An individual plot inside a community garden in Vienna, VA.
Numerous research studies have shown that community gardens potentially eliminate social, communal, health, agriculture, and economic problems. But what exactly is the “community garden”?
What is Community Garden
The American Community Garden (ACGA) defined the community garden as “It can grow flowers, vegetables or community. It can be one community plot or can be many individual plots. It can be at a school, a hospital, or a neighborhood. It can also be a series of plots dedicated to urban agriculture where the produce is grown for a market.”
The Rise and Fall of Community Gardens in America
The rise of America’s community garden began in 1917 when all Americans were called to help fight World War I. In response, many Americans turned to backyard gardening to increase their food supply. Liberty Garden (later called Victory Garden) campaign promoted the cultivation of available private and public land, resulting in over five million gardens in the US and producing over $1.2 billion of goods by the end of the War.
During the American involvement in WWII, the Liberty Garden transformed into a more communally involved “Victory Garden” program. The program prevails in every American’s life. About half of the American families had a victory garden during the period. At least 20 million Victory Gardens have fertilized and covered over 20 million acres by 1943. In addition to bringing nutritious food and the physical health benefits associated with gardening work, Victory Garden help boost morale and brings the community together.
After the War ended in 1945, the Victory Garden began to disappear. Grocery stores became more widely available, so most of us did not see the need to grow anymore. Gardening become a hobby rather than a necessity.
While diving into community garden history seems nostalgic, the program gave us good insight into how to plan our land.
What’s Next
Whom are we gardening with?
One reason the Victory Garden was successful was that many of the gardens were cultivated in a family’s backyard, a private land. A survey by Joshua Birky, Ph.D., showed approximately 40% of respondents garden with their immediate family, and the second highest number of respondents garden with their friends. The history and the survey told us two phenomena. First, the family bond can lead to an efficient work schedule at the garden, even if the purpose of the community garden is not for sale on-site. Second, an effortless way to maintain a friendship is to keep the same activities, such as gardening together.
How to estimate the yield?
During the Victory Garden program, specific measurements were given to plan a “productive garden” on each family’s property. The pamphlet detailed the spacing between each vegetable and suggested varieties ideal for the backyard. The standard size of a plot ranges from 15 feet by 25 feet to 30 feet by 50 feet. An average family operates on a garden size of 300–400 square feet. A field of 1250 square feet can provide enough food for a family of four to seven persons.
Many of the community garden maintained by Montgomery County ranges from 200 to 400 square feet. We might get these vegetable supplies if we apply Victory Garden’s wisdom; see the diagram below.
Sketch regarding division of 200 to 300 sqaure feet garden lot based on Victory Garden’s principle.
The “chosen” land: private vs. public. Which is better?
Per zoning section 3.2.3, “Community Garden means land cultivated by a group of people to grow product for personal use, limited distribution and not for sale on-site. Community Garden includes cultivation of fruits, vegetables, flowers, ornamental plants, and beekeeping, but does not include Farming.”
A community garden is a “limited” land use for most zoning districts (except within the Heavy Industrial zone.) Thus, if a family wants to operate a garden as their side revenue, many of the residential detached zones are suitable for this type of homeowner. If the property owner has a small-scale residential care facility, the community garden can also be part of these seniors’ activities.
Those county-operated community gardens would be suitable within a membership setting or with friends who can devote similar energy and time to their hobbies. The Map show how these community gardens are located. Many of the county-operated community gardens are concentrated close to downtown Silver Spring area, while some are close to the suburban outskirt.
A hypothetic scenario
Ana and Maria are a Maryland-based artists duo. The lion’s share of their art practice is applying the Oshibana technique to keep the vibrancy of the flowers. Their studio is located in the R-90 zone. It is a 10,500 square feet parcel abutting another rear parcel that does not have vehicular access. Their building is only 900 square feet with an extended 120 square feet for the workshop. (The combination of all structures is 10,200 square feet which is less than 10% of their total land area.) They kept the studio structure friendly to the surrounding nature and kept the building’s profile low. The feel of their workshop exterior resonates with Olney’s historic cabin and its ridge is less than 12 feet. They access the rear parcel for flower beds. During the farmers’ market peak season, they sell freshly picked flowers to nearby farmers’ markets. They also collect the remaining off-season flowers for their studio works.
February to May is their busiest season. Many couples take their mini-Valentine’s gateway to Olney and stop by Ana & Maria’s studio for a romantic flower-press workshop. In March, Ana travels to do special exhibits for National Women’s Month and National Crafts Month; while Maria focuses on enhancing her studio works. They partner with the local art therapy association in April for the annual couple appreciation month. They wrap up the studio work in May with a Mother’s Day celebration and Maryland’s Calvert Art Festival.
Notes and References:
Jane Clatworthy, Joe Hinds, and Paul M Camic, "Gardening as a mental health intervention: a review" (Mental Health Review Journal, Vol. 180 No.4, 2013)
For more history of Victory Garden, visit Garden for the Common Good at Smithsonian Library.
Digital Exhibit of Victory Garden and Farms at Small Agriculture, National Agricultural Library.
Joshua Birky, “The Modern Community Garden Movement in the United States: Its Roots, its current condition and its prospects for the future.” (Scholar Commons, University of South Florida, 2009)
The community garden is not only a movement; it is a science. Visit the Soil Science Society of America to learn more about how to start an abundant garden by assessing your soil.
Community Garden is listed under the Agricultural Use group. You can find the detailed definition in Chapter 59, section 3.2.3.
Visit Community Garden Page at Montgomery Park and Planning Commission if you are interested in your gardening journey.