The Kebun-kebun Bangsar project proposed turning a piece of unused land owned by TNB into a community garden for residents of the Bangsar area. However, the project initially faced opposition from residents concerned about land erosion. Nearly a year later, the garden is flourishing with various community groups involved in gardening and learning about gardening there. The document then provides guidelines for starting an urban community garden, including getting neighbors and a garden club involved, finding land, obtaining permission from the landowner, testing the soil, signing a lease, planning the garden layout, creating a budget, obtaining donations, and getting planting.
3. intro.
Kebun-kebun Bangsar, the proposal for a garden project
on a piece of TNB reserve land in the Bangsar area, has
been strongly met with both support and opposition from
the community at large.
The project that was intended to bring the Bangsar
community together and help them to connect with
nature. Ironically, the project was met with a lot of
opposition by residents when it was first proposed due to
concerns about land erosion.
Nearly a year on, the initiative is flourishing with various
groups of people coming in to work on the land and
learning how to garden there.
8. 01.
Get neighbours involved.
- Survey or ask around the neighborhood to see if they are interested and would like to join.
- Hold monthly meetings with the group of people who’s interested to start the garden
- To develop and initiate plans and keep them involved in the process from day one.
9. 02.
Form a Garden Club.
- Helps in making decisions and dividing the work effectively.
- Ensure that everyone has a vested interest in the garden and can contribute to the design,
development, and maintenance.
10. 03.
Find land for the garden.
- look around the neighborhood for a vacant lot that gets plenty of sun
- The potential garden site should be no more than a short drive from the members of the club.
- Make sure that the community supports establishing a garden there.
11. Find out who owns the land.
- Obtain permission, so they have to first find out who owns the land.
04.
12. Find out if the land has water.
- Contact the water service provider in that area to find out if the site has an existing water meter.
05.
13. Contact the landowner.
- Contact the landowner to ask permission to use the property for a community garden.
- Mention to the landowner the value of the garden to the community and the fact the gardeners will be
responsible for keeping the site clean and weed-free.
06.
14. Get the soil tested.
- It is advisable to have the soil at the site tested for fertility pH and presence of heavy metals.
07.
15. Signing a lease.
- Offer the landowner a lease with a “hold harmless” waiver.
- This waiver can simply state that should one of the gardeners be injured as a result of negligence on
the part of another gardener, the landowner is held harmless and will not be sued.
08.
16. Planning the garden.
- The community should be involved in the planning, design and set-up of the garden.
- Use simple drawings or photos cut from garden magazines representing the different garden
components.
1. basic elements of a community garden
2. nice additions to the garden plan
09.
17. Creating a garden budget.
- Use the design to develop a materials list and cost-out the projects.
10.
18. Where to get materials and money
- Obtain donations of material for the project.
- They should make their intention known to the public so that people will volunteer to help out in the
garden rather than having to pay more to the workers.
11.
19. Get growing.
- Start on gardening rather than being at the planning, design and fundraising stage for an extended
period of time. There is a fine line between planning well and over planning.
1. clean up the site
2. install the irrigation system
3. plant something
4. continue to construct the garden as materials and funds become available
12.