Monica David, statewide coordinator of the University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners (of whom I am one), passed along a link for a Community Gardening Toolkit that you can view online or download as a .pdf. file. Developed by the University of Missouri Extension, it seems like it could be a big help to those who have ambitions but don't know how to get a garden started in the neighborhood.
It also provides some tools for the hard thinking that should go into a community gardening -- about questions like: Who's going to maintain it after the first burst of enthusiasm fades? Where's the water going to come from? Who owns the land? What's the purpose of the garden, really? Who belongs to the "community" the garden will serve?
Chicago has an active community gardening culture. Local help is available through GreenNet, a partnership between government agencies and nonprofit organizations to provide information to encourage community greening of open space. Their Web site has a map of community gardens (not sure how up-to-date it is) and links to member organizations that can help with advice and support. There are also some links about safety -- specifically, how to cope with high lead levels in urban soils. If you have been dreaming of greening your neighborhood, give it a look.
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