the bottom of raised beds with heavy plastic and include drainage holes 1 inch above ground level on the sides of each bed.
Weeds
Prevention: Specify weed management requirements for personal plots, pathways, and community areas. Assign all plots in the garden so none are left untended for weeds to spread. Encourage the use of mulch around plants to minimize exposed soil on which weeds will grow.
Management: Intervene early. The smaller the weed, the easier it is to remove. Prevent subsequent generations by removing weeds before they flower and set seed. Host workdays for teaching gardeners how to identify and manage weeds and encouraging them to work together.
Angry Neighbors
Prevention: Specify in the bylaws how the plots must be kept and the consequences for not complying. Enforce the bylaws. Work at building a positive relationship with neighbors through clear communication, respecting boundaries, managing parking, limiting night events, listening, and responding quickly to issues raised by neighbors. Invite neighbors to attend garden events and share produce with them.
Management: Meet with the neighbors in person. Listen carefully and clearly identify their concerns. Explain how you intend to address the issues. A well-organized garden with strong leadership and committed members can overcome almost any obstacle.
Disputes Between Gardeners
Prevention: Make adequate pathways around plots to minimize accidental plant damage (Figure 11). Stake the corners of plots to prevent hoses from being dragged across plants. In the garden rules (Appendix 4), clearly state any restrictions on fertilizer and pesticide use. Consider designating part, or all, of the garden as either organic or pesticide-free. Group organic or pesticide-free plots together to minimize the potential for chemical drift from other gardeners’ plots. Manage weeds so seeds do not blow into adjacent plots. Enforce the bylaws and rules equitably.
Management: Engage those involved in identifying issues and potential resolution. Handle issues before they escalate.
Abandoned Plots
Prevention: Include in the garden rules (Appendix 4) clear expectations for how the plot is to be maintained and the process for reassigning the plot as a consequence of failure to comply.
Management: Charge an initial deposit that can be used to cover the cost of cleaning up abandoned plots.
Theft
Prevention: Designate a plot near the entrance for people to “help themselves” (put up a sign that specifies communal harvest from only this plot). Plant potatoes (and other root crops) or more unusual vegetables (such as kohlrabi) along the sidewalk or fence. Plant the purple varieties of cauliflower and beans or white eggplants, which may be less likely to be taken. Rather than purchasing fancy new hoses, reuse donated hoses (old hoses are rarely stolen). Encourage gardeners to plant more than they need to prepare for potential loss. Recruit garden neighbors to keep an eye out for and report intruders.
Management: If produce is taken without permission, inform gardeners and neighbors and work together to identify and implement a response.
Vandalism
Prevention: Put up a sign identifying the garden as a neighborhood project. Install a fence—this will not keep out someone who is determined to come in; however, it clearly marks possession of property and will keep out dogs. Plant raspberries, blackberries, roses, or other thorny plants along the fence as a barrier to climbing. Raised beds may prevent trampling. Harvest all ripe fruit and vegetables daily. Red tomatoes falling from the vines are hard for thieves to resist. Encourage a shared vision for and ownership of the garden. Nurture relationships with neighbors and community residents. Request their assistance in keeping a protective eye out over the garden. Establish children’s plots within the garden and invite young people in the community to participate. Consider marketing the youth plots to local Scout troops, daycare centers, foster grandparent programs, and places of worship to increase the number of people in the garden and decrease the amount of time it is vacant. Consider offering free, small plots in the children’s garden to the children of community gardeners. Create a comfortable, shady meeting area in the garden and encourage gardeners and neighbors to spend time there. Hold meetings there and encourage others to host meetings and social events in the garden.
Management: Give gardeners the opportunity to reflect on their experiences and share ideas on preventing future vandalism.
The keys to a successful community garden with individual plots include forming a strong planning team with residents leading the way; choosing a safe, accessible site with sunlight and water; organizing a simple, transparent management system; designing and installing functional spaces (Figure 12); and inviting the community to enjoy the garden. However, even with all of these components, problems can occur. Address them quickly and fairly before tensions build.
Figure 11. Wide pathways prevent conflict.
Photo by Donna Teasley.
Figure 12. A shaded gathering space with picnic tables. Keep Pitt Fit, Greenville, NC.
Photo by Lucy Bradley CC0
Appendixes
Appendix 1: Sample Design for a Community Garden with Numbered Individual Plots
Appendix 2: Key Components for Bylaws
Appendix 3: Sample Gardener Application
Appendix 4: Sample Form with Garden Rules for Each Gardener to Sign
Appendix 5: Sample Budget Worksheet
Appendix 6: Sample Donor Tracking Form
References
Alaimo, K., E. Packnett, R. A. Milesand, and D. J. Kruger. 2008. “Fruit and Vegetable Intake Among Urban Community Gardeners.” Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior 40 (2): 94–101. ↲
Armstrong, D. 2000. “A Survey of Community Gardens in Upstate New York: Implications for Health Promotion and Community Development.” Health & Place 6: 319–27. ↲
Been, V., and I. Voicu. 2008. “The Effect of Community Gardens on Neighboring Property Values.” Real Estate Economics 36 (2): 241–83. ↲
Draper, C., and D. Freedman. 2010. “Review and Analysis of the Benefits, Purposes, and Motivations Associated with Community Gardening in the United States.” Journal of Community Practice 18 (4): 458–92. ↲
Hynes, H.P. 1996. A Patch of Eden: America’s Inner-City Gardeners. Chelsea Green Publishing Company. ↲
Malakoff, D. 1995. What Good is Community Greening? American Community Gardening Association Monograph. Pennsylvania Horticulture Society. ↲
Van Den Berg, A. E., and M. H. Custers. 2011. “Gardening Promotes Neuroendocrine and Affective Restoration from Stress.” Journal of Health Psychology 16 (1): 3–11. ↲
Wakefield, S., F. Yeudall, C. Taron, J. Reynolds, and A. Skinner. 2007. “Growing Urban Health: Community Gardening in South-East Toronto.” Health Promotion International 22 (2): 92–101. ↲
Warner, S. B., Jr. 1987. To Dwell Is to Garden: A History of Boston’s Community Gardens. Northeastern University Press. ↲
Acknowledgments
Keith Baldwin, Don Boekelheide, Karen Neill, Liz Driscoll, Julie Sherk, Brantley Snipes, Amy Hill, Viki Balkcum, and Karl Larson contributed to this project.
Publication date: Aug. 25, 2026
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