Choosing the site

Some things to consider when you are helping us find a site...

Identify the owner of the land.

Make sure the site gets at least 6 full hours of sunlight daily (for vegetables).

Do a soil test in the fall for nutrients & heavy metals.

Consider availability of water.

Try and get a lease or agreement which allows the space to be used at least for 3 years.

Consider past uses of the land. Is there any contamination?

Is insurance something you need to consider?

Also once we get the above lined up...

Clean the site.

Develop your design.

Gather your resources--try to gather free materials.

Organize volunteer work crews.

Plan your work day.

Decide on plot sizes, mark plots clearly with gardener's names.

Include plans for a storage area for tools and other equipment, as well as a compost area.

Have a rainproof bulletin board for announcing garden events and messages.

Arrange for land preparation--plowing, etc--or let gardeners do their own prep.

Will the garden be organic?

Lay out garden to place flower or shrub beds around the visible perimeter. This helps to promote good will with non-gardening neighbors, passersby, and municipal authorities.

Follow us on Twitter!

Now you can follow us on Twitter.  We'll be using Twitter to broadcast the latest happenings on our quest to create the ultimate community garden for Auburn, CA.  Maybe you have some great garden tips that you tweet about, let us know how to follow you.  http://www.twitter.com/auburngarden.

Land Needed!

We are on the hunt for a good plot of land. Something with an acre or more of semi-flat and easily accessible land. Something connected to a large neighborhood or walking distance from old town or downtown. We'll need to have a written lease from the owner and some sort of arrangement for water, etc. Can you think of a good spot? Have a connection with a land owner or city official? Help us out...help the community out. Post comments here and let's get a dialog going.

Project Kick-Off

Auburn Community Garden is kicking off today with the release of http://www.auburncommunitygarden.com. This will be the gateway to the community garden plots project. You will find updates and information as well as ways you can help get this project going. Please swing by and check it out!