Take San Diego: even in this city with ideal growing conditions where you’d think gardens would be plentiful, the City makes it extremely difficult for everyday folks who want to get started.

Here’s a few things I learned at “starting a community garden workshop” at the recent San Diego Food Justice conference, held by members of Master Gardeners’ society and Food not Lawns:

• You need a year to go through permits, planning, and get community approval.
• San Diego county has zones, and each has its own restrictions, with special ones for community gardens.
• You need to check whether your garden is situated near “sensitive land zone.” Trouble is canyons and streams make any piece of land “sensitive,” and there are many of these near space for community gardens in San Diego. Development Services needs a Biological report. Ironic when organic gardening is conducive to environmental protection.

To get started:

• You need a $2,500 deposit to get started in any zone of the county for a N.U.P – neighborhood use permit. The city will have to approve your garden, and this is money you won’t get back if they don’t go for it.
• You need an additional $5000 deposit if your garden will border a park for a “site development permit” or SDP. The city is paranoid of things like invasion of species.
• You need approval from your community planning group, Hearing officer, and people living within a certain number of yards from the garden. People in La Jolla and Rancho Santa Fe aren’t  necessarily keen on foot traffic near their property.

When you’re past the red tape, you also need:

• A bathroom, which means additional money.
• Shade, and at least 6 hours of sunlight.
• A fence
• A toolshed
• A water meter unless you can hook up to the city’s main line. This easily adds $16,500 for city and county water bills, including about $3000 in installation.

I’m happy for the Obamas for setting up their garden for a mere $200, but for Food not Lawns in San Diego, the cost of one of their gardens added up to $100,000 – not an easy feat. And get this: According to Food not Lawns, Philadelphia has close to 600 community gardens, whereas San Diego County has between 6-8. Apparently Philly has less permits and hoops to jump through.

Food not Lawns is the driving force advocating to change this in my city. I’d love to learn more about the process in other towns and what other organizations are involved.