Community and School Garden Checklist
Revision Date: March 2015
Community and School Garden Checklist Is there interest within your community to start a garden? Do you have energized and committed community members? Begin to organize your efforts, and take it slow to insure success. Use the following checklist to help organize your community’s thoughts and ideas, and begin the planning process. Then, contact your county Extension office to help your community take the next steps to identify the best site, and necessary resources to grow your garden successfully! Proposed site of garden Description of this site
DIMENSIONS OF GROWING SPACE ft. x ft. Less than 1/4 acre More than 1/4 acre TYPE OF GARDEN School Community Other AND Edible plants (vegetables, fruit, herbs) Ornamental plants SUNLIGHT 6-8 hours (recommended for fruits and vegies) Less than 6 hours Full shade (look for another location!)
Community gardeners tend to their raised beds at the 12th and Brandywine Urban Farm in Wilmington.
ACCESS TO WATER Water is within reach of the garden and a connection exists Water is within reach of the garden but establishing a connection is necessary Water is nearby but we don’t have ready access There is no water source (look for another location or find out how to install a water line near the garden)
1 https://extension.udel.edu/lawngarden/ Cooperative Extension Education in Agriculture and Home Economics, University of Delaware, Delaware State University, and the United States Department of Agriculture cooperating. Distributed in furtherance of Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914. It is the policy of the Delaware Cooperative Extension System that no person shall be subjected to discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex, disability, age, or national origin.
SOIL: Growing in an urban setting is different than gardening in the suburbs. Urban garden sites may contain lead and other chemicals; here, vegetables and fruits should be both grown in containers, for example raised beds (i.e., wood structures filled with fresh, safe soil) and underlain by a geotextile fabric, that prevent edible plants from taking up soil contaminants. The soil around the beds in an urban garden site should be stabilized with grass or mulch to prevent further contact with soil contaminants.
Yes, the history of this site suggests soil contaminants may be present; raised bed gardening is the best option (see raised bed gardening fact sheet). Yes, soil contaminants may be present but there is continued interest in growing in-ground; before you take ownership of the property contact DNREC Brownfields Development Program for more information (http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/dwhs/SIRB/Pages/Brownfields.aspx). The history of this site does not suggest contaminants are present; conduct a routine soil test (this includes lead screening) prior to planting (http://ag.udel.edu/dstp/).
OTHER SOIL CONSIDERATIONS Poor drainage, standing water Evidence of recent construction Presence of construction (or other) debris Plants present (weeds, invasive plants, woody plants, perennials, etc.) List plants names and/or characteristics here:
AND, CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING: -Funding -Tools and equipment, including raised bed materials and growing medium if growing in raised beds -Garden fencing -Siting a compost pile for the garden -Creating a “rest” area in or near the garden for sitting and relaxing, taking a break in the shade, and/or demonstration and presentations NOW, LET’S GROW! Try growing these hardy, easy-to-grow crops in your community garden: -warm season: beans, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, herbs -cool season: peas, lettuce, radishes, turnips, collards, kale, and spinach See our planting/harvesting calendar, suggested vegetables for home gardens, and other food gardening fact sheets to learn more. Prepared by Carrie Murphy, Extension Educator, and Delaware Master Gardeners, in partnership with:
2 https://extension.udel.edu/lawngarden/ Cooperative Extension Education in Agriculture and Home Economics, University of Delaware, Delaware State University, and the United States Department of Agriculture cooperating. Distributed in furtherance of Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914. It is the policy of the Delaware Cooperative Extension System that no person shall be subjected to discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex, disability, age, or national origin.
Community and School Garden Checklist Is there interest within your community to start a garden? Do you have energized and committed community members? Begin to organize your efforts, and take it slow to insure success. Use the following checklist to help organize your community’s thoughts and ideas, and begin the planning process. Then, contact your county Extension office to help your community take the next steps to identify the best site, and necessary resources to grow your garden successfully! Proposed site of garden Description of this site
DIMENSIONS OF GROWING SPACE ft. x ft. Less than 1/4 acre More than 1/4 acre TYPE OF GARDEN School Community Other AND Edible plants (vegetables, fruit, herbs) Ornamental plants SUNLIGHT 6-8 hours (recommended for fruits and vegies) Less than 6 hours Full shade (look for another location!)
Community gardeners tend to their raised beds at the 12th and Brandywine Urban Farm in Wilmington.
ACCESS TO WATER Water is within reach of the garden and a connection exists Water is within reach of the garden but establishing a connection is necessary Water is nearby but we don’t have ready access There is no water source (look for another location or find out how to install a water line near the garden)
1 https://extension.udel.edu/lawngarden/ Cooperative Extension Education in Agriculture and Home Economics, University of Delaware, Delaware State University, and the United States Department of Agriculture cooperating. Distributed in furtherance of Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914. It is the policy of the Delaware Cooperative Extension System that no person shall be subjected to discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex, disability, age, or national origin.
SOIL: Growing in an urban setting is different than gardening in the suburbs. Urban garden sites may contain lead and other chemicals; here, vegetables and fruits should be both grown in containers, for example raised beds (i.e., wood structures filled with fresh, safe soil) and underlain by a geotextile fabric, that prevent edible plants from taking up soil contaminants. The soil around the beds in an urban garden site should be stabilized with grass or mulch to prevent further contact with soil contaminants.
Yes, the history of this site suggests soil contaminants may be present; raised bed gardening is the best option (see raised bed gardening fact sheet). Yes, soil contaminants may be present but there is continued interest in growing in-ground; before you take ownership of the property contact DNREC Brownfields Development Program for more information (http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/dwhs/SIRB/Pages/Brownfields.aspx). The history of this site does not suggest contaminants are present; conduct a routine soil test (this includes lead screening) prior to planting (http://ag.udel.edu/dstp/).
OTHER SOIL CONSIDERATIONS Poor drainage, standing water Evidence of recent construction Presence of construction (or other) debris Plants present (weeds, invasive plants, woody plants, perennials, etc.) List plants names and/or characteristics here:
AND, CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING: -Funding -Tools and equipment, including raised bed materials and growing medium if growing in raised beds -Garden fencing -Siting a compost pile for the garden -Creating a “rest” area in or near the garden for sitting and relaxing, taking a break in the shade, and/or demonstration and presentations NOW, LET’S GROW! Try growing these hardy, easy-to-grow crops in your community garden: -warm season: beans, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, herbs -cool season: peas, lettuce, radishes, turnips, collards, kale, and spinach See our planting/harvesting calendar, suggested vegetables for home gardens, and other food gardening fact sheets to learn more. Prepared by Carrie Murphy, Extension Educator, and Delaware Master Gardeners, in partnership with:
2 https://extension.udel.edu/lawngarden/ Cooperative Extension Education in Agriculture and Home Economics, University of Delaware, Delaware State University, and the United States Department of Agriculture cooperating. Distributed in furtherance of Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914. It is the policy of the Delaware Cooperative Extension System that no person shall be subjected to discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex, disability, age, or national origin.
