sprouting plants

When choosing a location for your garden it is important both physical attributes (e.g. sun, water availability, accessibility) as well as administrative attributes (e.g. site ownership, permits, formalizing agreements).

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Physical Considerations
Administrative Considerations
Siting considerations - Physical

These resources detail the physical factors to consider in a potential site. In particular, the quality of the soil will be a factor; if possible, determine the use history of the site for any potential contamination of the soil. See Soil Health section below as well as What is Soil and Why is Healthy Soil Important.

 Title: Start a Garden
Sponsoring Organization: Vermont Community Garden Network
Description: See Section 4, "Pick a Site," which covers site factors to consider (with a printable checklist), including land ownership (with links to resources for finding land, developing agreements to grow food on public land, etc.).

 Title: Selecting the Best Location for a Garden
Sponsoring Organization: DIY Network
Description: A short article, geared more to back yard gardens, but includes specifics on how to track the sun; also is an accessible article that can be listened to instead of read.

Siting considerations - administrative and legal issues

In locating a site for your garden, issues such as datermining site ownership, obtaining landowner permission, formalizing agreements and responsibilities, and finding out if permits are needed can involve some legal or administrative procedures and paperwork. These resources can help.

Title: Ground Rules: A Legal Toolkit for Community Gardens
Sponsoring Organization: ChangeLab Solutions
Description:  Link to the 36-page PDF which offers a toolkit of legal resources to help establish community gardens on vacant or underutilized parcels of land. Tools include a Model Community Garden Lease, a Model Gardener's Agreement, Model Community Garden Rules, and discussion checklists for the sponsor organization. By detailing the rights and responsibilities of the landowner, the sponsoring organization, and gardeners, using these tools can help overcome some legal and practical barriers to using vacant land for a community garden, such as a landowner's concerns about liability.  Additional related resources are on the website. 

Title: Dig, Eat, and Be Healthy: A Guide to Growing Food on Public Property
Sponsoring Organization: ChangeLab Solutions
Description: Growing food on public property – from vacant fields, to schoolyards, parks, utility rights-of-way, and even the rooftops of public buildings – can yield a diverse crop of community benefits. Fresh, healthy food is just the beginning: growing food on public property can also promote civic participation, public safety, food literacy, job skills, and urban greening – in short, healthier, more vibrant places. Developed to provide users with the tools they need to access public land for growing food.

Title: AGCA Resources: Garden Management
Sponsoring Organization: American Community Garden Association (AGCA)
Description: Sample documents useful in setting up and managing the garden, such as Land Use Agreement, Contract Form, Release of All Claims, Garden Rules, Garden Plot Registration, etc.