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WHAT IS A COMMUNITY GARDEN?

What is a community garden?

A lively and beautiful setting for socializing, education, and exercise: A place where people of all ages and backgrounds share their knowledge and discoveries by turning the soil in tandem.

veggies

An old idea in a new economy: As produce costs soar, Americans are recognizing the value of the “new age”  victory garden.

According to studies conducted by Burpee seed company, growing your own vegetable garden “...will result in a 1 to 25 cost-savings ratio.” In other words, $50 worth of seeds and fertilizer can produce $1,250 worth of groceries purchased at a supermarket.

LEARN MORE

Follow these links to learn more about community gardens and see examples of other demonstration sites and education centers across the country that may serve as a model for future development. 


American Community Garden Association
The American Community Gardening Association (ACGA) is a bi-national nonprofit membership organization of professionals, volunteers and supporters of community greening in urban and rural communities. This website provides valuable reference data and links to examples of community gardens throughout the country.

Philadelphia Green
A program of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Philadelphia Green® is the nation’s most comprehensive urban greening program. Since 1974, Philadelphia Green has supported the development and ongoing care of community gardens, neighborhood parks and high-profile public green spaces in Philadelphia.

Bronx Green-Up
Bronx Green-Up, the community outreach program of The New York Botanical Garden, provides horticultural advice, technical assistance, and training to community gardens, school groups, and other organizations interested in improving urban neighborhoods in the Bronx through greening projects. At the heart of Bronx Green-Up are the community gardens of the Bronx and a compost education program.

Interested in Starting a New Community or School Garden?

The CLDS is happy to work with municipalities, schools, or organizations to help establish other community gardens throughout the region.

Contact Krista Schneider at kschneider@DigCLDS.org or 570-578-5903 if you would like help starting a community garden in your neighborhood.

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Butler Township Community Garden

CLICK HERE FOR LARGER VIEW OF GARDEN WITH PLOT NUMBER LABELS>>>

 
The Butler Township "Human Nature" Community Garden is a 1.3 acre community and demonstration garden that was established in the Spring of 2009 within the Township’s Freedom Park complex in Drums (415 W. Butler Drive, just behind the Valley East Little League Field). Click here for map>>>. The garden is operated and managed by the CLDS in partnership with the township. Follow this link to our Rental Instructions page if you are interested in becoming a gardener, or renewing your existing lease.
 
Garden Plots
Example garden plot Raised beds may be rented by elderly individuals

Community gardeners enjoy personalizing their plots

Seedlings warming in the hoop house

The garden includes nearly 100 rental plots that may be leased for the season by individuals or organizations. Sizes range from small (60 square feet) to extra large (250 square feet), with all sizes in-between. Several raised beds are also available to accommodate elderly individuals who are not up the physical challenge of bending down. Water stations with hoses are well-distributed throughout the garden, which is surrounded by an eight-foot high deer fence to keep out the big critters. All gardeners receive the combination to the shed, which can be used to store tools. A large hoop house is also available to anyone wishing to get an early start on spring seedlings. All gardener must agree to rental rules and regulations, including agreement to paricipate in at least one community garden clean-up session.

Demonstration Gardens
Pollinator Garden Herb Garden

Rain Garden

Orchard

Demonstration gardens are designed to provide examples of important sustainable design concepts, as well as inspiration and ideas for homeowners. These include an herb garden, pollinator garden, fruit orchard, perennial garden, and a rain garden, as well as several other demonstration features that teach people how to reduce water consumption and stormwater runoff. Click on the links above to learn more about each.

Teaching GardenTeaching Garden

Approximately 1/4 acre of the community garden is dedicated to learning the basic concepts of sustainable agriculture and organic gardening. This area is the focus of our "Garden Discovery" Summer Camp program, where children learn to plant and maintain their own gardens. It is also where food is grown to be sold as part of the CLDS "Growing Markets" Program, which is designed to teach students and aspiring agri-entrepreneurs about sustainable agriculture and small-scale food business entrepreneurship. A new education shelter doubles as our outdoor classroom and green roof demonstration feature.