If you’re looking for an activity that people of all ages can enjoy, start a community garden. Rallying support from your neighbors, friends, Tribe or community organizations is a great way to start a garden in your community! Oh, and you get to grow and eat your own healthy food.
Here’s a quick checklist to get you started:
Healthy Garden, Healthy You. Before you start planting, it’s important to research the history and past uses of your garden site. Once the past uses have been determined, take samples of the soil and have them analyzed to find out soil type and quality. EPA has step-by-step guidelines on how to do this. The quality of the soil can have an effect on the design of your garden.
Design Your Garden. Every community garden is different based on its specific size, location, and mission. Design your garden to fit the needs of your community. What kinds of plants grow well where you live? What are some traditional foods that you can grow?
Get Growing. Start gardening! Once the garden is up and running, let everyone know! And remember to plan ahead so that the garden will continue to grow for seasons to come.
Acknowledgement: This post was adapted from our friends at Let’s Move.
