Garden writers and reformers of all types are always going on about those terrible Homeowners Associations and their crazy, backward-looking rules against growing edibles, eliminating lawn, growing wilder-looking plants (horrors!) and more. But what if a condo or coop association used its collective power and authority to improve the yards under its jurisdiction? Could get radical!

Which brings us to the Architectural Review Committee of Greenbelt Homes, which is designing next year’s Garden Contest – with cash prizes of up to $100 – to be launched in the spring and judged in the fall. Earlier this year the committee held contests for best kitchen and bathroom renovations and collected photos and info about the winners on our website, but much more interesting to me is the chance to decide what we want to reward and encourage more of in our gardens, and doing it in a fun way, without new rules.  All carrot, no stick.

So far, these are the factors we’re thinking of assign points for, 1-5 points for each category, with points awarded by up to 10 judges, then added up.  Feedback, please!  How would YOU judge a garden?

Here are the categories, with examples :

• Biodiversity/provision for wildlife (water source, plants – especially but not limited to natives – that provide for pollinators and birds, thick hedges or groups of shrubs for cover, etc).
• Sustainability – ability to be maintained with minimal inputs of water or fertilizer, and preferably no use of pesticides or power tools.  On-site composting.
• Retention of stormwater and erosion prevention (deep-rooted plants, permeable pavers, good soil coverage, rain gardens, etc).
• Beauty.
• Growing edibles.
• Four-season interest (evergreens, berries, flowering throughout growing season, man-made structures and seating, etc).
• Usability by humans (seating, shade, play areas, privacy, etc).

A newly formed Historic Preservation Task Force will begin meeting in January and may have ideas for our garden contest based on Greenbelt’s unique history.  Openness to both the front and back is the most distinct characteristic of GHI’s landscape, so should points be given for preserving some degree of openness, while still growing lots of plants (biodiversity) and creating enough privacy to enjoy spending time in the yard?

GHI ‘s Woodlands Committee has already weighed in with their suggestions and is enthusiastically endorsing the contest.  One of their ideas which will surely be instituted is to invite non-GHI Greenbelters to help judge.

More than one prize?

Our previous contests have awarded 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes but for gardens, we’re considering prizes for the best in each category, or Best Established and Best New Garden. Then in subsequent years we could have Most Improved, or simply not allow past winners to enter again.

The goal is to engage as many people as possible. Thanks to our open front and back yards, neighbors can follow these gardens on all sides (in most cases), all within walking distance.

The contest has lots in common with the Less Lawn Garden Tour we held in September of 2013, but hopefully it’ll do lots more teaching, as well as happen every year (while being less work than the tour to organize).

I wrote about all this on the national blog GardenRant, and readers commented.