Common Ground

Hello, Common Ground gardeners. Due to the amount of spam assulting our site, we are moving to a moderator model. That just means that when someone first signs up to be a member of ACGA, and thus able to use our forum for garden discussions, they will check in with a moderator to be approved for membership. After that, folks are free to post. Thanks very much, Don

Hello. Does anyone have a water-sharing arrangement with a neighbor - an organization, a resident, whatever? This would be where you run a hose from their spigot to your garden? Anybody got an agreement we can look at? Has anybody set up a "recording device" that keeps track of water use? Here's the back story: We are starting a new community garden on a large parcel of city-owned land. We have approvals (except - we are a big enough city to have multiple agencies and 'turf wars', so we were just stopped in our tracks so a different agency (land use) that believes they have jurisdiction has stepped in demanding a review, after months of working with the property's manager (water) and getting their approval. But that's just venting - my question is this... As part of the negotiations and our budget, we have set aside money to connect to city water, involving getting our own meter. Our garden is medium-sized (16 10x10 ft plots on a bigger footprint so there is space for gathering, environmental plantings, and - of course - paths and compost,) and we plan to start smaller at first, so we really don't a complex major water system. For more than a year, the city has dragged its feet, and the cost is the largest single budget item we face. Right next door is a friendly organization, a family shelter. They have a hose bib fairly close to the garden, and seem friendly to our cause (and we are to theirs.) With the gardening season on us, we are thinking about approaching them about letting us use their water. And we're turning to you for suggestions. Thanks! Don (in Charlotte NC)

Where can an urban school get donations of florida friendly plants to plant on March 12th for National Plant day to make the school more inviting and green? Any suggestions?