Home > Gardening, Green, Life, Neighbors, News, Resources > Eugene-based Hyperlocavore provides FREE network for neighbors nationwide to share yards and gardening experience

Eugene-based Hyperlocavore provides FREE network for neighbors nationwide to share yards and gardening experience

by Camille Rasmussen on August 13, 2010

Now Yard-sharing Groups are Sprouting All Around Eugene

The days of letting your garden deteriorate into a weed-filled disaster may now be over. While many people may lack the time necessary to maintain a full garden, the act of gardening doesn’t have to be a dreaded, labor-intensive and, often, lonely activity anymore. Today we have yard-sharing opportunities sprouting up everywhere, so yard work can be a great way to share with the community and connect with your neighbors.

“Are you a digger with no dirt or a gardener with lots of space but no time? A neighbor who hopes to build a neighborhood? A newbie in town in need of friends?” – Hyperlocavore

Buying produce at the grocery store is expensive. But starting your own garden can be time-consuming and difficult. Luckily, Hyperlocavore offers a solution by providing a network for people to find local yard-sharing opportunities and grow gardening relationships.

Eugene Oregon resident Liz McLellan, founder of Hyperlocavore, said, “Hyperlocavore is a site that helps folks build community where they are through yard sharing, neighborhood produce exchanges, potlucks, canning parties, and sharing skills, tools seeds, cuttings and growing know-how.”

The benefits of yard sharing are countless, says McLellan. It brings the community together while helping individuals by saving them money and time, and sharing the hard work that yard work often requires.

McLellan said, “For a lot of us, a garden is too much physical stress. Pairing up with younger people to share work and the harvest works really well for everyone.”

Yard sharing is a great way to unite with people in the neighborhood and make new friends too.

“As with any town, Eugene benefits from making more connections between people, to share the work, the time and all the other things that go into making productive gardens and real neighborhoods with a sense of place,” McLellan said.

According to the organization’s website, its main goals are to see “healthy kids who love the smell of dirt, blocks with foreclosed homes becoming vibrant neighborhoods again, tables full of delicious safe food at costs we can all afford, and neighbors who become real friends.”

Yard sharing isn’t just for experienced gardeners. It’s a great resource for beginners as well. Yard sharing provides a great opportunity for inexperienced gardeners to learn the tricks of the trade from more knowledgeable gardeners.

“Newbies tend to make a lot of mistakes and end up being disappointed,” McLellan said, “because they often plant too much and are kind of random about it.”

But even beginners can achieve success in their yards with the help of a garden mentor. Mentoring is also beneficial to experienced gardeners, who are often older and no longer able to bear the physical strain that yard work requires.

McLellan anticipates the organization will continue to experience strong growth in the next year and beyond.

“The economy isn’t getting much better for most of us,” she said. “Planting a real garden or a more permanent edible landscape can save a family of four around $2,500 per year.”

To learn more about the organization, or to join other community members in a local yard-sharing program, sign up for free on the Hyperlocavore website. You can also follow Hyperlocavore on Twitter and Facebook.

Currently there are several Eugene groups in the Hyperlocavore network from areas including: Amazon, Bethel, Danebo, River Road, Santa Clara, Southeast, Southwest, Trainsong, Whiteaker, etc. To see the complete list of Eugene groups, visit the site here (Note: you will have to be a member to view this page).

CLARIFICATION (August 14, 2010): Hyperlocavore is based in eastern Oregon but has several Eugene-based groups in its national network.