Hi, I had this crazy idea to create a community garden in San Marcos!! But before I take the next step, I needed to know if people are even interested in developing a community garden?? Tell me what you think about having a huge, vegtable/flower garden in San Marcos? Any thoughts on location? Please let me know what you think San Martians....
Hey that idea sounds real good, it's always fun to help beautify san marcos whenever possible, and i think everyone can participate a little something and can be proud to say they took a part in it. -- As for location...do u have certain places in mind? Or are you going to rent some land out?? or gonna bum some land off the public parks.. or .. wut are u're ideas on this...
I think that sounds like a good idea. We already have a small one next to Harbison Autos. ..dont know if you know that. Although it looks as though it hasn't been taken care of. There are weeds everywhere, the rock paths are growing grass, and there are vines growing everywhere too. So good luck if you go along with this idea and I'd be happy to help if you need some.
The one next to Harbison, and behind the Interpertive Center, (or I should say across the street from Herbert Taco Hut)
IS the San Marcos Community Garden. I wouldn't consider it small.
Although there is a lot of weeds and invasives, the garden is Xeiroscaped (Native Plants) so it naturally has a rough look. I bet if you got a group together to weed they would give you a plot of space to plant what ever you wanted. (like some sticky green ganja)
Thanks so much for your responses!! I'm glad to know that San Marcos has a Community Garden. I'm going to visit the garden and perhaps find out which group runs it. Depending on their needs, I may get a group together and see what needs to be done, if anything. Sounds like there's a lot of potential for community involvement here.....
Well, I visted the Greenhouse Interpretive Center and Native Plants Gardens today. Very nice area, BUT not at all what I had in mind when I said "Community Garden".
What I invision is a plot of land, where individuals from the community can rent small plots/beds on a yearly basis to grow their own organic vegatables and flowers. Think "urban mini-farming". Community gardens are collaborative projects created by members of the community, who share both the maintenance and rewards of the garden. Community gardens can bring together people of different income and social backgrounds. There would be various committees, monthly meetings and site rules. This garden could also be a valuable food source for those in need. The garden space would have a sponser from the community, for example Grande Communications, the Rotary Club or SWT.
This idea would of course require a lot of time and effort, but such a great way of bringing people together.
I see...you want the community gardens ...for the people by the people.
Yah it would definatly take a committe to oversee/rent out the plots of land.
It would take alot of planning in the beginning but would surely be easy to keep up.
If you have some sort of outline of how you were gonna go about this. Please share.
We already know we'll need sponsors to fork out some money, but we need to gather up our ideas to present it to the sponsors so that they will seem excited to do such a project.
I think the idea is great because...ppl who live in apartments could finally have their own garden that would be schweet... laterz.
Shellmabell, ironically... I started a greenhouse design & building business last year. My business partner and I have had the same vision of a real decent community garden. Right now we are marketing our greenhouse designs around and still trying to get to a point where we can afford a decent plot of land to do just that and operate our business from.
I'm really interested in being a part of it in any way we can, and I'll be happy to meet and help you problem-solve how to get a larger support going. I know anyone who wants to can reserve (free) a really very nice public conference room at the San Marcos Public Library so long as it is a "not-for-profit" non-commerical meeting. Perhaps distributing fliers and organizing an actual meeting to see what sort of turnout you get, then go from there.
Also, since you mentioned local sponsors and such, it may be a good idea to look into establishing a non-profit status so that donations are more readily gathered without the limiting factor of "non-tax deductible" contributions from businesses.
Great idea, go go go!
- MA
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"BAF! BAM! KAPOW!" - Batman and Robin
Shellmabell - Well today I ran into a couple of folks at the coffee shop, Jo On The Go that is, who have had a plot in the local San Marcos Community Garden for almost two years now. Evidently it is not the "Garden Center" across from Herberts as we have all been thinking, those are "natural gardens" focused on exhibiting sustainable plant life for yards.
The real Community Gardens are actually located off Hopkins, behind the huge church, which is directly across the street from the Public Library. It is a large fenced area somwhat overgrown sandwiched between the church's back door and the railroad tracks. The easiest way to get there is to pull into the church parking lot and head towards the back. According to Julie & Sam, current growers there, each plot is roughly 20 feet by 40 feet, has free water piped up there from the river, and cost $26.00 per year to rent - of which $20.00 is refundable if you decide to leave. Basically you can rent a 20 by 40 space with free water for $6.00 per year. I'd say that's pretty good.
The County Extension Office is the one you'll need to contact, and they put you in touch with the guy who runs it and will tour you around and give you the details.
I asked Julie & Sam about the folks who garden there and they said everyone is doing it organically so far. I'm sure there are basic guidlines for care.
Good luck, and if anyone finds out more please post it up here.
- MA
__________________
"BAF! BAM! KAPOW!" - Batman and Robin
I've been doing a lot of brainstorming on my own and reading web sites, educating myself on the process of starting a Community Garden. I'm grad student in Social Work and this would be a great "grassroots organization" project, if I ever needed one. On a personal note, I'd love to see the garden as a way of bringing together the student population with the rest of the population of San Marcos.
Hi, I had this crazy idea to create a community garden in San Marcos!! But before I take the next step, I needed to know if people are even interested in developing a community garden?? Tell me what you think about having a huge, vegtable/flower garden in San Marcos? Any thoughts on location? Please let me know what you think San Martians.... 
Hey that idea sounds real good, it's always fun to help beautify san marcos whenever possible, and i think everyone can participate a little something and can be proud to say they took a part in it. -- As for location...do u have certain places in mind? Or are you going to rent some land out?? or gonna bum some land off the public parks.. or .. wut are u're ideas on this...
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