Community Gardens

Started by DouglasJ • 11 replies • 2620 views

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DouglasJ (Maine)
Posts: 8

Posted:

Several homeowners have recently become interested in having a community garden. The idea came too late for this season. However it seems to me that now is the time to work out he details for next year. A site would have to be chosen .. The only thing that the community would be involved with as far as I can determine is the use of water. It would seem that we shoul not be involved in the plowing up of ground, or the marking out of plots, or any expenses that those who choose to be involved would hve to bear. Is there anyone out there who has had some experience in a community garden and what are the pitfalls?

Doug

MaryA1 (Arizona)
Posts: 7,043

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By DouglasJ on 08/11/2008 1:19 PM
Several homeowners have recently become interested in having a community garden. The idea came too late for this season. However it seems to me that now is the time to work out he details for next year. A site would have to be chosen .. The only thing that the community would be involved with as far as I can determine is the use of water. It would seem that we shoul not be involved in the plowing up of ground, or the marking out of plots, or any expenses that those who choose to be involved would hve to bear. Is there anyone out there who has had some experience in a community garden and what are the pitfalls?

Doug

Doug,

What type garden are you talking about -- flowers or veggies? I don't understand your comment that "the only thing that the community would be involved with as far as I can determine is the use of water." Are you saying the HOA would not pay for watering the plants?

Depending upon what type of garden you are talking about, I think it might be a great idea. A vegetable garden would have to be in a location away from the resident's homes. But a flower garden would be a nice addition to any area, IMO. Since this would be in a common area, you naturally would have to get board approval. IMO, the board could appoint interested members to a "Garden Comm" and the members would be resp. for maintaining the garden -- flower garden, that is. I agree the HOA should take care of the expense of preparing the garden and purchasing the plants. However, is you're talking about a veg. garden, those members who wish to participate should be resp. for preparing the site and doing the planting and maint. The HOA would have to agree to water the area and perhaps the participating members would reimb. the HOA.

GeraldT4
Posts: 1,022

Posted:

Doug - A community garden (veggies and or flowers) would be a great thing to promote community spirit. The concept is noble. Seems that a minority of the association have come forward and expressed an interest in something that will incur a higher maintenance fee for everyone else. Therefore, use of common space and the expense of watering, and preparing the land may be more appropriate if put to a vote of the association.

KirkW1 (Texas)
Posts: 1,665

Posted:

While water would be used from community, you could recoup most (maybe all) of that cost by charging a nominal cost for the use of the garden. And some would point out that you are allowing people to "privatize" a portion of the common area.

All the same, I think it is a good idea. Unfortunately it seems today that vegetable gardens are often seen as unsightly. As a note, in the city of Boston you will find such spots in the city parks. I don't know the details of using the spots. But recall fondly seeing such in some parks. Each plot was fenced off with a low fence. Some had flowers, others had vegies. It was a free for all and I thought looked fine.

If your HOA has some under-utilized land it could be a great thing to try.

DonnaS (Tennessee)
Posts: 5,671

Posted:

Douglas,

In my new life in Tennessee, I have become a Master Gardner for our County. One of our favorite volunteer jobs is with the Area Food Bank community gardens. It runs very smoothly and I see no reason why you could not adapt this system to your HOA.

Depending on what you want to have space wise, these folks have a sign up sheet for garden space. They pay $5.00 for the year to plant whatever they want in their space. You as a HOA could probably charge a bit more. That fee would then be used for the water that the HOA would have available on the site. You have to make some rules too as for maintenance. Any garden left unattended for X amount of days or weeks, forfeits their space and someone else can then be assogned the plot.

You can say what would not be allowed to grow--like Pot or Poppys. We have found up here that gardening is a way of life. The competition over who has the best gardens is fierce and many charities benefit from all of the garden tours. And gardeners are very nice people.

GeraldT4
Posts: 1,022

Posted:

DouglasJ - I don't think there is anyone who is arguing the benefit of a community garden. However, developing one may be altering the intended use of the common property, and is certainly altering its current use. While some may see no reason why you could not adapt this system to your HOA, their opinion is just one of the other members of your association. Altering the intended use of the common property may be subject more broad input of the membership.

JeanneK3 (Maryland)
Posts: 562

Posted:

I believe GerardT4 is correct. My condo documents state that altering the current use of common properties requires a 2/3 approval vote by our members. And a common garden, with people coming and going, would probably be closer to some homes than others so make sure the closest owners are in agreement.

DouglasJ (Maine)
Posts: 8

Posted:

I guess that I was not specific enough in my request about community gardens. This would be a veggie garden for those who wanted to participate. We already have flower gardens all over the property in which we do provide some services, including watering. This proposed garden would be for the benefit of those who want to plant veggies and take care of them. There is a spot on our property that has been suggested and it is not within sight of any building. I thank you all for the thoughts, but I do not want all of us to pay for the water. This is an individual effort and we would be providing the land.

Thanks for the input. We will be in a better position to talk about the project.

Doug

MaryA1 (Arizona)
Posts: 7,043

Posted:

Douglas,

By "all of us" do you mean all of you who will be doing the gardening or all of the members? I suggested earlier the HOA could pay for the watering and be reimb. by the gardeners. But the more I think of that, I don't know that it would be feasible. How would the HOA know how much water is being used by the garden?

Now that we know definitely it is a veg garden that will only benefit those members who wish to participate, I can see that it might pose some problems. Members who are not participating may not like the idea of a common area being used only to benefit a few. I'm sure your docs state the common areas are to the benefit of all members. Even if there is no objection at this point in time, someone in the future may object. I'd tread on this very carefully!

KirkW1 (Texas)
Posts: 1,665

Posted:

Quote:

...Now that we know definitely it is a veg garden that will only benefit those members who wish to participate, I can see that it might pose some problems. Members who are not participating may not like the idea of a common area being used only to benefit a few...

By this line of reasoning pools and club houses should not exist as some residents won't use them. If the garden area is available to all owners then their choice to use or not use them is not a problem. If you have enough room for those who want to do start off and a little room for growth then you should be fine.

As for the water, put a meter on the line feeding the gardens and charge a fee accordingly. In looking up the cost you can get one for a quite reasonable rate. Simply put in "water meter" in google and you will find plenty of options.

GeraldT4
Posts: 1,022

Posted:

KirkW1 - I don't concur that MaryA1's reasoning means the end of existence for pool and club house use. There's a difference between a residents decision to not use something, and their inability to use something because they are excluded. However, let's say for the sake of argument that you are correct. By putting the matter to a a vote to create a vegetable garden, everyone will have a chance to weigh in and no one can claim they didn't have a say in the matter. The collective decision of those that wish to participate in the vote will govern. That's how associations are supposed to work.

MaryA1 (Arizona)
Posts: 7,043

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By KirkW1 on 08/12/2008 8:51 PM

Kirk,

Sorry, but I must disagree. The amenities that are present in a community are known to any potential buyer. Whether they will use them is their decision, but they knew they were going to "pay" for them through their yr. assessment when they purchased the property. This veggie garden is changing the use of a common area which I believe may really be required to be put to the vote of the members. The gov. docs should be thoroughly researched to determine this. Unless the common area extends "forever", it may not large enough to accommodate every member of the assn who might wish to use it. Frankly, who knows how many people will want to partake of this new "amenity"? Even though the association will not be expending any money whatsoever for this garden, use of a common area will be taken up.

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