GardenSwap

From Cultivating Sustainable Communities

Cultivating Sustainable Communities (CSC) is launching an innovative new project. GardenSwap is an opportunity to pair up urban gardeners with their neighbors who have yard space in order to grow and share in the produce profits of urban food gardens. CSC is currently taking preliminary requests for participation in this program.

How does it work?

GardenSwap is a program that pairs up people who want to garden with people who have gardening space. In urban neighborhoods, some people have yards, and some people don’t, so why not pair up those who have garden space with people who will actually use that space to grow food? In the process, everyone involved can share in the produce “profits”, get to know each other, and learn something new!

Each arranged “pair” will be unique. This means that individual gardens may be small or large, high-intensity or low-maintenance, and can otherwise be tailored to the arrangement that works best for the people involved. Cultivating Sustainable Communities will help to coordinate the pair arrangement, facilitate initial and periodic training, and be available for questions and concerns at any time. The organization will also be involved in evaluating the garden from time to time and making sure everything is going smoothly. The goal is to support urban gardeners in their endeavor by adequately facilitating the relationship between gardener and yard-owner, while still allowing the arrangement to be sufficiently “organic” to the liking of the participants.

Does it cost anything?

Individuals interested in participating in the program can become a member of Cultivating Sustainable Community's GardenSwap program for a nominal yearly fee. Members enjoy the benefit of free access to all trainings provided by Cultivating Sustainable Communities, as well as the convenience of facilitation between gardener and home owner. Members also contribute to an organization invested in the long-term sustainability of Los Angeles and beyond, and can be part of a network of people united for a the common well-being of the region.

How long will it take to get the garden started?

Because this is a brand new program in the making, it may take some time to pair up interested parties with neighbors in their area. The amount of time this takes depends on the availability of gardening partners available in your area. Once you give an indication of your interest, Cultivating Sustainable Communities will look for someone to pair you up with. After a short meeting with a CSC staff member and your potential partner in gardening, both parties agree to some basic principles, and the garden can officially “break ground”!

Why urban gardens? And why like this?

Urban food gardens are not only fun; they support low-carbon food production, create economic development, inspire healthful eating, build community, create opportunities for education, address watershed health concerns, create productive green open space, and beautify communities.

As the national and global economy currently illustrates, there is a need to be more self-sufficient in our community when it comes to basic necessities such as food. Establishing urban gardens is vitally important for the well-being of our communities and needs to be recaptured in today’s society. These gardens can supplement our household food needs, function as hands-on learning laboratories, create productive green space, and in some cases produce surplus that can contribute to a local low-carbon food economy.

Sometimes the greatest ideas start small. Growing food on small, private plots is a good way to begin an informal conversation in your community on the importance of environmental responsible food sources, healthy eating, and educating the next generation about community, environmental, and economic issues. Using front and back yards can also avoid some of the bureaucratic and legal battles that accompany the establishment of large community gardens. In the end, if everyone contributes a little to urban food production, we can accomplish a LOT for our planet and our community!

And besides, who doesn’t like fresh produce?

I want to be involved, what do I do now?

Whether you’re interested in sharing your land, gardening someone else’s space, or contributing knowledge to gardeners in your community, you have a role to play in urban food production and in GardenSwap. Contact Cultivating Sustainable Communities to put your name on the list of interested parties and we’ll go from there. We hope to hear from you soon. While waiting to be paired up with someone, tell your family, friends, and neighbors about this wonderful opportunity!