Community Garden Toolkit
The Community Garden Best Practices Toolkit: A Guide for Organizers in Newfoundland and Labrador is one of four Best Practices Toolkits created by Food First NL to support food programs. You can find information on community kitchens, farmers’ markets, bulk-buying clubs, and more in our Best Practices Toolkits.
Food First NL researched, developed, and wrote this toolkit. We thank everyone who provided important content and feedback for this and the original 2011 version — especially the community gardeners across our province!
In our 2024 edit, we are excited to release a fully online copy of our toolkit. You can scroll through the same information on our website or our toolkit PDF.
Toolkit Sections
Introduction: What is a Community Garden?
Learn more about what a community garden is, the benefits of community gardening, and the different types and models.
Getting Started: Steps for Success
A great place to start if you want to start or rejuvenate a community garden but don’t know how to begin!
Follow our seven steps for success and learn how to: form your garden committee, establish partnerships, choose your site, design the garden, identify financial supports, write garden guidelines, and start gardening!
Building and Installing the Garden
Take your community garden plan to the next level and begin building out the site! This section covers the processes for site preparation, building infrastructure, and planting the garden.
Sustaining and Growing the Garden
Keep your community garden running smoothly and grow it further with these tips and considerations. This section covers garden maintenance, communicating with gardeners and the community, safety and security, and celebrating your success!
Local Gardens in Action
Community gardens across Newfoundland and Labrador are the best inspiration! This section shows local examples of composts, raised beds, site maps, benches, signage, special features, and more.
Local Inspiration
Ready to get inspired? Head over to Food First NL’s Local Program Map to discover and connect with community organizations in your area. Each garden on the map has its own story to tell. Explore the map to learn more about each garden or you can even reach out to them directly.
Do you have a community garden or program on the map, or want to add a new garden? Let us know about updates or changes in our Local Programs Map form.
Resources
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Funding opportunities, deadlines, and eligibility requirements change frequently. Sign up for newsletters and follow social media accounts to get updated on new opportunities. The following information was updated May 2024.
Provincial Government: Several departments offer funding programs that could support a community garden’s creation or activities.
The Department of Health and Community Services occasionally has grants that could be used for a community garden.
The Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture has operated The Community Garden Support Program to help eligible municipalities, schools, not-for-profit organizations and community groups establish and enhance new and existing community gardens.
The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation for the Active NL Fund.
Regional Wellness Coalitions: Six Regional Wellness Coalitions provide leadership, coordination, and support for local wellness initiatives across the province.
Each has grant opportunities during the year:
Wellness Coalition Avalon East
Eastern Regional Wellness Coalition
Central Regional Wellness Coalition
Western Regional Wellness Coalition
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Permission for Land Use Form (PDF and Google Doc)
Gardener Application Form (PDF and Google Doc)
Community Gardeners’ Welcome Packet (PDF and Google Doc)
Community Gardener Guidelines (PDF and Google Doc)
Survey for Gardener Feedback (PDF and Google Doc)
Contact
Contact our staff with any Community Garden Toolkit questions or comments. Email us at info@foodfirstnl.ca or call and leave a message at (709) 237-4026
