At Topeka Common Ground, we firmly believe that Community Gardens are important community assets that provide many benefits and are worthy of community support. Community gardens help to build and strengthen healthy communities in many ways: building interpersonal connections and a sense of pride within neighborhoods, physical activity through gardening, healthier eating habits and improved access to healthy food options, and more. We firmly believe that Community Gardens are valuable assets in our community, and our goal is to do what we can to help them thrive and continue their operations.
Unfortunately, very few things in life are free, including gardens. Even simple community gardens may incur costs for basic resources such as access to water or amendments to build soils. Other items such as tools, seeds and seedlings, building materials for framing garden beds, fencing or signage may add to operating costs. If the costs become overwhelming, gardens may cease to operate. Our mission is to do what we can to reduce costs of garden operation by providing access to free or low-cost resources.
We are a very small, all-volunteer nonprofit organization. If you share our belief that Community Gardens are valuable community assets and worthy of support, there are several ways that you can help to support our mission:
- Become a member of Topeka Common Ground. In addition to the monetary support generated by your membership fee, members can help us by increasing awareness of our work, and by volunteering to help with our projects.
- Get Involved. Volunteer with Topeka Common Ground to help us with planting and growing seedlings, assisting with distributions of seeds or seedlings, or in other ways. Or, volunteer to help at one of our Affiliate Gardens. We attempt to function as a clearinghouse, connecting volunteers or individuals seeking garden space in a community garden setting with gardens who have expressed an interest. If you would like to be more involved in operations of our organization, consider volunteering to serve as a Board member.
- Support us with a donation. Financial donations, in any amount, are always welcomed and appreciated. Your financial support will allow us to expand the support that we are able to offer to area Community Gardens.