Communication and marketing are important considerations to keep organized, raise funds, and promote participation. Regular communication builds trust and inclusivity and helps to accomplish things in a timely manner, and publicity grows community in addition to flowers, fruits and vegetables!
Community gardens can impact community members beyond those actively engaged in the garden, and communication with the broader community is important to foster good relationships and continued support for the garden. Community members can be kept informed about garden activities and news through community meetings, a website, social media pages, neighborhood newspapers and newsletters, etc.
This section includes resources on communicating with garden participants/volunteers and partners as well as getting the word out to the public about your garden.
Title: Public Relations and Communicating Your Community Garden Message
Sponsoring Organization: Michigan State University Extension
Description: Short article on getting the word out and publicizing your community garden organization.
Title: Toolshed Tips: Garden Communications
Sponsoring Organization: Vermont Community Garden Network
Description: Article on how community garden coordinators can set up systems to communicate with those involved with the garden, including online tools, surveys, in-the-garden tools such as bulletin boards, etc. See the "Outreach & Events" section under Garden Organizer Toolkit, for tips on event communications, including a sample press release. Elsewhere on this website, you can find other articles on communication topics such as signage; just search the website for "communication" or your specific topic.
Title: Pleasantville Community Garden Guide: Marketing and Communications
Sponsoring Organization: Pleasantville Community Garden
Description: See Chapter 8, Marketing and Communications, which includes detailed guidance to topics such as events, promotions, email, social media, websites, and other media to help you communicate with volunteers, supporters, and others. Describes tools such as SignUpGenius, which can make it easier to organize signups for volunteer events and activities, and MailChimp, a free email organizer platform.