The Payson Community Garden is a great example of an innovative idea from a local government at work for its residents. Started as a way to help citizens learn about water conservation while growing their own food, the Payson garden is now more than 4 acres large and rents up to 165 plots. The town of Payson partners with both private nurseries as well as the University of Arizona extension to offer a complete set of instruction courses for beginner gardeners.

The town asks that each plot donate 20 percent of their yield to the local food banks. Last year, more than 50 percent of the yield was donated to the local food banks.

For more information, please visit:
http://www.paysonroundup.com/search/vertical/news.story/?q=community%20garden