Solarpunk Sharing Gardens
and garden shares
Imagine a neighbourhood where individuals come together to share their gardens, knowledge and resources. Garden sharing allows people with limited outdoor space or gardening experience to connect with those who have the land or expertise.
[IMAGE: City of Edmonton Perkins Wills Artists Drawing]
It's a win-win situation that promotes more sustainable living, fosters community bonds and encourages the cultivation of fresh, organic produce.
Examples of these types of schemes include Lend & Tend, an online portal connecting people who have gardens they are willing to share with prospective gardeners who are seeking them. They link people up in the UK, USA and Australia.
A slightly different approach are ‘Sharing Gardens’. As this Shareable article explains, these take the form of a collectively managed growing space.
The authors say this is different from a community garden, or an allotment, with individual separate plots. They claim growing things this way is much more productive and enjoyable.Â
This type of space is featured in SolarPunk Detective Episode One. The back gardens of the street where Inspector Russo lives have been combined to make one collective corridor for food growing and fun.
As this Incredible Edible article points out, one key thing to get right with any form of sharing scheme is that peoples’ expectations and responsibilities are clear. They recommend making written agreements to clarify who is doing what.Â
Garden sharing schemes not only provide access to fresh food but also offer opportunities for education and skill-sharing. Participants can learn from experienced gardeners, attend workshops on sustainable practices, and gain hands-on experience.
Do you know any great community food growing schemes we could share? They can be from anywhere in the world. Let us know in the comments below.
Join the garden sharing movement and become part of a vibrant community dedicated to nurturing both plants and relationships. We can grow together!
Some solarpunk style garden events in London this week…
Guerrilla Gardening 101 - 27.07.23 - London @ Get Guerrilla Gardening
Energy Garden's Summer Party - 29.07.23 - London @ Energy Garden
Come We Grow 30.07.23 - London @ May Project Gardens
Until Next Time
That's all for this update. If you like what we’re trying to do here and know someone else who might do too then please share.Â
See you in the sunshine,
Alex Holland
Founder, SolarPunk Stories
Here in north Texas, a number of communities, apartment complexes, churches, and even schools organize community gardens. In Arkansas, we noticed a number of public libraries have seed libraries and community gardens as well as a place where local Gardners can meet to learn, collaborate, and share. I love this growing movement!