New World Survival Field Tool

Community Garden Startup Workbook

Use this workbook before your first construction day. The goal is not to prove that a favorite site will work. The goal is to discover whether the people, land, water, safety, permissions, budget and operating plan are strong enough to justify the work.

Decision rule: A blank answer is not a yes. Mark every item Verified, Needs investigation, Needs modification, or Stop.

1. Garden purpose and intended users

Working garden name

Neighborhood / organization / service area

Who is this garden for?

What should the garden make possible that is difficult now?

How many people have expressed real interest in gardening, not just general support?

How was that interest verified?

2. Founding team

Role	Name	Responsibility	Backup
Coordinator		Meetings, task tracking, contacts
Garden / horticulture lead		Site and growing questions
Community connector		Gardeners, neighbors, partners
Money / records lead		Budget, receipts, quotes, records
Site / construction lead		Layout, deliveries, build coordination

☐ We have enough people to continue if one organizer leaves.

☐ Intended gardeners are represented in planning.

☐ Nearby residents or site users have had a reasonable chance to raise concerns.

☐ We have identified a potential sponsor or institutional partner, if one is useful.

3. Compare candidate sites

Question	Site A	Site B	Site C
Address / parcel
Verified owner
Convenient to intended gardeners
Direct sun during growing season
Reliable water source
Drainage / flood concerns
Site-history concerns
Soil / growing-medium plan
Accessible entrance and circulation feasible
Material delivery / parking
Land tenure outlook
Zoning / permit outlook
Neighbor / institution support
Overall status

4. Property identity and site history

Candidate site

☐ Parcel / owner information verified through an appropriate public or landowner record.

☐ Previous uses researched.

☐ Nearby uses considered for possible runoff, dust, dumping or other environmental concerns.

☐ Historic maps, directories, planning records or other local records checked where useful.

☐ Site walked for stained soil, oily sheen, tanks/piping, unusual debris, dumping, broken glass or other warning signs.

☐ Floodplain, drainage and stormwater history reviewed.

What did the site used to be?

Unresolved environmental questions

Do not assume that a routine pH/nutrient test answers contaminant questions. If site history suggests contamination, seek the appropriate local environmental or Extension guidance before growing food.

5. Soil and growing medium

Need	Laboratory / source	Date	Result / next action
Fertility / pH test
Environmental contaminant testing, if indicated
Imported soil / growing medium documentation

☐ We know what the laboratory actually tested.

☐ We have not treated "clean fill" as proof that soil is suitable for gardening.

☐ Any contamination concern has a documented next step from an appropriate authority or qualified professional.

6. Water plan

Primary water source

Who owns / controls the source?

Who pays the bill?

Where is the shutoff?

☐ Water access is documented, not assumed.

☐ The source can serve the full garden during hot, dry periods.

☐ Hose routes / spigots can be used without creating avoidable trip hazards.

☐ If a well is used, appropriate quality and capacity questions have been addressed.

☐ Any rainwater system is treated as a site-specific supplement and checked against local rules and food-safety guidance.

7. Local permissions and utility locating

Question	Office / contact	Status	Evidence / permit number
Community garden land use allowed?
Fence approval?
Shed / structure approval?
Water connection / meter?
Rainwater rules?
Compost / waste rules?
Accessibility obligations?
Floodplain / stormwater restriction?
Other

☐ Underground utilities have been or will be located through 811 / the local utility-locate process before digging.

8. Written land agreement and insurance

☐ Permitted garden use is written.

☐ Start date, term and renewal are written.

☐ Water responsibility is written.

☐ Maintenance / mowing / trash responsibilities are written.

☐ Security / gate responsibilities are written.

☐ Insurance requirements are written.

☐ Fees or rent are written.

☐ Ownership and removal of beds, fencing, shed and other improvements are written.

☐ Termination grounds and notice are written.

☐ Restoration obligations are written.

☐ Current contacts for both parties are written.

Length of assured site use

NC State Extension recommends planning for at least five years where possible. Treat that as a planning benchmark, not a nationwide legal requirement.

Insurance / risk contact and written result

9. Accessible-use review

☐ Entrance can be reached without an avoidable barrier.

☐ Main circulation route can be made firm and stable.

☐ Gate hardware can be operated by intended users.

☐ Turning / passing space is planned where needed.

☐ At least some growing areas can be worked from a comfortable position for people with limited reach or mobility.

☐ Water is reachable without forcing a user to cross soft or obstructed ground.

☐ Seating / shade is considered where appropriate.

☐ Applicable ADA, state, local or institutional requirements have been checked.

Barriers we need to modify

10. Garden layout

Sketch the site. Include north, entrance, accessible route, plot areas, common areas, water, shutoff, compost, storage, waste, seating, delivery point, utilities/easements, fence/gates and expansion area.

11. Startup budget

Item	Quoted cost	Donated / in-kind	Who owns it?
Land / lease / use fee
Water connection / meter
Irrigation / hoses / spigots
Site cleanup
Soil / testing / growing media
Beds / borders
Paths / accessibility work
Fence / gates
Storage
Tools
Compost system
Signage / bulletin board
Insurance / permits / professional review
Contingency

12. Annual operating budget

Recurring item	Annual estimate	Funding source	Due date
Water
Insurance / land fee
Repairs
Tool replacement
Soil / compost / amendments
Seeds / plants for common areas
Communications / printing
Reserve

13. Rules before plots are assigned

☐ Eligibility / membership

☐ Plot assignment / waitlist

☐ Fees / waivers / assistance

☐ Maintenance standard

☐ Abandoned plot procedure

☐ Shared work expectations

☐ Water rules

☐ Pesticide / herbicide rules

☐ Compost rules

☐ Tool use / return

☐ Harvest / picking boundaries

☐ Guests / children / pets

☐ Conflict / enforcement procedure

☐ Accommodation process

☐ Emergency and landowner contacts

14. Construction readiness

☐ Written land permission executed.

☐ Required permits / approvals complete.

☐ Utility locating complete and markings still valid.

☐ Soil / environmental questions resolved enough to proceed.

☐ Water connection and responsibility confirmed.

☐ Final layout reviewed against site boundaries and easements.

☐ Materials and deliveries scheduled.

☐ Volunteer work plan includes safety, tools, supervision and cleanup.

☐ No one is improvising excavation, plumbing, electrical, structural or environmental work outside their competence.

15. First 90 days

Checkpoint	What we will review	Owner	Date
Opening	Orientation, signed rules, water, tool system, contacts
30 days	Water use, weeds, access, abandoned plots, unresolved questions
60 days	Budget, maintenance load, conflict, accessibility, pests
90 days	What to change before next season, leadership backups, repairs

16. Final site decision

PROCEEDINVESTIGATEMODIFYSTOP

Decision

Why

Unresolved questions that must be closed before construction

Next three actions

Sources and revision note

This workbook accompanies New World Survival's definitive guide to starting a community garden. Safety-critical content was checked against current U.S. EPA guidance, USDA food-safety guidance, NC State Cooperative Extension community-garden guidance, FDA flood-crop guidance and U.S. Access Board accessibility resources. Zoning, permits, water, insurance, environmental testing, accessibility obligations and land agreements require local verification. Revised September 4, 2026.