Overview
There are over 3,000 community gardens in New York State, according to the latest data included in the 2023 Community Gardens Task Force report. These gardens have a broad reach across the state and the goal is to increase the number and long-term viability of these gardens. The workbook guides addressing land access challenges through education, advocacy, and stakeholder collaboration to establish and expand community gardens across the state.
Planning
The most important part of starting or reinvigorating a successful community garden is taking the time to create a plan. Even if your garden is already established, it can be helpful to take some time to review the following worksheets and resources, which can help guide you through the planning process of your project.
- Finding Your Group Structure, Green Thumb
- Bylaws Requirements, Green Thumb
- Bylaws Template, Green Thumb
- Crafting a Mission Statement, Green Thumb
- Memorandum of Agreement Template, Green Thumb
- Planning for Agriculture in New York: A Toolkit for Towns and Counties, American Farmland Trust
- The Green Thumb Gardener’s Handbook, Green Thumb
- American Community Gardening Association Resources Webpage, American Community Garden Association
Site Selection
Once you have a plan in place and have taken time to think through the details, you are ready to find a site for your community garden. Here you will find various templates and resources that can help identify and understand land use considerations when selecting your project site.
- Farmland Access in Urban Settings, Land for Good
- Urban Guide to Farming, Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
- How Law & Policy Can Support Growing Food Where You Live, Healthy Food Policy Project
- Zoning for Urban Agriculture, Healthy Food Policy Project
- Zoning and the Comprehensive Plan, New York State Department of State
- Environmental Assessment Fork Workbooks, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Implementation
Once you have planned for and identified a location for your project, the next step is implementing your idea! There is a lot to consider here, depending on the structure, direction, and goals of your project. On this page, you will find a variety of worksheets and guides to help navigate getting your project up and running.
- Farming Inside Cities: Entrepreneurial Urban Agriculture in the United States, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
- Free Online Garden Courses, Fruition Seeds
- Community Garden Accessibility Guide, Green Thumb
- Practical Guide to Leadership, New York State Association of Counties
Sustainability
Remember, just as the momentum of a growing season ebbs and flows, community projects can shift and change over time. Document your garden rules and protocols now to make future leadership transitions easy and identify opportunities and challenges that may arise in the years ahead. These resources can help identify steps to help maximize the long term sustainability of your project.
- Sustainable Development & Collaborative Governance, New York State
- Urban Agriculture Programs at a Glance, United States Department of Agriculture
- A Directory of Soil and Water Conservation District Offices, New York State
- Data to Support a Thriving and Informed Local and Regional Food Sector, United States Department of Agriculture
- Grants and Loans for Farmers, Cornell Cooperative Extension Chemung County