garden allotment – greenupside

Maybe you live in an apartment with no garden space, or perhaps your yard is not big enough or sunny enough for the type of garden you want to build. Either way, renting garden space is an option you should consider, especially if you want to save money on fresh produce. So, how do you rent garden space? You can rent garden space through websites like YardYum or SharedEarth. You can also rent garden space through a local agricultural extension office. Another option is to join a community garden near you. Finally, you can search for nearby garden space to rent on craiglist or in the local newspaper. Of course, there are other more traditional ways to find garden space for rent. For example, you can talk to family, friends, and coworkers to see if anyone they know has land available that would be suitable for gardening. No matter how you find a garden space to rent, make sure that you see the plot in person before you put money down. Take the time to make sure the garden space is suitable for the plants you want to grow! In this article, we'll get into the details of how to find a garden space for rent. We'll also look at how to do your homework to get a good deal on a worthy plot of land. Let's begin. How To Rent Garden Space (Renting A Garden Plot Or Allotment) The first thing to do is find some potential garden space for rent near you. Rent garden space to grow your own fresh produce and enjoy nature for a while. That way, you can garden when renting an apartment or if you have a small or shady yard. Scout Out All Possible Sources Of Rental Garden Space There are several potential sources of garden space for rent, including: Marketplace Websites (such as YardYum.com or SharedEarth.com)Local Classified Websites (such as craigslist.org or Facebook Marketplace)Local Agricultural Extension Office (often through a state university)Local Community Garden (or CSA - Community Supported Agriculture)Word Of Mouth (ask family, friends, or business associates) Let's start with the marketplace websites, which connect landowners and gardeners who need space. Newspapers may have garden space for rent in the classified section. First up: YardYum.com! Renting Garden Space Through YardYum.com YardYum.com is a website that connects gardeners who need space with landowners who have extra space. As a renter, you have two options to pay for the space in your garden plot: 1. you can pay with cash.2. you can give the landowner a portion of any produce that you grow on the rented plot of land. You can pay for your garden space with cash or with vegetables! Your first step is to create an account on the YardYum website. Don't worry - you don’t have to share your name, email, or address with any landowners (unless you feel comfortable after speaking with them by messaging on the site.) It is easy to search for garden space that has everything you desire. For example, you can search based on: Residential or commercial landWatering included (if included, this could include a hose or a pump, so make sure to find out!)Hours of access (full time or part time - make sure the availability fits with your schedule)Raised Beds Included (a raised bed is helpful for handicapped gardeners, or those who cannot bend like they used to!)Plot is Already Set Up For Gardening (this will save you time on digging or rototilling, and the soil may even have compost and fertilizer mixed in already). YardYum.com provides a contract that you can use as a template for your garden space rental agreement. As mentioned earlier, make sure you check out the garden plot before you buy - don't pay sight unseen! You can rent out a garden plot in someone's yard on YardYum.com. Visit the space and verify that the contract spells out what you are getting before you put up any money or sign an agreement. As far as pricing goes, YardYum’s FAQ page states that a plot 20 feet by 20 feet (6 meters by 6 meters) will rent for $30 to $100 USD per year. If you want to get started, you can check out the YardYum website here. (Note that you can also sign up as a landowner if you have space to rent out to others.) Renting Garden Space Through SharedEarth.com Similar to YardYum.com, SharedEarth.com connects gardeners who need space with landowners who have plots available. SharedEarth.com is another website you can use to find garden space for rent near you. After entering your address, you can find garden space for rent near you. You can sign up for SharedEarth.com using a Facebook account or an email account. If you want to sign up for SharedEarth.com, you can do so at their website here. (Note that you can also sign up as a landowner if you have space to rent out to others.) Renting Garden Space Through Craigslist.org You can also use craigslist.org to do a search for garden space for rent in your local area. Go to the main craigslist.org site here, and then scroll down to find your state and region. As with any of these methods, be sure to view the plots before you put down money or sign an agreement. Check out the garden space for rent before