How to Start an Urban Community Garden in Portland, Oregon

By:Jace Wiggins

How are Community Gardens Impactful to Urban Society

  • Believe it or not but the positive effects of Community Gardens on city living is endless
  • Here are a few examples of how Community Gardens can help Urban Communities:
    • provide local and organic produce
    • residents know what's being put into their food
    • educate youth
    • reduce pesticide exposure
    • grow social capital
    • preserve mental health
    • helping to improve air and soil quality
    • increase plant biodiversity

Where to Start?

Now that you have decided that you want to start an Urban Community Garden there are some steps that you should follow in order to have a properly functioning garden

  • First you must figure out a location in your Urban Community
    • Whether that be on a rooftop, in a front or backyard, in a public park, etc
    • Make sure that you’re allowed to build a garden in this area
    • Also you should know which animals live in the area and if they could be a threat to the garden

Research

  • Find out which soil you are going to use
  • Make sure your location gets enough light
  • Also make sure the air is healthy enough
  • Find out WHAT you’re going to use to build the garden and HOW?

Figure out the Climate of Portland Oregon

  • Portland is said to have a warm- summer Mediterranean Climate
  • Portland has cool- rainy winters, and warm- dry summers
  • The plants that would be the best for Oregon's climate are hardy plants
  • Vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and sweet peppers, are very hardy and would grow well in Oregon’s Climate
  • Herbs also grow very well in Portland

Get the Community Involved

  • You have to get your community involved if you want to be able to sustain the garden
    • Ask around and see who's willing to help
    • Create connections
    • Get people excited about the garden
    • Get the youth involved and active
    • Children love to learn and help
    • It's also a great opportunity to keep kids and students out of trouble  

Raise Money

  • Fundraise
    • Community Gardens can produce decent income if you plan on selling your crops 
    • But people also make Urban Community Gardens just for themselves and the people they’re closest to
    • By getting the community involved it will make it easier to raise money 
    • You need money to build the garden and buy the crops

Start Building

  • Measure out the area and make sure you know how much building materials you will need
  • Go to the store and get your materials
  • You will probably need nails, hammers, wire, etc.

Begin Planting

Now you’ve done everything you need for your garden

  • You need to get the plants that you’re going to plant  
  • Once you’ve done that is time to start planting
  • Make sure you also have a system for how you’re going to be taking care of your crops 

The Last Step

THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP

*Have fun

*Be willing to make mistakes

*Let your imagination grow with the garden  

Picture from Spring Break