Community Garden Magazine Issue Seven March 2016 Community Garden Magazine Issue Seven March 2016 | Page 3

kinds of samples you should take. 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 the community it
serves. Consider factors such as age-appropriate design, accessibility,
protection from animals or vandalism, storage of tools, and space to
gather. Incorporate sustainable gardening techniques such as: using
native plants, composting, mulching, applying an integrated pest
management approach, creating a habitat for wildlife, using water wisely or
installing a rain barrel. Use the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map to determine which
plants will thrive in your part of the country.

Let's Move Faith and Communities
As part of Let’s Move Faith and Communities, First Lady Michelle Obama has
challenged congregations and neighborhood organizations to plant gardens in
their communities. There are many positive benefits to starting a community
garden: increasing access to healthy, fresh food; improving soil and water
quality; providing exercise for people within a wide range of physical ability;
and creating the opportunity to teach about nutrition, agriculture, and ecology.
In short, starting a garden can help make real and lasting change in
communities. Whether you are new to gardening or have had many seasons in
the soil, there are a wide variety of resources available to help you start a
community garden at your organization or congregation.

www.letsmove.gov
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