A Garden Leader

The Garden Leader is one of the keys to the success of any community garden. The garden leader coordinates and oversees all activities at the community garden and works with all the members. It is an important, rewarding, but demanding, job. A Garden Leader shares time, energy and land with others.

The Garden Leader is usually the person who has taken the initiative to get permission to use a site and has begun to get the group organized. How long a person serves as Garden Leader and how a new Garden Leader is selected depends on the bylaws agreed upon by the group.

A good Garden Leader …

• has time to devote to the community garden
• is familiar with the residents and resources of the community
• loves to garden or is willing to learn
• is friendly, fair, creative and enthusiastic
• always looks for fair and equitable solutions to conflicts
• listens

Job Checklist for a Garden Leader

• Signs up gardeners and keeps an accurate contact list (phone, address, email, etc.).
• Calls and conducts regular meetings.
• Attends training sessions offered by the Toronto Community Garden Network (TCGN) or arranges for a representative to attend and report back to the group.
• Shares accurate information with gardeners.
• Serves as a contact person for gardeners, the TCGN and Toronto Parks and Recreation
• Recruits a steering committee to help in managing the site and completing these tasks:
• site preparation: coordinates clearing the land, plowing, staking plots, soil improvements, plot assignments, fencing, water, paving, and all other construction needed…
• obtain supplies, seek donations and oversee fund raising
• keep accurate records and budgets
• ensure regular communication among garden members