From weeds to seeds.

• Author: Shinkle, Douglas
• Position: TRENDS & TRANSITIONS - Community garden law in California

Community gardens are sprouting up across America and Canada, where experts say some 18,000 are under cultivation. A "community garden," according to the University of California's Marin Master Gardeners, is any piece of public or private land gardened by a group of people, on either individual or shared plots. It may produce fruit, vegetables or flowers and may be found in neighborhoods, schools or connected to institutions such as hospitals. They face some obstacles, however, such as the lack of long-term leases or access to water, along with liability concerns that some legislatures are trying to tackle.

A new California law (similar to one in Missouri) is expected to grow more gardens. The Urban Agriculture Incentive Zones Act, which went into effect Jan. 1, allows cities and counties to create incentive zones in urban areas for local gardens and greenhouses. Property owners who turn over their vacant land for small-scale agriculture for at least five years are rewarded with significantly lower taxes.

The five-year minimum helps overcome what's been a big barrier to community garden...