Help! please! Need advice on how to start a garden with other "coupon friends"

[charmingmoms]

Hello! I live in Montana and I have started a coupon swap group where we discuss deals and swap Q's. But my question is on gardening.

I have always had my own garden, it has always been mostly a "salad" garden in a very small space.

Well, my DH graciously offered to till a HUGE space(20' x 30') this year and said " why don't you invite your coupon friends to help you with the garden.

Now, this proposal, brings up alot of questions?

How do we decide scheduling of weeding?
how do you divide produce?
how do we decide what to plant?


Is there ANYONE that shares their garden with friends? How do you do it?

I do have some time as I can't plant anything till end of may, but it takes a while to organize and that's why i am asking now!

HELP PLEASE!:shrug7::hectic1:

[tuckll]

Are you strickly planting vegetables? Lay weed fabric down, cut an "X" and put the plant in the dirt. I would ad fresh potting soil or some type of amendment by what type of soil you have. I always put compost, manure and potting soil/top soil to get the best results. I also mulch.

[JANE4girls]

To me it would be hard having a centrally located garden in one yard vs have your group each have their own garden.

Out of sight, out of mind...If they are not faced with the garden and the weeds, they will forget about it and get too busy for it.

But if you each have your own gardens in your own yards you can all tend to your own, but then share your bounty with others.

I am doing garden sharing with several people in our area. That way we also get a larger variety of crops to pick from all the members gardens too.

[Walley's Mom]

I agree with JANE4girls. I don't think sharing one garden is going to work. You are going to get saddled with most of the work simply because you are there and eventually this might cause hard feelings. Better to have small gardens, focus on growing a limited variety in each garden then share.

[lzcouponqueen]

My grandmother and her friends always bartered with their gardens. If you have the garden and tend to it (you can use newspaper to keep weeds out by placing layers around plants), then your friends can trade you with other items that you may need.
That way it will be a true win-win situation!

[Sudschick]

Hi,
I'm new here. It was your post that got me to join...lol. I just HAD to add my 2 cents here. I think your garden adventure could be a lot of fun and extremely bonding for your group. Here's what I would do; divide the space into as many members as you have in your group. Give each person a plot to plant. I personally would have a meeting and decide what you all want to grow. I would suggest that each person grow one vegetable. If you have 12 members, that's 12 vegetables that you could all share. If the group is small, like say 4 or 6 members, they could each divide their plot and grow 2 vegetables. Each person is responsible for their own area...sink or swim. That way you would not get stuck weeding, watering, etc. If you have an extra area, maybe you could also grow some flowers?
I'm excited for you, and I wish you and your group good luck. This CAN WORK!!
Sudsy