Bailey Van Tassel

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20 Apr 2023
Designs, Garden Design

Approaching a Homeowner’s Association (HOA) To Build A Garden

woman gardening with her son

My garden journey began with a dead patch of lawn glaring at us from outside the front door of our townhouse. We were sharing a fence with an in-patient rehab center and could hear the freeway, which was about 100 yards from us as a crow flies. 

I started my first “garden” in a single pot and was hooked. I dreamed of garden grandeur and talked about it non-stop. My husband was the one to mention that maybe we turn the dead lawn in between our parking spot and front door into raised beds, but knew there were a few hoops to jump through first. 

We lived in the last house at the back of a dead end with eight units lining the street. The lawn was really not too visible for many residents except us and a neighbor but was surely an eyesore. With the ever-present California drought, it had become dead grass that we walked across daily. At first, we didn’t really know who the lawn belonged to, so asked our neghbors who let us know it was actually communal land. We knew then that the homeowner’s association would have to approve our idea. 

I sat down and thought through plan that was rooted in mutual benefit. All deals in life should be win-win, and this was no exception. We had a very successful garden build and long-term relationship with the HOA as well as our neighbors as a result of the garden. Overall, it was a total success, and I highly recommend anyone who’s interested to follow along below. 

Here are the steps that we took, and some recommendations that I have for approaching your HOA about building a garden. 

Beginning Recommendations: 

  1. Get involved. If you aren’t involved in the HOA, get involved. That will help you understand how it all works, as well as have some leverage so that the parties involved know you as well. 
  2. Think about solving a problem. I would recommend not leading with “I want a garden”, and instead seek to solve a problem, as well as include the best interests of the entire community. Nobody will really care much about your personal gardening dreams – they may however like something beautiful and inclusive. 
  3. Be ready to work. If you want this, be prepared to pay for it and do all the work. 

Approaching the HOA

  1. Contact the President. First things first, I contacted the HOA President about when the next meeting was so that I could be present to propose new business – the lawn in front of our home. Seek out a phone call if possible, as opposed to just an email so that you can chat about things and get to know other priorities and business that the HOA is working on.
    1. Through this process I learned that the HOA was already making plans to improve that law area because of the need to reduce water usage. This is where I learned that 1. They wanted something to look good and 2. Water was an issue. 
  2. Learn about the HOA responsibilities vs the homeowner responsibilities. Often there are shared outdoor spaces, or slopes or lawns that have unique ownership responsibilities. This is disclosed in your title when you buy a home, but sometimes gets overlooked. Sometimes HOAs tend to land that is owned by the homeowner so as to keep a cohesive look – it all varies. Get to know what is rightfully yours vs. the HOAs.
    1. In our situation, the HOA has ownership of the lawn and the responsibility to monitor water usage. This is where I really got some leverage. I proposed eventually watering the space myself as well as removing the lawn. So I learned how much water was being used (I got a great lesson in “hectors” and water usage) and was able to absorb that cost as a homeowner and take away from what was overall being used by the HOA – helping them a ton and allowing them to use more water elsewhere. 
  3. Come up with a plan, and anticipate needs. I came up with a plan for lawn removal, beautification, water-saving, and community benefit. I made it really hard for the HOA to say no because I was willing to absorb the work (which they would have to pay for otherwise, regardless of what was done), and the cost, and make something everyone could participate in. I also anticipated that there would need to be some physical buy-in so I create a mock-up of the materials we would use and give everyone a real idea of the outcome.
    1. My plan went very in-depth and I shared the cost of the project with the HOA, making sure to remind them that I would pay for it. That really showcased my skin in the game and helped them feel how much I wanted this (and would save them). 
  4. Include others. The final piece of the puzzle that I both wanted to include and thought would be moving was to add a community element – it is communal land after all. I volunteered up the bed space so that anyone else who wanted to garden could use the space and grow their own food too. Regardless of that approach though, I committed to sharing all the of the harvest with anyone who wanted some.
    1. This was the real cherry on top, as the neighbors felt very included. No one ended up wanting to do any gardening, and often people declined the veggies, but as often as we could – about twice a month – we walked around door to door and handed people sweet little bundles of fresh garden goodies. This truly was a huge gift to us and the whole cul-de-sac, bringing us all closer together and introducing many people to produce they’d never eaten, or never experienced freshly picked and homegrown. 

The Final HOA Design

We were really lucky that the HOA liked our idea and approved it quickly. They even helped pay for some materials with the water savings money. It turned out to be a fantastic project that lives on even though we no longer live there. 

While we were fortunate to have excited and understanding neighbors, I do feel like thinking through all angles made the project a no-brainer. 