signing an agreement. Most people on craigslist are willing to bargain to make a deal. Try to put together a small group of friends and family to rent garden space. You might be able to negotiate a bulk discount if you rent a big piece of land for a group. Renting Garden Space Through Facebook Marketplace Facebook Marketplace has two sections that you might want to check out for garden space: the classified section (where you can buy and sell things)the garden section (dedicated to gardening items) If you do some digging, you might be able to find some space you can rent for a garden plot. You might also be able to find the tools you need if they are not included in the plot rental price. You might find garden tools or even garden space on Facebook Marketplace. Renting Garden Space Through Your Local Agricultural Extension Office Some agricultural extension offices will organize rentals of garden space during the year. You may need to fill out a request form or application and pay a fee for your plot of land. In addition to finding space for your garden, this is a great way to learn from other gardeners by sharing experiences. You can even trade produce with your fellow gardeners! You can trade produce, such as fresh cherry tomatoes, with fellow gardeners who are tending plots close to yours. Remember that along with other gardeners, you are responsible for the appearance of the garden space. You will need to work together to keep it looking good and free of weeds. For an example of garden rentals, check out this page from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. To find your local agricultural extension office, check out this page from the USDA, which lists local extension offices and lets you search by state. Renting Garden Space Through A Local Community Garden A local community garden is a great way to find like-minded gardeners who may not have space to garden at home, or who want to meet others who share their hobby and passion. You can meet other gardeners if you rent space at a community garden. If there are none nearby, you can start your own! Community gardens may rent plots of varying sizes for gardening. If you want more space, you can request multiple adjacent plots. However, if you are new to gardening, you might want to try a small space for a year before upgrading to more space! Many community gardens also have additional amenities, such as: raised beds (some are wheelchair accessible)access to water for your plants (either a hose or a well; there may be restrictions on sprinklers or unattended watering)gazebos or picnic tables (for rest and meals with other gardeners)compost bins (for adding organic matter and nutrients to soil)piles of mulch (for soil insulation and weed control)portable toiletsparkinggreenhouses and cold frames (to keep plants warmer)beehive areagarden toolstool shedpotting bench (for planting, repotting, and propagating)discounts on registration fees for local gardening workshops You may want to ask about these items by email or over the phone, especially if some of them are deal-breakers for you. Ask about raised beds and other features before you rent a garden space. The prices will vary quite a bit depending on where you live. For example, the Fountain Hills Community Garden in Arizona offers 4 foot by 10 foot raised beds (1 foot tall) for $100 annually ($2.50 per square foot). On the other hand, the Sonoma Community Garden in California offers 10 foot by 15 foot plots for $150 annually ($1 per square foot). Sometimes you can get a discount for renting multiple plots. If you have friends who are also interested in gardening, ask them if they want to rent space together! To find community gardens in your area, use any search engine to search for “community garden near me”, and check out the results you find (you might not get relevant results if you are using incognito or private browsing mode). Of course, if there are no community gardens near you, you can start your own community garden! Find some like-minded people in your area through a site like Meetup.com, set up a website, and get the word out at local garden centers! Renting Garden Space Through Word Of Mouth One of the best ways to rent garden space from someone you already know is through word of mouth. Tell your family, friends, and coworkers that you are looking to rent garden space for this year. See if anyone you know has garden space for rent. They might trade space for a share of the produce. You can do this by speaking with them directly or by posting on Facebook, LinkedIn, or other social networks. You can also post a want ad on craigslist.org to see if anyone is looking for renters for their available garden space. Do Your Due Diligence Before Renting A Garden Space There are a few things you should check out before you agree to rent a garden space. For example: Ask if you can take a soil sample to see what fertilizers or soil amendments you might need before committing to a garden plot. A soil test can tell you this information - to learn more, check out my article on how to do