Community Garden for Charity - getting started

[Reg]

I need help in setting up a plan and presentation.

Our rural Church is looking for a project to help people in the community.

We have several food banks in the towns in the county, and it could be pick if you need.

What is needed? If anyone has experience with or has set up a community garden please let me know all the pitfalls the advantages the disadvantages the requirements etc....

We have the land and water can be plumed to the garden area. Everyone out here has tractors, tools and home gardening experience.

Thanks!

I helped out in an adjoining town 3 years ago.
I am going through the same thing RIGHT NOW - and have been since last summer.
Although not a "church group" we found a church willing to let us use their land.
We still had to get the town's conservation commission OK because it is very close to wetlands.
They don't have jurisdiction outside the buffer zone, but DO have authority to ensure that we are in fact outside the buffer zone.
We are 16 ft clear on one corner, 6 ft clear on another corner.

Testing soil and water (if you use ground water) can lead to complications, i.e. EPA, DEP, whoever all else could descend on the property owners and demand clean-up if the results are considered toxic.
I don't know the details, but I think there are requirements for the test labs to "report" (call in) results on some contaminants that exceed particular levels.
Read this as "Testing soil or water can put a land owner in a whole buncha hurt" Yes, even a Church, there doesn't seem to be an exemption for this.
Lead is persistent and strikes fear in many/most of us when we think of it entering our food chain.
Leaded gas has been gone for 15 or so years, but you will still find high levels of lead near highways.
This seems to be the ONE contaminant that board of health acknowledges to be there and there isn't much you can do about it.

I think whatever the results of testing are you need an agreement document signed by each individual gardener that they have received a copy of the analysis and will take full responsibility for growing whatever they grow there. Some legalspeak about the garden committee not recommending the soil or water as being suitable for growing food crops,,,, on and on.
Pressure treated lumber chemicals will also Getcha )-;

If/when you get through all this;
Around here we need to mark it all out and call dig-safe.
Utility companies have 3 work/business days to respond and mark their lines.
Sub soiling can be a good idea for establishing drainage and turning up the first crop of rocks.
If you have the volunteers for this they can get the medium ones out that you disturb on one pass, then chuck them in the bucket as you make the next pass a couple of feet over.
I looked for the worst of the "tiller killer" rocks while doing this.
A sub soiler with middle buster can also open up a trench for a boundary fence if you plan to bury that as defense against burrowing veggie thieves.

Same routine with roto tilling, churn 'em up, have the volunteers chuck 'em in the bucket as you come alongside on the next pass.

Once they get to raised beds you may find they don't want you to til every year.

 

[txdon]

A Jim (garden on your own land idea) and Pajoube (extra row for charity) idea is forming. This is a very rural area and everyone has land for a garden and most have a garden. Maybe, have the members plant an extra row for charity and once or twice a week have the members bring the extra produce to the rural church and then one person could take it to town to the charitable organization/s, or a mixed basket of veggies to the shut/ins in this area of the county. Every one could work when they wanted, save on gas, and no initial expense.

 

[pajoube]

I like the idea of a contract and the extra row. That would give people incentive if they could pick some veggies for themselves without feeling like they are stealing from the poor. If at all possible could you PM me the contract, or copy it on this thread. Thanks

I will send you a copy of the agreement. Please send me your email address via PM.
PJ

 

[charlz]

"Plant a row, Grow a row" is an established program in US and Canada where gardeners plant an extra row for donation.

Plant a Row Grow a Row

America's Grow A Row

I believe they even provide some seeds. You could just promote that within your church.

The last 5 years or so I have grown a large garden with a mind towards donating the food. Most years I have donated between 800 and 1200 pounds of vegetables and some fruit. Last year was pretty much a failure due to the long cool spring and I had to replant several times. That was kind of a bummer because I knew demand would be up given the economy.

Tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, zucchini, yellow summer squash, winter squash (butternut), potatoes, corn, beans, peas, and peppers are all items I have grown and donated. You have to pick your crops somewhat carefully as some, like summer squash, need to be picked every few days. Tomatoes are hard to keep from getting squished if you pick them when they are ripe. Having enough boxes for them is always an issue. For other crops I reuse plastic shopping bags. Summer squash can also overwhelm the foodbank due to its productivity. Having to pick a time consuming crop like peas or beans is also a pain. So much time is already spent on weeding.

I deliver to the main Idaho foodbank and they supply it to other organizations. From what I understand from the foodbank workers most of what I donate goes to a few homeless shelters in town that cook meals for the residents. In the last 2 years some community gardens have also been donating to the foodbank.

These last couple years I have concentrated more on the 'low input' crops like potatoes, corn, winter squash. They still produce some weight but don't need a lot of pampering/picking during the summer. Havesting potatoes isn't too bad with a middle buster to bring them up. Butternut squash need to be held about a month after harvest for the flavor to fully develop.

Since most foodbanks do a big turkey drive for the holidays I have thought about approaching the Idaho foodbank about doing a 'turkey and a squash' drive. They would promote home gardeners growing winter squash and deliver them in time for the big turkey distribution. Probably get some local company to provide the seeds. Been kicking that idea around for a few years but haven't approached the foodbank yet.

 

[charlz]

Another idea is to do 'gleaning'. This is where you go through local farmers fields after harvest and pick up what the machines missed. Potatoes, onions etc are good examples where there is always some left in the field and the farmers just plow them back under.

 

[2manyrocks]

Gleaning is an Old Testament concept where the Israelites intentionally did not pick every last item they had grown. They left some behind for the poor to pick. One of the more memorable accounts is the story of Ruth going out to pick the leftovers.

 

[txdon]

Thanks a lot y'all really have some good ideas, especially about what to plant.:thumbsup:

 

[forgeblast]

REAL School Gardens
its based out of Fort Worth, TX
and they seem to have a ton of information.

 

[Hollow]

A few in my church decided to try a garden this year on some vacant land beside the church. It's been a slow start but everything seems to be coming together nicely.

My tractor with a friend's little Yanmar tiller behind it. It got the job done though!

 

[txdon]

A few in my church decided to try a garden this year on some vacant land beside the church. It's been a slow start but everything seems to be coming together nicely.

Please, keep posting as it grows.