ABOUT
The American Community Gardening Association uses a broad definition of what a community garden entails. It can be urban, suburban, or rural. It can grow flowers, vegetables or community. It can be one community plot, or can be many individual plots. It can be at a school, hospital, or in a neighborhood. Another way of thinking about community gardens are as “Community-managed open space”. They are different from a park or public space where some other entity ultimately decides the purpose and maintains the site. Community gardens are where the residents of a community are empowered to design, build and maintain spaces in the community.
Community Gardening Network Purpose
The Jackson County Master Gardener™ Association strives to help create, support and grow community gardens that enrich their neighborhoods by enhancing food security, promoting a sustainable environment and fostering community based educational opportunities and community building. A yearly grant is offered for this purpose. Quarterly meetings are held to bring garden leaders together to share ideas, policies, successes and resources to improve their community gardens.
Grant Mission
The Jackson County Master Gardener Association Community Garden Grant Committee in collaboration with the Oregon State University Extension Master Gardener Program intends to increase Food Security by assisting in establishing community gardens throughout Jackson County with monetary and educational assistance.