I LOVE peaches. They’ve got to be the only reason August exists, since I don’t know why else anyone would want to deal with such a hot month.
Last year was amazing because I got to eat as many fresh peaches as I wanted without spending a cent on them at the grocery store. And I don’t even have a yard!
How? My apartment complex has a small community garden and two peach trees. So not only do I get fresh peaches, but tomatoes and lettuce and peppers…
Enough about me. Community gardens are plots of land that are collectively gardened by a group of people. As a landlord you have some land and you have a group of people living on it. Check and check!
Okay, I know it’s not that simple, but community gardens are an amenity worth your consideration.
Positives of Community Gardens
Fresh, healthy produce that is readily available
Help create a closer-knit social community
An easy way to get in daily, moderate exercise
Also a good way to get in a dose of sunshine which increases supply of Vitamin D
Can be done by residents of all ages (consider raised plot boxes for senior residents)
Acknowledged as ecologically friendly since the produce doesn’t need to be freighted across the country
Don't necessarily need a lot of space (we have 4’ by 6’ plots)
Can be planted in that odd, unsightly, sunny space you don’t know what to do with
What You Will Need to Consider
Who pays for what? Maybe you’ll pay for tools and residents pay for everything else, or have everyone pay a fee to cover the expenses.
Who has access? Not all residents will put the in the same amount of effort and so you’ll need some rules about what work is to be done before a resident can reap any of the benefits.
Who is in charge? Every task needs a leader and community gardens are no exception. You can decide to be the one who plans and delegates or have a resident take the reins.
I highly recommend community gardens. This is the first apartment I’ve lived in that has had one and I love it.
