This is a picture intense presentation about how the Des Moines "Downtown Community Garden" came to be. You can learn more about the garden at: www.gardendowntowndsm.com

1. The Downtown Community Garden
“From the Ground Up”
Iowa ASLA Fall Conference
Drew Matthew Maifeld : d2mgroup@gmail.com
September 2nd, 2010

2. 5 Things to take away
(the categories we’ll cover)
• QUICK SYNOPSIS
• ASLA INVOLVEMENT
• RECYCLED MATERIALS
• SENSE OF COMMUNITY
• PERCIEVED VALUE

3. QUICK SYNOPSIS

4. Select a location

5. Size of the lot / Present use / Potential use

6. From the Ground Up…
• ASLA INVOLVEMENT
– Organize a group listening session
– Create a concept plan
And a bit of:
– Initial construction / city coordination

7. Listening Session

8. Existing Conditions

9. What’s the motivation

10. Design Charrette

11. Design Charrette

12. Plan Development
2 slides

13. Plan Review

14. The Result

16. Site Preparation

17. Coordination with City

18. Make a sign up sheet

19. Sign Up Day

20. Number the plots

21. Engage the Local Community

22. Tree’s Forever

23. Only a Landscape Architect would…

24. Only a Landscape Architect would…
2 slides

25. Initial construction

26. A Bit Technical -
…for a Community Garden

27. In Summary:
ASLA helped lay the
foundation for this garden
to flourish...

28. From the Ground Up…
• A GOOD PLAN BEING REALIZED
– Recycled Materials
– Less is more (Labyrinth and Common Space)
– Green Space
– Rain Garden
– Maintenance
– Regular Group Gatherings

29. Recycled Materials

30. Recycled Materials

31. Recycled Materials

32. Recycled Materials

33. Recycled Materials

34. Common vs Individual

35. Plot Development

36. Communal or individual maintenance

37. Communal or individual maintenance

38. Labyrinth Construction

39. Less is more

40. How many hours can the group give

41. How many hours can the group give

42. Rain Garden – Common or Individual?

43. Water

44. Wildlife

45. Plant Life

46. Plant Life

47. Plant Life

48. What is the effect you want to achieve

49. What’s the Value?

50. Family

51. A Place for all People

52. All Ages

53. A Personal Touch

54. A Personal Touch

55. A Personal Touch

56. A Personal Touch

57. A Personal Touch

58. Open Space

59. Open Space

60. Open Space

61. Work in groups

62. Group Bonding

63. Getting Kids Outside

64. Working Together

65. Regular group gatherings

66. Regular group gatherings

67. Regular group gatherings

68. Regular group gatherings

69. Regular group gatherings

70. Regular group gatherings

71. Regular group gatherings

72. Regular group gatherings

73. Regular group gatherings

74. Regular group gatherings

75. The Off Season

76. A common place for communication

77. A common place for communication

78. A common place for communication

79. Go Start a Community Garden!
or ask me how I can help you get one started : d2mgroup@gmail.com