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Starting a Community Garden - Clemson University Cooperative Extension Publication

Publication

S. Cory Tanner
Horticulture Program Team Director
CLEMSON EXTENSION SERVICE
Clemson

Team Members: Tanner, S1, Dabbs, A2, Davenport, M3, Dickert, G4, Lanford, B5
  1. EXTENSION AGENT, CLEMSON COOPERATIVE EXTENSION, GREENVILLE, South Carolina, 29601
  2. EXTENSION AGENT, CLEMSON COOPERATIVE EXTENSION, CHARLESTON, South Carolina, 29401
  3. EXTENSION AGENT, CLEMSON COOPERATIVE EXTENSION, CLEMSON, South Carolina, 29634
  4. EXTENSION AGENT, CLEMSON COOPERATIVE EXTENSION, SPARTANBURG, South Carolina, 29303
  5. EXTENSION AGENT, CLEMSON COOPERATIVE EXTENSION, CONWAY, South Carolina, 29526

Abstract

   Community gardening is experiencing a surge in popularity in South Carolina.  New community gardens are rapidly emerging at community centers, churches, schools, residential developments and various other venues, particularly in urban centers. This has led to an increased demand for educational instruction and materials.  To meet this need, a team of Clemson Cooperative Extension Service agents and communications staff prepared a publication titled “Starting a Community Garden.”  This 28-page, full color booklet encompasses community gardening concepts from the planning stages of selecting a suitable site and organizing volunteers, to the details of planting, maintaining, and harvesting gardens.  In early 2013, eight thousand guides were professionally printed cooperatively with two non-profit funding partners; allowing for free-of-charge distribution.  Five hundred copies were sent for the non-profit partners’ use and 2,000 were sent to the Greenville and Horry County Extension offices for initial distribution. Promotional copies were provided to each of the state’s 46 county Extension offices and the remaining copies were placed in Clemson Extension’s free publications store. A free digital version of the guide is available at www.clemson.edu/extension/communitygarden and has been promoted through social media including, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. The booklet was first used at a Gardening for Good event in Greenville, SC on March 20, 2013 and over 4,000 printed copies have since been distributed through local county Extension offices, at gardening events, and through other aligned organizations. Agents and Master Gardener volunteers often use the publication as a teaching resource when assisting community gardening activities. 

Years of CES Service: 0

Publication