TIKVA Community Garden

Welcome to TIKVA, the community garden project at Tiferet Israel.

gardenTIKVA stands for the Tiferet Israel Kosher Vegetation Association.

We are a small but rapidly growing group of people who saw a need for community involvement, family interaction, and spiritual fulfillment.

Your planting bed is your personal vision for whatever you want it to be:

  • plant flowers for your home and for sharing
  • grow that hundred-pound pumpkin you’ve always wanted
  • plant nutrient-rich vegetables for your family and for the local food bank.

It’s up to you

Here are some guidelines the group has adopted to ensure the best experience for everyone.

  1. Each planting bed will cost $200 the first year to offset the cost of construction, and will be $50 each year after that to pay for water. Every gardener is responsible for planting, fertilizing, weeding, and harvesting the bed. If you want a bed but don’t want to garden, there are volunteers who will be happy to work it for you and split the harvest. TIKVA requires that at least 10% of your harvest be donated to a TIKVA-approved food bank. TIKVA will distribute the produce for you, or you may take it yourself.
  2. Please keep your bed under cultivation. If you are unable to keep it planted, watered, and weeded, talk to one of TIKVA’s volunteers. Someone will be happy to work with you. And if you’d like gardening advice or have other concerns, TIKVA gardeners will discuss potential problems and will work to find a solution. Gardeners that ignore their beds will receive a notice that will provide 10 days to resolve the situation, then if the bed remains untended, the bed will revert to TIKVA and will be re-assigned. There are more people who want to garden than there are spaces available, and we need everyone’s dedication.
  3. Use organic growing methods. There are many alternatives to pest and disease control that will make the garden a healthier place for your kids to learn and work. A list of organic fertilizers, soil amendments, and disease controls is available. Any substances not on the list may be discussed with the TIKVA Garden Committee.
  4. Children are welcome, but must be supervised. Involving children in the growing and harvesting of food crops is encouraged, but little ones must be prevented from damaging or entering other plots if they’re not invited. Pets cannot be not allowed.
  5. All TIKVA gardeners may be called upon four times a year for any group work that may be necessary to keep the garden working properly. Subscribers that share their plots with volunteer gardeners are not required to work, but moral support and refreshments are encouraged!
  6. Produce from donated trees and common plantings is available for all the TIKVA gardeners after the donation to the food banks are fulfilled.
  7. Some crops, like rhubarb, are known to be at least partially toxic. There are some plants, such as castor bean, that will be prohibited. If there are any questions about the appropriateness of a crop, please discuss it with the TIKVA Garden Committee. TIKVA reserves the right to request removal of dangerous plants.
  8. Tikva will require that you plant invasive crops like mint in containers. Plants that are extremely difficult to remove once established should be avoided. Talk to a Tikva volunteer to see what other solutions are available.

You will need to add structures to your bed for good crop results.

  • Structures such as trellises should be sturdy and installed properly.
  • Please do not shade out another bed with a structure unless the other bed owner has agreed.
  • Structures that are used for a seasonal crop should be removed and stored once the crop has been harvested.
  • Netting, shade cloth, and row covers may be used as necessary. Talk to other gardeners- buying these items in bulk may save money.
  • Garden ornaments are fun, and are enjoyed by everybody. Please keep them under 3 feet high.

TIKVA is working on producing a planting schedule and lists of successful plants for gardening information. Your input is welcome! This garden is planned to be useful and enjoyable for many future generations, and it’s going to grow and adapt to serve people’s needs. Any ideas you have about improving it are welcome; any unused tools, equipment, or time you may have are gratefully received.

Welcome to the garden!