So typical of these usless BMCC forums presented in such a one eyed fashion, the way you are presenting this is not a forum its a done deal & who ever it is at BMCC that feels this is such a great idea why dont you make sure you situate it right at your own front door. WHERE DO YOU INTEND TO LOCATE THESE GARDENS ???????WHY ARE BMCC intending to waste huge amounts of all rate payers money ??Who is fronting the cost of solar panels runing water to garden locations and remember if BMCC places a single park bench on site there goes another $8000, yes that is BMCC cost on a park bench.GET out of debt BMCC or use this money on worth while needs in the community their is so much to be doneRemember this BMCC you work for the whole community the community are not your underlings.

Back to the topic: the basic requirements - apart from the obvious physical aspects of the site - are a keen group of a people with the time, commitment and skills to do all the hard work of establishing a community garden. Those skills are more than just gardening skills - they also need to know how to engage the local community and be willing to learn from the successes & failures of similar community gardens elsewhere. They need to be more than just enthusiastic - and be realistic about what can be achieved. Ideally, the garden should be located to provide easy access without the need for a car. It should also be accessible to groups that could benefit from having a garden nearby, e.g. schools (for its educational benefits) or retirement villages (for its health/social benefits).

I have commented on the basic requirements in the other areas of discussion but to briefly summarise: good will, respectful active listening and dialogue with agreed Charter documents that include a Gardener's Guide.Loving kindnessMaryanneHazelbrook.

I have posted this as a reply but feel it may become lost so here it is as a comment for the survey.The Mid Mountains Community Garden with the invaluable assistance of Louise Sutcliffe and the Mid Mountains Neighbourhood Centre began a comprehensive search for a site for a community garden before being invited to use land by Gwen and Peter Adkins, managers of Kihilla owned by The Church Army.The minutes of these initial "whole group" monthly meetings will show that many local residents were committed and voted in favour of a shared garden approach with produce shared among the members and with provisions for surplus in the future to be made available to disadvantaged members of the local community.The Mid Mountains Community Garden (MMCG) has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with The Church Army that is very generous and is in effect a 3 year lease agreement. No money is expected by "the landlords" but the MOU does say that the MMCG would work to first provide its own water (now accomplished with a 10,000 litre water tank) and that any surplus would be given to the managers of Kihilla to feed the many people who attend their charitable residential courses.This forum has asked for comments and I have supplied my experiences. It is unfortunate that a few individuals are using this forum to express their discontent with the politics of the BMCC. I suggest they direct their concerns in writing to the Manager of the BMCC and/or attending council meetings. Sometimes we forget that the BMCC is our local government.Lastly, respectful active listening and dialogue are tools of a civilised society that we must always aspire to especially in times of economic hardships: care for people, care for the earth and share the surplus.Loving kindnessMaryanneHazelbrook.

I would also like to see the barriers to entry for starting a community garden lowered as much as possible. No one wants to see failed projects but with more support for starting up gardens from council staff and removing as much red tape from the process for applying and managing a community garden, we can encourage a better uptake and a stronger, healthier and more sustainable community generally.