I want to set up a community garden for rent: The most common doubts
Aug. 31, 2023
In this post we wanted to ask a battery of questions about the most common doubts that owners of urban community gardens companies have had before starting a business.
As always, we always give you indications, in the end you are the ones who know your orchards best;)
These doubts are more focused when we have already taken the decision, that is to say, we already have a plot of land, more or less close to one or more nearby towns where we know and have tested the demand.
Let's start...
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How do I design the plots?
In squares or rectangles, leaving roads and space for water, electricity, free spaces, utensils and a passage for small machinery.
The orientation is from north to south.
The paths next to the fence should be about 3.00m wide and the side paths about 1.5m wide.
They are best marked with compacted soil, compacted gravel or compacted gravel.
Large areas must be left free for the entry of tractors, lorries with manure.
Better to have a pedestrian and vehicle entrance.
How big should the plots be?
Between 70-80m2 is considered an optimal surface area for an average family of 4 or 5 people.
But most rental gardens are between 40-50 m2.
The figure of the mini-gardens is also relevant with about 25m2.
It is important to realise that there are market gardeners with different needs.
How do I know if the soil on my land is suitable?
Generally, if it has already been cultivated it is, if not, a test can be carried out in a laboratory to find out what our soil is made up of and to get to know it better.
If the soil is clayey, it retains more water than sandy soil, so plants will need less water. If the soil is sandy, it retains less water and plants will need more water.
What it may need is a supply of organic matter, the compost, which will be renewed from time to time.
Where can I get water to supply the orchard?
Generally the irrigation network, existing wells or ponds, the formalities are carried out with the hydrographic confederation of the area.
What type of irrigation is of interest to me?
Blanket, sprinkler, drip or drip hose irrigation are types of irrigation.
The most commonly used for rental gardens is drip irrigation, as it is the most economical and the most responsive for the plants.
Drip watering is usually short, 1 to 3 minutes, in summer it can be done three times.
The cost of installing drip irrigation ranges from 2 to 4 €/m2.
Controlling this is now very easy, as there are timers on the market that each gardener can put in his garden or control it from a battery in parallel, if the garden is very large.
This can be good for the gardeners because they know that if they can't go one week, their garden will be watered.
How much will water cost me for a rented vegetable garden?
This is sometimes a concern, but less so when it is known.
The garden will not need large amounts of water, but it is necessary to know how to give it the right amount.
Let's imagine that we have an orchard with 40 plots of 25 m2 each, that's about 1000m2, which is 1 HA, a simple example to understand it better.
There is a standard norm that we can take of 5l per day per m2 of garden bed.
If the plots are 25m2 we will need 125 l per day.
By a simple rule of three, the cost of watering the garden per month is €1.60.
So 40 plots * €1.60 = €64 per month.
It is clear that this is an example to give an idea, as the needs will vary depending on whether the garden for example is fed with water from the urban network, the climate, the type of soil, the season and the type of crop.
Is it possible to have large trees nearby?
Better not to cast shadows, although there are a variety of lettuces or plants (parsley, mint, coriander) that also work in shade.
Having trees also favours the general ecosystem that favours our garden, permaculture can help us in this matter.
What is the electrical installation?
Three-phase power supply line to the pump and solenoid valves (there are solenoid valves that do not require electricity). Registration facilities and the pump's secondary switchboard.
Installation of lighting in the common areas and greenhouse with low consumption circuit and LED lights.
Also at points along the roads, leaving plots of land without light.
Which law applies to the rental contract?
It will depend on what suits you best and on your case. The law of urban leases, rustic leases as appropriate and the civil code (regardless of whether the land is rustic or urban).
Does perimeter fencing have to be installed?
Yes, if it is isolated, if it is a simple twist fence that allows air to pass through, inside the plots it is possible to put some masonry or bricks to delimit, low wooden fences or stakes with ropes to delimit.
It can also be done with hedges of aromatic plants such as thyme, sage, sage... which can also repel pests.
What utensils do you usually use?
Individual booths or roofed booths with lockers can be provided.
Is a Greenhouse necessary?
So that your gardeners can provide themselves with seedlings and seeds, it is a great way to attract your future gardeners.
This will also help you to have stocks of the best and most resistant species that will reproduce in your garden.
Is it necessary to have a toilet?
Like the greenhouse, it can be more attractive to gardeners who spend a lot of time there, and there are now ecological systems with dry systems that do not need to be installed.
Well, getting started with a vegetable garden for rent is like everything else, you have to get started, adding extras and improvements as you grow and above all, sign up to Gardenphy.
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