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Community Wildscaping Options

© Mel. White

Many people who use wildscaping usually own (or are buying) their home. Renters, however, often find themselves in a bit of a bind. They know that they won't be at that particular location for the next 20 or 30 years -- but many would like to help to do a bit of wildscaping or to create a project that had a lasting effect on the local environment.

For people in this type of situation, the "community garden" often offers the perfect solution. These are areas of land run by a group, where individuals take responsibility for certain areas or projects. In many urban areas, community gardens have become quite popular. Ranging from 'substinence' gardens to flower and decrative plots to combinations of both, these are a great way to get involved with a community while giving your green thumb a workout.

Any group of people can create a community garden. All that's needed is a plot of land and a collection of people who want to get involed. You can find community gardens run by senior groups, youth groups, women's and men's clubs, civic associations, friends, neighbors (this is the most common type of community garden) or even relatives. Special purpose community gardens may also qualify for federal and state money or grants.

Here's some examples of community gardens that have helped change their neighborhoods.

http://www.clintoncommunitygarden.org/ The Clinton Community Garden is located in New York City's Hell's Kitchen Neighborhood; one of the poorer areas of New York City. In the late 1970's, some residents, fed up with the look of the rubble-strewn lots, squatted and planted a garden there. The Garden grew larger after neighborhood residents took over an area where six buildings had collapsed. They hauled out the rubble, composted soil, and converted the new space into one of New York City's first community gardens; a beautiful green space that has changed both the look and the attitude of the community.

http://www.growinggardens.org/ The Growing Gardens of Boulder, Colorado, has a number of neighborhood projects that have had a very positive impact on the area. One of these is called "¡Cultiva!" -- a project that teaches youths leadership and positive change skills. Young people from many different social and economic backgrounds work together to manage a 2-acre organic garden. Some of the food that they grow is donated to the Boulder Shelter for the Homeless and Community Food Share. Some is sold at the Boulder Farmer's Market.