how to set up a community garden or allotment

Your local authority will only provide an allotment if they feel there is enough interest and they can be sure the plots will be used. As community land is very valuable, it can be difficult to secure, but Green Party Councillors have been successful in securing allotments in Cork, Kilkenny and Fingal. The best way to establish a garden or allotment scheme is to:

raise awareness

Hold a public meeting to get interested parties together. Establish a committee to source unused land and delegate administration and fund-raising tasks.

get writing

Encourage those interested in the scheme to send a letter to the Parks and Recreation section of your local Council. Outline Section 67 of the Local Government Act which sates:  ‘a local authority may take such measures, engage in such activities or do such things as it considers necessary or desirable to promote the interests of the local community in relation to a range of specified matters, including allotments, fairs and markets, and related amenities, facilities and services.’

think funding

Grants are available under a wide range of local authority and Government schemes to encourage community development. Any group seeking funding must outline how their project meets the objectives of the funding agency. Agencies who may be able to provide funding include: Fas, VEC, the HSE and the Leader and Rapid programmes from www.pobail.ie. The Department of the Environment gives Local Agenda 21 funding under the Environment Partnership Fund every year. Local businesses may also be interested in sponsoring your scheme.