When a proposal for partnership is approved, the first step is to determine the size and type of build (garden? greenhouse? both?). Whether it's a patch of grass, a rooftop, or acres of land, we will locate a space in the community that is not being maximally utilized.

A good design team will answer questions like these: What kinds of materials are currently being thrown away on campus, in the building, or in the immediate community? (i.e. glass bottles, aluminum cans, scrap wood, food waste) How much of these materials can we reuse for gardening? How might we design an effective system for collection, transport, storage, cleaning, and processing of raw materials? How much space do we have or need to store everything? What kind of workforce would we need to maintain this system?

The more we know about the kind and quantity of materials we can collect, the more accurately we can design the layout for the garden – the paths and walkways, the locations of the garden beds, greenhouses, or composting stations, plus irrigation and lighting systems, if necessary. Architects and engineers will work with agricultural specialists to shape the terrain based on what will be planted where.

An effective marketing strategy will inform people in the community how to use and respect the recycling system – and why it's valuable. From effective signage to a well-designed online presence (a website, social media accounts, video content, etc), the marketing team will also help encourage the use and care of the garden by the community at large. 

To ensure the longevity of the garden and the recycling system, the next step is to create a plan for daily operations. Who will take responsibility for directing and maintaining the garden? Who will oversee and coordinate the recycling efforts? What tasks need to be completed daily, weekly, and monthly to preserve the integrity of these systems? How can we design educational programming within the space, not only to offer valuable information and techniques to the community, but also to encourage interest in volunteering and recruiting new team members?

With all disciplines working in tandem, the cycles begin: collection, processing, and building with recycled materials – then, planting the garden, harvesting, and sharing the fruits of the labor. As the systems designed are coordinated and set in motion, the process is documented and shared through photos, videos and writing. Not only does this show other organizations how it's done, but it also helps the teams continue to refine and improve each step of the process.