Things to consider when planning a community garden

I am an avid gardener and participated in the Eiber Elementary Community Garden for several years even though I also have a garden at my house which is only a couple of blocks from the school. 

I was so gung-ho in the first and second years and had very nice harvests, met new neighbors, and felt very good about what we were doing. But I also saw that people would sign up for a garden plot and not tend it as much as it needed, especially later in the growing season. And when we had community work times only a few regulars would show up.

It was my understanding that the Eiber students and their families would garden there as well. And of course, thanks to Penny, the garden coordinator, the children were able to spend some of their free time gardening while at school. But I discovered that the demographics of the families made it very hard for them to find time to garden. There were several reasons why. Many students live pretty far from the school and are bussed daily. A significant percentage of the parents are low-income and probably work a couple of jobs. They just don't have time for this activity.

Also, the garden is located in a residential neighborhood where most residents have ample space to garden unlike a more dense urban neighborhood where people live on smaller lots or in apartments.

Don't get me wrong - I love the idea of community gardens and know that they can be very successful. But I have learned that it is important to consider many factors before starting a new one so that they truly serve their purpose.