Co-op Gardening

[Lavender]

Has anyone tried co-op gardening? We've tried it quite a few years ago & it was really great. It was based on an old farmland that was runned by a Co-operative. There was a minimum fee & you can grow whatever you want (nothing illegal). It was wonderful because at that time, we were renting an apartment & really missed our garden. We had enough space to grow potatoes, squashes, lettuces, tomatoes & lots & lots of herbs!

Yesterday, we were out for a walk & came across another co-op gardening farm. The plots were a bit smaller but it was so fun to walk through & see what everyone else was growing. There was a great sense of community & sharing. People working on their plots, sharing gardening info with their neighbours, sharing their excess harvest.

For those in the Lower Mainland (Vancouver) who are interested, there are co-op farms out in Richmond and Colony Farms in Coquitlam. For those who are not from this area, check with your local parks board. It's a great idea for the urban farmer wannabees! :D

[Yvonne Belisle]

I have seen them in California too. They are a wonderfull idea.

[EasternPriest]

They are very popular throughout San Diego County.

[banondraig]

bump

[Tanya]

yep ran an organic one in PA when I was a farm manager there... it was lovely

[Cindlady2]

My grandparents did that for a few years when no one in our family had any "gorwable" land. Since then we've often had "family co-op" plots at whoever's place in the family had the land.

[Shatril]

We also have Co-op farms that you pay the farmer a certain amount of money, and he delivers produce, eggs, and sometimes milk products to you during the growing season. I usually get enough stuff to preserve for the winter months, and that way you can eat locally all year. It is a wonderful concept. This year though I am doing my own tomatoes, and pickles. Some lettuce, of course. The farmer down the way is going to plow up and grate a plot for me, when he does his own garden spot. He farms part of my property so we worked out a deal. That is one of the things about the rural communities; you can barter for stuff most of the time.

:hugz: Shatril