Community Garden Magazine Issue Seven March 2016 Community Garden Magazine Issue Seven March 2016 | Page 2

Choose a Site
Across the country, community gardens are becoming an anchor for
neighborhood revitalization. Community gardens range in purpose from
increasing access to fresh, healthy food in rural towns to providing safe
green spaces where youth can play in urban cities. What type of
community garden will your neighborhood be planting? Knowing this
information will narrow your search for a site. If growing food, find a
location that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight per day with
easy access to water. Check if the land you would be growing on has
proper drainage. Once you identify an ideal site, find out who owns the
land. Contact the landowner and discuss next steps which may include
obtaining permission through written agreement or lease and getting
liability insurance.

Garden Healthy
Before you start planting, it is important to research the history and past
uses of your chosen 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. Consult with your
state environmental agency, local health department, or county’s Cooperative
Extension office to learn how to take a soil sample and to determine what

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