If you are visiting the Garden Posse blog for the first time after seeing us on Central Texas Gardener, welcome! Presumably, you are here because you want to know more - you are on a quest for information about, maybe, what we do or how you can get involved. Well, you are in luck, because we just wrote up some handy FAQs for our new website, which is about to launch. (Yes, we are going to bust out of this rinky-dink Blogspot soon. Our new home will be substantially more beautiful and informative.)
So read on for answers to all your most burning questions about the Garden Posse. If you have a different question, don't hesitate to ask in the comments.
Q: What is guerrilla gardening?
A: Guerrilla gardening is commonly defined as gardening on public land without permission, typically at night. However, the Garden Posse’s activities are not confined by this definition. We might ask permission to garden on private land, or we might garden to help out another community group. Some people might use guerrilla gardening as a type of political action, but we see it more of a way to encourage creative gardening and create a sense of community. We’ll get behind any activity that furthers those goals.
Q: Where are your gardens?
A: Check out our handy-dandy Google Map to locate guerrilla gardens we’ve planted since we started.
Q: How can I join the group?
A: All it takes is you showing up to one of our events to consider yourself a guerrilla gardener. If you want to feel official, come to our meetings, digs, and events on a regular basis and we’ll consider you to be a “core member” of the Posse. From then on, we’ve got your back. You won’t regret it.
Q: How do I find out about Garden Posse events?
A: There are lots of ways – we are not too secretive about our doings. Check out our calendar on our website, join our mailing list, read our blog, become our fan on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.
Q: I want to help you find new garden space. What are the requirements for sites?
A: We are really glad you want to help! For a traditional vegetable or flower garden, there are three main requirements:
- Legitimately neglected, meaning, no mowing or maintenance by city or neighbor. Public space or you have permission of owner.
- Near a water source
- Neighbors will actively maintain garden
There may be exceptions, so inquire directly about a potential space. It helps if you send photos and an approximate address.
We are looking for other types of spaces for different activities, as well.
- Wildflowers! (large areas appropriate for broadcasting seeds. Think roadsides, triangles, medians)
- Native fruit tree groves (large areas that have room for one or more large trees)
- Invasive species removal
- Wildlife habitats (for bats, birds, and bees)
- Places appropriate for home-made container gardens (sidewalks, wherever!)
Q: Where do you get your materials?
A: A few area nurseries (in particular, Shoal Creek Nursery) have been very kind to us and donate plants, soil and compost. We also have hosted a benefit that gave us funds to buy plants. We always welcome participants bringing their own plants and seeds!
Q: What should I bring to a guerrilla garden dig?
A: Bring shovels, trowels, rakes – whatever tools ya got. Flashlights are extremely helpful for digs at night. And as mentioned above, plants and seeds are nice to bring. We encourage you to bring native plants adapted to the Central Texas climate – they’re more likely to survive in a guerrilla garden.
Q: I’m a lost soul. How do I know if guerrilla gardening is right for me?
A: If you are a beginning gardener looking to get your hands in the dirt, an experienced gardener looking for a creative challenge, a frustrated gardener without a yard looking for a garden to care for, or a person looking to try something new and meet new people, we think you will enjoy guerrilla gardening.
