https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GTBM6l10O0n1boP4D9PsO_OWsq7udKTQaemQzW4RPrA/edit?usp=sharing
Main Struggles:
Location
Zoning codes? Legal restrictions? Permits? Government financial support?
Not likely to get land bc inherently not very profitable
Esp in smaller cities – politics create ambiguity that prohibits residents from growing crops – disputes in municipality and those who participate
Funding/Resources
Donations? Deposit? Market money?
USDA loan programs for investment in community gardens, healthy food, education
Support/Participation from Community
Not a lot of publicity about community gardens
Shiloh Field
Regular volunteering work?
Stigma – (Not in my backyard)
Remnant of great depression - community gardens were seen as a way for unemployed to work – lower class only – also worried about theft
Worried about noise pollution, disruption, injuries
Managing
Tragedy of the commons
Regulations? Structure? Free for all?
Signs for plots? Claiming?
Hold consistent meetings – teamwork + awareness + structure
https://blog.ioby.org/why-community-gardens-fail-how-yours-can-succeed/
https://scholarworks.calstate.edu/downloads/0v838540b
Current Gaps in Approaches to Community Gardens:
- Inclusivity: Some community gardens may lack inclusivity, not reaching out to diverse groups within the community, such as people with disabilities or non-English speakers.
- Also typically biased towards specific ages — not very inclusive for elderly who cannot work long hours in the heat on their feet with their back bent
- Sustainability: Some community gardens may not prioritize sustainable practices, leading to potential waste and environmental impact.
- Education and Awareness: There might be a lack of educational programs and outreach efforts to raise awareness about the benefits of community gardens and how to get involved.
- Funding and Resources: Many community gardens struggle with obtaining sufficient funding and resources to support their initiatives and maintain the garden effectively.
- Also management of resources grown — internal conflicts between community over responsibilities and benefits
Gaps in current approach - EnviroHouse analysis
- Enviro House’s competitors all have one core operation and supplementary operations from that. Whilst Enviro House refers to their organisation as a ‘one-stop sustainability centre’, this kind of branding can make them unfocused and confuse their target markets on what it is that Enviro House actually does.