• Herb gardenherb garden image by Steve Lovegrove from Fotolia.com
  
  A good neighborhood garden starts with careful planning. Working with a group can be a challenge; each individual has his own idea of what best constitutes a garden. A neighborhood garden requires the successful completion of a number of projects. Identifying those projects in advance can smooth the way to a successful and cooperative season. Careful planning that involves all the garden participants before the season begins can make the difference between a bountiful, relaxing season and a weedy, stressful mess. Plan a pre-season meeting and use a "who, what, where, when and why" template to schedule garden projects with your fellow gardeners.
  
  

Who

• A young gardenergardener boy image by Piter Pkruger from Fotolia.com
  
  Decide who is going to do what. The steps for growing a garden are: preparing the soil, planting, watering, feeding, pest control, weeding, harvesting and cleanup. Everyone can help with some of these. Some people can do a little of everything; others are better as specialists. The American Community Gardening Association offers a free download on starting a community garden.
  
  

What

• Herbs and flowers are popular as companions to vegetables.watering plants image by david hughes from Fotolia.com
  
  Decide what to plant. Even when neighborhood gardens are individual plots, there can be problems. Some plants, like corn, are pollinated by the wind; they grow best when planted together. However, hybridization occurs if other varieties are planted nearby. Plants benefit from companion plants--tomatoes with marigolds and garlic with roses. It is important to coordinate plant choices when planning the neighborhood garden.
  
  

Where

• Lettuce in a raised bedKitchen Garden in a cold frame image by Allen Stoner from Fotolia.com
  
  Plan out where the garden will be located and where in the garden the various plants will be grown. Tall plants shade shorter ones. This may or may not be a good thing. Other plants enjoy growing side by side; the three sisters--corn, beans and squash--are one example. Chose companion plants well. Consider the traffic flow in the garden; tomato stems can be easily snapped by a hose, while herbs like thyme and mint can take light traffic. Draw out a plot plan of the garden before planting.
  
  

When

• Swiss chard can be grown all summer.Mangold image by conny from Fotolia.com
  
  Make out a schedule for the garden. There are group tasks for the spring and fall. During the growing season, daily maintenance tasks, including watering and weeding, can be accomplished by one or two people. Make a chart or send an email to all participants, so gardeners will know what duties they are scheduled to perform and when.
  
  

Why

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  The reasons for a neighborhood garden are as diverse as the neighborhoods themselves. The University of Texas did a study comparing crime rates with the amount of greenery showing in satellite photos. They found that across the financial spectrum, the more greenery a district enjoyed, the less neighborhood crime they suffered. Neighborhood gardens can nourish the soul, the family and the local soup kitchen. Set goals for how your neighborhood garden can nurture your community.