Community Gardens

Community Gardens

Obviously with the name of the 2011 MGC, Inc. Convention (Growing Gardens, Creating Communities) you have guessed my President’s Project will be promoting clubs to continue their work in current areas but we are also going to help you enhance your existing gardens.

Many communities are now planting gardens for the hungry or “planting a row for the hungry”.  It is the resurrection of the former “Victory Gardens” during WWII.  Many of us remember those times and the need is surfacing once again.

There are many guidelines, ordinances, funding, grants, and personal time you need to commit to for a successful community garden.   it isn’t an easy task to partner with the city, town, and community leaders but we can do it. 

The key word when all is said and done is “sustainability”.  After we partner with others, will the garden partners continue to keep it going?  Will the commitment still be there year after year?

With the help of the River Valley Garden Club in District III where they established “The Planting Fields” in 2009 and a good friend of mine here in Midland, my project is to provide all clubs with the proper instructions on how to partner with local townships and county governments to plant local community gardens.  The strategy to accomplish this will be made available to all Michigan garden clubs via our web site with the ability to download guidelines and forms.

Here is a simple idea to get you started with a different kind of community gardening.  Many of you have already planted your gardens and planters.  But I’ll bet there is still room to fit in some herb plants or vegetable plants with your flowers.  Perhaps you could take one of your former flower gardens next year, draw out your plan perhaps using the square foot gardening process, and grow vegetables for a nearby shelter or organization that would distribute fresh produce to kitchens that provide meals for the hungry. 

When I attended the National Garden Clubs, Inc. Convention in May, it didn’t surprise me that the national president’s special projects are gardens with edibles and container gardens that are planted for public and special places.