Because of its social benefits, it is appropriate for homeowners association to have a role in the implementation of a community garden. A preferred approach would be that of facilitator, whereby the project is initiated within the local community. In this case, the HOA Committee would assist community members to make sure their project is successful.

Benefits of Community Gardens

• Improves the quality of life for people in the garden
• Provides a catalyst for neighborhood and community development
• Stimulates Social Interaction
• Encourages Self-Reliance
• Beautifies Neighborhoods
• Produces Nutritious Food
• Reduces Family Food Budgets
• Conserves Resources
• Creates opportunity for recreation, exercise, therapy, and education
• Reduces Crime
• Preserves Green Space
• Creates income opportunities and economic development
• Reduces city heat from streets and parking lots
• Provides opportunities for intergenerational and cross-cultural connections
  (Source: American Community Garden Association)

Purpose

The purpose of this garden is to turn a portion of a school land into a thriving community garden. It is our intention to provide plots for individuals and families to grow fruit, vegetables, flowers, and herbs for their own use and educate children and adults about organic gardening.  We intend for this project to contribute to the area’s sense of community and will provide a model for other neighborhoods and schools with underutilized spaces.

Additional Information and Resources

REAL ESTATE ECONOMIC 2008 V36 2: pp. 241–283

The Effect of Community Gardens on Neighboring Property Values - Study Conclusion Only

This study found that community gardens have, on average, significant positive effects on surrounding property values, and that those effects are driven by the poorest of host neighborhoods (where a garden raises neighboring property values by as much as 9.4 percentage points within five years of the garden’s opening). Those findings should help local governments make sounder decisions about whether (and how much) to invest in (or to encourage private investment in) community gardens and other green spaces. Such investments have a sizeable payoff for the surrounding community, and ultimately for the city itself, as it realizes additional property tax revenues from the neighborhood.

Existing Successful Community Gardens

Reston Association Community Garden:

RA rents over 270 garden plots each year in four locations. All of the plots are located on a gas pipeline easement that runs through Reston. This makes good use of this land due to the requirement to keep these areas open. The garden plots provide a place for growing sun-loving vegetables and flowers. Of the four locations three are for organic gardening.

The plots are located:

• Golf Course Island
• Lake Anne
• Hunters Woods I
• Hunters Woods II