How it Works

The primary question I have heard about the garden, and even asked myself, is simply, how does it work? A lot of community gardens that I have read about have given away or sold small 10x10 plots of land in the garden to groups or families to do whatever they please with. For at least the first year of our garden we are not going to do that. Although we may have a couple small private sections for different reasons, the large majority of the garden will be open to all people all the time. Prior to our second planting party, we will likely make a list of the primary things to be grown in the garden, and then break off different sections of the garden to be plant specific.

To be honest, it may be a little messy at first as we allow people to come at different times to plant in the same area. But, as soon as we get past the time of planting, things will become a lot easier.

The most important thing I want to continue to stress, is that this is not my garden, nor the garden of Duane who lives on the property, or the farmer who owns the land, this is everyone's garden. The plants that you specifically plant, are open to everyone, and you too can pick from all the other plants.

Once everything is growing, we hope and desire for people to come back every few weeks on their own to pick weeds, and take care of the garden as they see need. Not just weeding around the seeds you planted, but all around the garden as much as you can.

I realize that this system will be frustrating for some people, however, as we look at the different goals of this garden (to be posted in near future) we hold community and service as two high values, and believe this shared garden idea allows that to flow at it's best.

The final thought on this that I want to definitely get across, is that one can join in this garden at any point, just because you don't plant, does not mean you can not pick in the late summer. This is a garden for everyone at all times and I don't want that to change.