The following points might be helpful when talking with individuals whose support you solicit, especially those in the decision-making process for a new community garden.
(1) People Want to Garden. At last count 222 people were on the waiting lists for a community garden plot at Buckman and Colonel Summers Community Gardens. In Portland more than 1000 people are waitlisted for community garden plots. For the nearby Everett community garden, 85 people are waitlisted.
(2) People Need Community Gardens Space. Buckman is one, if not the most densely populated parts of Portland. Many people live in multiunit dwellings with no access to yards. Portland’s ‘green canopy’ policy makes gardening difficult for people who have only a small space available. Sunny, publicly available space is required for many people living in Buckman.
(3) Community Gardens are on the Agenda. Portland had codified community gardens as one of the primary uses of the city’s parks. The Diggable City, Portland/Multnomah Food Policy Council’s report of July 2007, recommends 10-12 more gardens be built in Portland, and existing parks be expanded. It pinpoints the inner-East Side for 3 new gardens.
(4) People Need What a Garden Provides. Buckman has many low income people for whom the produce from a garden greatly improves their diet. The current Great Recession has forced many people to tighten their belts. Provide food for oneself and one’s family is a budgetary necessity.
(5) Community Gardens Feed the Poor. Portland Parks and Recreation’s Produce for People program helps community gardeners donate garden-grown food to those who lack food security. In an organized fashion, gardens donate to food pantries and emergency assistance agencies on a regular basis during growing season. Last year more than 13,000 pounds of produce and food was donated to those who need it most. Col. Summers Garden donated more than 2000 pounds to FISH and makes weekly (and may soon make twice-weekly) donations there this year.
(6) Fresh Food is Good for You. Portland’s community gardens are strictly organic. The loving care people use to tend their gardens provides food that rivals the best found in farmers’ markets.
(7) Gardening is Good Exercise. People need the exercise and physical activity gardening requires. This is especially true for older citizens who can work at their own pace, gain flexibility, and enjoy the walk between home and garden.
(8) Gardening Builds Community. Community gardens are centers of community activity, social intercourse, information exchange, and planning that spills beyond the garden’s border. Neighbors get to know one another, recognizing common interests and concerns. People of all ages garden, providing one more way children, young adults and older people can interact with one another, share information, and identify with their neighborhood.
(9) Gardens Prevent Crime. This is a bold statement, but there is mounting evidence that the presence of people in community gardens, from early morning to dark, provides more neighborhood eyes and ears. This dissuades would-be vandals and petty thieves, a much better approach to crime than dealing with thefts and vandalism after the fact.
(10) Non-gardeners Like Community Gardens. In addition to helping against neighborhood crimes, a recent Lane County study found that non-gardeners liked the aesthetics, activity, and purpose of community gardens, and are overwhelmingly supportive of community gardens.
(11) Community Gardens as Schools. Portland Parks and Recreation has demonstration gardens and an active program of children’s gardening classes in the summer, as well as providing workshops on composting, orchards, and garden pests at community gardens.
(12) Business Acumen Comes from Gardening. Throughout the U.S. community gardens are seen as an excellent way for people to learn some of the basics about small businesses. Especially among people who need a new lease on life, ‘market gardening’ and ‘entrepreneurial gardens’ are helping people learn not only how to grow fruits and vegetables. They are learning how to market what they grow. This hasn’t been a focus in Portland, but in the years ahead it may well become part of the agenda of some gardens.
(13) Schools Share with Community Gardeners. Several Portland public schools have dedicated space for community gardens, in addition to school gardens in many more schools. Portland Parks and Recreation has put gardens at Rigler, Madison, DaVinci, and Vestal School, Schools, and of course at Buckman Elementary School.
(14) Opportunity for De-paving. We all recognize the pernicious effect of unnecessary paving on Portland’s water system. It might be possible to combine a new community garden with a de-paving project on the Washington School site. Such an effort could garner financial backing from the conservation district or some other entity.
(15) Community Gardens are a Good Use of Space. Community gardens do not deny others of space to recreate, as can be seen at any city park or school where a community garden is located. For example, Colonel Summers Community Garden is located within Colonel Summers Park. In the space of ¾ of one acre, it has 87 garden plots, and is increasing this number as larger, 20x20 plots are converted to two 10x20 plots when people don’t renew their plot.
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