How do we make community gardens more successful and help them persist through time with less reliance on Extension? This publication identifies five criteria that are important for the long-term success of a community garden: (1) land security; (2) community support; (3) resource mobilization; (4) environmental conditions and garden design; and (5) governance, management, and leadership. The article then spotlights the special significance of governance structures, digging deeply into our fifth criteria. Governance has to do with decision-making and who leads the community garden. Original research conducted by Amanda Beavin (Honors student at Western Kentucky University), in collaboration with University of Kentucky Extension (Horticulture Agent, Bethany Pratt, & Community Development faculty member, Nicole Breazeale), finds that gardens with more grassroots control are more successful. We describe three things that Extension can do to build capacity and strengthen the self-governance of community gardens. First, Agents can invest in leadership development of garden residents. Second, Agents can foster community building amongst gardeners. Finally, Agents can diversify and strengthen partnerships with external organizations and community members. We provide concrete suggestions and examples on how to do this...

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