TAGS:garden designgardeningHOAhomeowners associationorganic gardening
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Hi I’m Bailey

Hi I’m Bailey

Teaching you how to grow veggies in any space while show you how to live a garden-inspired life.

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Bold move, right? One of my girlfriends told me to do this and raved about the benefits (she always knows the good stuff - she’s that girl). But, I did some research too. 

One clove of raw garlic a day has myriad health benefits. Yes it has to be raw. You cut it and let it sit out a minute so the allacin can form which is the healing component in garlic. Then just take with water. 

It’s not just amazing for cooking, but also repairing us from the inside out and boosting immunity.

So, are you game for a clove a day?? I know, it seems cringey but you don’t even taste it - the upside is just too good!
•
Follow

Bold move, right? One of my girlfriends told me to do this and raved about the benefits (she always knows the good stuff – she’s that girl). But, I did some research too.

One clove of raw garlic a day has myriad health benefits. Yes it has to be raw. You cut it and let it sit out a minute so the allacin can form which is the healing component in garlic. Then just take with water.

It’s not just amazing for cooking, but also repairing us from the inside out and boosting immunity.

So, are you game for a clove a day?? I know, it seems cringey but you don’t even taste it – the upside is just too good!

19 hours ago
View on Instagram |
1/4
I took this advice seriously 🌸 

But “for real life” as my four-year-old says, the more I focused on turning my life into a heaven on earth, creating happiness with my own hands, the more I just felt so at home with myself. 

Growing food is so poetic to me (as you can probably tell) because it truly takes our hands and fills our hearts - our lives - with joy, resilience, and confidence. 

It’s also fun to see progress! This started out as an in-ground garden and has evolved immensely. 

Any garden design questions - leave them here 👇🏼
•
Follow

I took this advice seriously 🌸

But “for real life” as my four-year-old says, the more I focused on turning my life into a heaven on earth, creating happiness with my own hands, the more I just felt so at home with myself.

Growing food is so poetic to me (as you can probably tell) because it truly takes our hands and fills our hearts – our lives – with joy, resilience, and confidence.

It’s also fun to see progress! This started out as an in-ground garden and has evolved immensely.

Any garden design questions – leave them here 👇🏼

3 days ago
View on Instagram |
2/4
This is MY list of top 4 must-know things. It doesn’t have to be yours. But after years of guiding people through hardiness zones 3 through 10, I can tell you there’s a difference in each one when it comes to timing and temperament. 

And then your very own microclimate will determine a ton. This is a personal thing that no one can really deeply help you with. Not even your neighbor. Every outdoor space has nooks and crannies that behave uniquely. And altitude and valleys and hillsides and salty ocean air versus humid tropical air, etc etc will determine a lot. So just pay attention. Be curious. 

Then we need to know the purpose of it all. Mine mixes function, health, beauty, and adding magic to my children’s lives all wrapped up in one. 

Of course then the sun you get is crucial. We all dance around the fireball in this crazy solar system, and we can’t change our positioning to it. 

The list goes on, but this is where I start. 

Are your top 4 different?
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Follow

This is MY list of top 4 must-know things. It doesn’t have to be yours. But after years of guiding people through hardiness zones 3 through 10, I can tell you there’s a difference in each one when it comes to timing and temperament.

And then your very own microclimate will determine a ton. This is a personal thing that no one can really deeply help you with. Not even your neighbor. Every outdoor space has nooks and crannies that behave uniquely. And altitude and valleys and hillsides and salty ocean air versus humid tropical air, etc etc will determine a lot. So just pay attention. Be curious.

Then we need to know the purpose of it all. Mine mixes function, health, beauty, and adding magic to my children’s lives all wrapped up in one.

Of course then the sun you get is crucial. We all dance around the fireball in this crazy solar system, and we can’t change our positioning to it.

The list goes on, but this is where I start.

Are your top 4 different?

4 days ago
View on Instagram |
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Turns out I just needed to let what I had be enough. 

Many of you have watched this journey unfold from day one. I am so grateful to have gotten to prove to myself and others that you can make whatever you have, bring joy and connection and contentment. 

Along the way you may just uncover a passion, career, purpose, and dreams that you never realize would come to manifest. 

If you have ANY garden limitations, share them here. We’ll troubleshoot ‘em together!
•
Follow

Turns out I just needed to let what I had be enough.

Many of you have watched this journey unfold from day one. I am so grateful to have gotten to prove to myself and others that you can make whatever you have, bring joy and connection and contentment.

Along the way you may just uncover a passion, career, purpose, and dreams that you never realize would come to manifest.

If you have ANY garden limitations, share them here. We’ll troubleshoot ‘em together!

6 days ago
View on Instagram |
4/4

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