a soil test.Talk to someone who has rented a garden plot before and ask what they would look out for.Take a tour of the plot with the owner or coordinator, and bring a list of any questions you have.Get a lease or rental agreement for the garden plot so that everything is spelled out clearly. Once you have done this, you will need to consider all of the important factors, such as: CostTravel timeSunlightSoil type and qualityWateringHours of access to your plot How Much Does It Cost To Rent Garden Space? You can expect to pay anywhere from $0.20 to $2.50 per square foot of garden space in the U.S. That is, $20 to $250 for a 100 square foot plot, which is equivalent to a square space that is 10 feet by 10 feet. Here are some example rates and sizes: In Ann Arbor, Michigan, you can rent a half plot at 375 square feet for $80 (about $0.21 per square foot) or a full plot at 750 square feet for $130 (about $0.17 per square foot).Shark Garden in Burien, Washington offers 100 square feet of garden rental space for $25 plus 10 hours of community service, or a cost of about $0.25 per square foot.At Helfand Farm Community Gardens in Dartmouth, MA, you can rent a half plot at 100 square feet for $30 ($0.30 per square foot) or a full plot for 200 square feet for $55 ($0.275 per square foot), plus extra for rototilling or a compost bin.In Matthews, North Carolina, you can rent a 6 foot by 8 foot plot (48 square feet) for $35, or a cost of about $0.73 per square foot.The Sonoma Community Garden in California offers 10 foot by 15 foot plots for $150 annually ($1 per square foot).The Fountain Hills Community Garden in Arizona offers 4 foot by 10 foot raised beds (1 foot tall) for $100 annually ($2.50 per square foot). The cost to rent garden space depends on the plot size, location, demand, amenities, and age. The amount you pay to rent garden space will vary depending on Plot Size (you might get a discount for renting a larger or double plot)Location (a garden plot in the city will be more expensive)Demand (you might be able to get a discount if there are still spaces available late in the season)Amenities (fences, garden tools, raised beds, nearby hoses for watering, and ease of access can all affect the cost of a plot)Age (soil quality and site appearance can make a difference) Can I Rent Out My Garden? (How To Rent Out Your Garden To Others) On the other side of the coin, if you have extra space that you want to rent out to gardeners, you can use some of the websites listed above. Simply sign up as a landowner on sites like YardYum.com and SharedEarth.com. You can also put a (free) advertisement for garden space for rent on craigslist.org. In addition, you can also put out a message on social networks like Facebook or LinkedIn to advertise your space, or speak to people in person, the old-fashioned way! Finally, you can use traditional advertising methods, such as taking out newspaper ads. You might also consider speaking to landlords with tenants living in apartments who may be interested in renting garden space. Taking out a newspaper ad is a good way to generate some interest for rented garden space. If you want to think bigger and start a garden rental business, check out this article from TRUiC on how to do it right. If you are going to rent out garden space to others, there are a few things you will want to consider, including: Wear & Tear - how much will it cost for maintenance of the garden plants?Water - will you supply water? Will it be a hose, a well, or a pump?Insurance & Liability - if anyone gets hurt, you want to make sure you are covered. To reduce your risk, fill in holes to level the ground and provide the proper tools for gardening. Can You Rent Garden Space For A Party Or Wedding? You might be interested in renting garden space for a garden wedding or party. There are lots of ways to find outdoor space to rent for a wedding or party. In that case, you do have some options for a short-term rental of garden space. In the U.S., you can try Peerspace, which lists indoor and outdoor spaces for rent. You can search by location and by category (wedding, baby shower, etc.) In the U.K., you can try Borrow My Garden, which has outdoor party venues and other spaces available for rent. You can search by location and by number of guests. Conclusion Now you have a good idea of the different ways that you can find garden space for rent near you. You also know what to look for and what to ask about before signing an agreement to rent garden space. If space is holding you back from gardening, check out my article on how to start a garden without a yard and my article on 20 edible plants you can grow in your kitchen. I hope you found this article helpful – if so, please share it with someone else who can use the information. With a little luck, you can rent space for a vegetable garden, herb garden, or anything else you want to grow! If you are starting a garden, you can learn the basics on this page. If you want to read some of my most popular posts, check out the “Best of GreenUpSide” page here. Enjoy! ~Jonathon