Community Garden Models

San Jose residents like their veggie patch. 

There are 19 very well kept community gardens.  City Hall provides one program overseer but the community have their own managers and committee who run a particular garden. Some gardens have been going for over 20 years but there are also new models appearing.

 



The first and oldest model is your "typical garden" model where individuals hold their own plot, the average plot size being 10 x20 ft.

 

 

Newer ones use reclaimed water - San Jose was the first city to introduce this.  There are also raised beds for disabled people in wheelchairs

 

 

 

The 'Veggilution' is a communal garden model.  Some who run the joint expect attention from favourite Park Officers
 Veggilution is on 4 acres where the growers get together to decide what to grow and then share their harvest depending on the time people put into the work.  They are also able to sell surplus vegetables.

The third and newer model is 'Garden to Table'.  The city has a contract with a not for profit group who take on all the liability including the construction.  All the city/council does is provide the land.  No photos of this one as it is still under construction.

All the programs are very popular.  The city has whittled the waiting list for individual plots down from 900 to 400.  Not only are the gardens used to grow food to eat but its also about community coming together, making friendships, mixing cultures and bonding.  Companies such as "Valley Verde" are also coming to the table to help expand the program as they believe that healthy people need to have plants and animals around them (just like my mad professor, see 21st century blog).