In Cobb’s article on community
gardens, four essential elements that contribute to the preservation of
community gardens were identified as “a mechanism for long term protection,
long term sustainability of the owning organization, maintenance of the land so
it can be seen as a neighborhood asset, and strong community support.” I think
all of these characteristics lie in a strong leader, which in turn raises a
question: what even is a strong leader?
I’m sure we all have ideas about
who this person is, but in the end the term is pretty subjective. One person
might value a leader’s ambition to sell the produce from the garden, while
another may value their patience when working with senior citizens or children.
A strong leader would be able to acquire
whatever mechanism allows for a long term ownership of community garden lands
(Whether by land tenure or some other means). Additionally, he or she would be
able to run the community organization in a sustainable way as well as have the
knowledge and the capabilities required to keep up with the land’s appearance
and productivity. They would also be able motivate and incorporate the
community into the operation.
Although I’ve had many
opportunities to meet strong leaders within our Tallahassee community, from
non-profit owners to business entrepreneurs, one person specifically sticks out
in my mind: the woman who runs the farm I work at. Not only is she does she
have an infinite wealth of knowledge about permaculture, agriculture, and all
things farming, she is encouraging, patient, and ambitious. She represents
someone I think who would excel at running a community garden in a low-income
neighborhood.
My questions to the class are: what
does leadership in the community garden context looks like to you? Do you agree
this is the most important factor in the garden or is there one you place more
value on?
Excellent point Hayley. I agree, without leadership, the creation and preservation of a food garden falters and eventually collapses.
ReplyDeleteTo answer your question, community garden leadership is all about support. A supporting leader gives access to supplies, skills, and knowledge to his or her fellow gardeners. This leader is extremely patient, especially with new prospective gardeners. This leader is someone a community member can turn to when they have specific or broad questions without the fear of being embarrassed. He or she creates an environment that supports new ways of thinking instead of hanging on to the traditional ways of doing things. To me, a community garden leader needs to have people skills and be able to communicate in a friendly, but efficient manner. So yes, I would agree with you that solid leadership is the most important aspect in maintaining a community garden.