At subsequent meetings , you may wish to draft an action plan to identify steps to take throughout the rest of your garden startup process . This can help your group get organized , stay focused and add a measure of accountability to your process .
The identified action steps can also be the basis for forming garden teams to handle various garden-related tasks .
* For more information , see Vision to Action : Take Charge Too , from the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development . Step 2 Hold a meeting with anyone interested in the garden The purpose of this meeting is to determine the feasibility of starting a garden , to brainstorm ideas and to address some basic questions . This meeting can be informal or formal , but at the very least , one person should be responsible for taking notes and sending them to the group after the meeting . Publicize the meeting to individuals , groups and relevant organizations using phone calls , personal visits , emails or fliers posted around your community .
Soil testing
Soil tests can usually be obtained through your local extension office . To search for an office in your area , go to the " State and National Partners Map " on the U . S . Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture ( NIFA ) website . In Missouri , the University of Missouri Extension Soil and Plant Testing Laboratory offers nutrient and heavy metal soil tests for gardens and lawns through the Columbia campus and local MU Extension offices .
Step 3 Find and evaluate potential garden sites Get on your bike . Go out on foot . Tour the neighborhood with friends and family and talk to your neighbors . Be sure to consider churches , nonprofit agencies and businesses as potential partners . These groups may own land and have an interest in being a part of your garden .
Step 4 Identify local resources needed for starting a garden Gardens can require a fair amount of tools , equipment , supplies , infrastructure , knowledge and other forms of support . Gardeners themselves can provide some resources . For other resources , it makes sense for the group to seek out and acquire materials in bulk or solicit donations and support from other groups .
Step 5 Hold a second meeting . The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the notes from the previous meeting and hear reports from the people who volunteered to find and evaluate possible locations for a garden ( Step 3 ) and identify local resources for starting a garden ( Step 4 ). If you completed the Purpose , Values , Vision exercise , you may wish to revisit this document to see if people are still in agreement and to gain input from new group members . If your group feels like the primary issues have been adequately addressed and enough people are committed to the project , you may be ready to evaluate and select one or more sites to pursue for your garden .
You may also be ready to elect your garden ' s leadership team . At the very least , you will need to have one or more garden co-leaders and two to three additional people to handle important tasks such as drafting and negotiating the lease agreement ( Step 6 ), leading the planning and preparation of the site ( Step 7 and Step 9 ), and drafting gardener guidelines and the gardener application ( Step 8 ).
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