I have been peripherally involved in several Yavapai County community gardens. Each is community garden is a little different: they often rely on a few devoted volunteers and most experience growing pains at points in their development. The basic idea is to provide garden plots to people that do not have an area at their place of residence. Other goals of community gardens include gardening education, food production for the needy, and forging a “spirit of local community”.

Scientific research is demonstrating the higher nutritional value of locally grown fruits and vegetables. This is due to increased freshness and the gardener’s ability to select varieties that contain more nutritional value than those available in grocery stores. Other benefits of community gardens may include: families eating more fruits and vegetables, increased youth interest in gardening, increased physical activity, stress reduction, and some community gardens have noted a reduction in crime in their proximity. Above all, there is a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment for the people involved.

Successful community gardens have dedicated volunteers that know how to work together productively. People are all different and inviting a diverse public to participate in your community garden means being accepting of differing views and opinions. To minimize conflict, it is best to form a committee of dedicated leaders. For some groups, identification of a suitable site with a guaranteed future is first and foremost. In addition, successful gardens in Yavapai County require fencing to protect the crops from animals and a reliable water supply for irrigation. Sponsors are often critically important when it comes to developing and maintaining the community garden site.

Most successful community gardens have mission/vision statements and a board of directors providing oversight. Community gardens should be welcoming and inclusive. Some are non-profit organizations while others are under the umbrella of a city, town, community, or homeowners association. Successful community gardens also develop agreed upon rules and put them in writing. Some considerations are: fees (plot rental, water, and how excess collected fees will be spent); whether pesticides use is allowed and, if so, which are allowable; are GMO crops allowed (and how that determination is made); expectations for maintenance of rented plots and common areas; are community tools available for use; are members required to attend meetings; what are the consequences for not following rules; and who makes the decisions related to enforcement of those consequences. These rules often define levels of expected participation. This may sound punitive, but my experience tells me that these are important considerations.

In Yavapai County, I am aware of five community gardens: Cottonwood Community Garden, Prescott Community Gardens, Prescott YMCA Community Garden, Prescott Valley Community Garden, and the Yarnell Community Garden. The online version of this column has links to websites and contacts for each of these community gardens. I have also included some community gardening resources. If readers are aware of other community gardens in Yavapai County, please let me know about them and I’ll strive to maintain a current list on the Backyard Gardener website.

Following the Yarnell Hill Fire and the loss of 19 firefighter’s lives and many homes there, Yavapai County residents and communities have endured many hardships and feel a great sense of loss. We have also pulled together to endure this hardship and will undoubtedly help each other recover from this great loss. According to public maps, it appears the Yarnell Hill Fire spared the Yarnell Community Garden. However, I fear this year’s crops may have been stressed due to the fire and subsequent evacuation (not to mention damages incurred by heat and embers). Knowing the resilient individuals gardening there, the Yarnell Community Garden will continue to aid the community and be a place of healing for friends and families there.

Follow the Backyard Gardener on Twitter – use the link on the BYG website. If you have other gardening questions, call the Master Gardener help line in the Camp Verde office at 928-554-8999 Ext. 3 or e-mail us at cottonwoodmg@yahoo.com and be sure to include your name, address and phone number. Find past Backyard Gardener columns or provide feedback at the Backyard Gardener web site: http://cals.arizona.edu/yavapai/anr/hort/byg/.

Yavapai County Community Garden Websites

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