GardenforLIFE is a proven method of successfully producing healthy food efficiently. Decades of collaboration and practice have been combined to create a course that yields lots of food, builds soil/human health, and requires minimal resources. This approach is good for people, planet, and profit. Please watch this short introductory video.
A COMMUNITY garden is a LIFE building experience. People are “messy” and that is okay, however, sometimes “messy” gets in the way of allowing a COMMUNITY garden to succeed. The unique quality in organizing a GardenforLIFE community is that it is a course, NOT a “community garden”. A course gives direction, purpose, schedule, and order. The goal is to follow the methods being presented, NOT to argue about whose method is best. For farmers and gardeners often our “experience” gets in the way of learning new things. A course is all about learning something new. To be successful in the garden and in LIFE requires understanding how our planet and our relationships work to create LIFE. Through compassionate leadership, shared responsibility, consistent work, and wise land stewardship a COMMUNITY can feed itself physically, intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually. A ½ acre garden can easily produce 3 tons (6,000 lbs.) of mixed produce. For most communities this means there will be enough for participants and some to give away.
To get started you will need the following:
One of the benefits of working as a community is that some tools may be shared. You will need a place to secure tools for common use. (e.g. a shed or closet) There are many tools useful in the garden, however, what is needed is very simple. The list below separates tools into two categories: required and optional. Refer to the videos below for an explanation.
Required:
Optional:
A basic GardenforLIFE is designed to require approximately 2 hours/week of fieldwork per person. This could be more or less depending on several factors. However, the garden requires consistent initiative and influence: leadership. Working with joy and using the time to build relationships in family and community is the key. The LIFEWORK lessons are design to stimulate discussion on meaningful topics. Virtues are the best values and require intention and practice.
Structure helps share responsibilities and builds teamwork. GfL recommends that one person take the role of Garden Manager. Other key roles can be assigned separately or combined. These may include: Tool/Material Manager, Scheduling Manager, Homework Manager, and Discussion Leader. Assign them for a season, a month, or a week.
Organizing the Work:
Get the 14-week video course & the GardenforLIFE field guide for free!
