Funeral homes and cemeteries that are continuing their quest to connect to the community might consider providing space at their facilities for community gardeners. It’s not too late to do this for 2010. What to do
- Determine your constituency. Possibilities include youth groups, apartment dwellers, and seniors. If you have had “issues” with locals, put that group at the head of your list. Invite your constituents to assist in planning and rules development. A cemetery client of mine permits employees to garden at the property, but has a problem with locals stealing vegetables. They are going to invite area residents to join their employees in gardening, hoping the relationship will end the theft problem. Woodland Cemetery, located in a troubled urban Philadelphia neighborhood, recruited 22 volunteers to build raised beds and create a children’s garden.
- Set aside an area that will not interfere with your regular operations. However, visibility and publicity is important. You will want to have signage related to the garden, its location, and its purpose.
- Get assistance and support from local politicians, garden shops, gardeners, and agriculture bureaus or extensions.
- Determine rules and regulations. For example, what can/cannot be planted, hours of use, expected courtesies, and what your obligations will be.
- Get started planting and enjoy the fruits and vegetables of your labor.
What to plant in May and June: beans, black-eyed peas, cabbage, celery, collards, cucumbers, okra, pumpkin, and squash.
