This guide isn't about farming or growing food. It's about growing a community and using food and a garden as a shared project, a gathering place, and a source of inspiration.

While this guide is inspired and shares the growing process of Stephen Ritz and the Green Bronx Machine you don't have to live in one of the poorest neighborhoods in the United States to engage with and meet people in your neighborhood.

In our increasingly mobile and hectic world, where many of us drive to mega stores to buy our groceries, we don't often take the time to get to know our neighbors, to acknowledge the process of growing fresh food, and take time to (literally) smell the roses.

This guide will provide you with everything you'll need to plan, design, plant, maintain, and harvest your garden. Each section includes ideas and suggestions on how to make the experience fun and educational. But most important is taking time to celebrate and connect with your fellow "growers" throughout the process.

We hope this guide will inspire you to start growing with your community and enjoy the fruits of your collective labor.