What you need for a neighborhood garden workday

Plan supplies around the number of registered volunteers, not the size of the garden. For a hands-on workday, you need enough gloves, drinking water, shared tools and simple food, plus a dry place for breaks. A useful starting point is one hand tool per person for light jobs, with heavier tools shared in small teams. Check dietary requirements before shopping, and arrange waste bins or collection early so pruning waste does not pile up at the end.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Party tentsqty 2
Tablesqty 6
Chairsqty 36
Picnic benchesqty 4
Waste binsqty 4

Tools

Pruning shearsqty 8
Shovelsqty 8
Scoopsqty 6
Rakesqty 8
Hoesqty 6
Hand trowelsqty 10
Wheelbarrowsqty 4
Bucketsqty 8
Garden hosesqty 2
Pitchersqty 6

Safety

Work glovesqty 36
Safety gogglesqty 12
Sun hatsqty 12
First aid kit

Catering

Platesqty 36
Bowlsqty 36
Mugsqty 36
Drinking glassesqty 36
Cutlery setsqty 36
Serving traysqty 6
Water jugsqty 6
Coolersqty 4
Thermos flasksqty 4
Groceries
- Still mineral water - 6 bottles
- Sparkling mineral water - 4 bottles
- Cola - 3 bottles
- Cola Zero - 3 bottles
- Sinas - 2 bottles
- Apple juice - 3 packs
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Milk - 4 liters
- Oat milk - 2 liter
- Sugar - 1 pack
- Honey - 1 jar
- Stir sticks - 1 pack
- Wholemeal bread - 6 loaves
- Unsalted butter - 2 packs
- Young cheese - 2 kilos
- Back ham - 1 kilo
- Hummus - 4 tubs
- Peanut butter - 2 jars
- Strawberry jam - 2 jars
- Cucumbers - 6 pieces
- Tomatoes - 2 kilos
- Iceberg lettuce - 4 heads
- Red onions - 1 kilo
- Apples - 40 pieces
- Bananas - 30 pieces
- Grapes - 3 kilos
- Paprika chips - 4 bags
- Plain chips - 4 bags
- Snacks - 3 bags
- Whole grain cookies - 4 packs
- Muesli bars - 36 pieces
- Veggie burgers - 36 pieces
- Hamburger buns - 36 pieces
- Beef tomatoes - 2 kilos
- Mixed salad - 3 kilos
- Potato salad - 3 kilos
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mayonnaise - 2 jars
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Barbecue sauce - 2 bottles
- Olive oil - 1 bottle
- Black pepper - 1 jar
- Salt - 1 pack
- Charcoal - 2 bags
- Firelighters - 2 boxes
- Napkins - 4 packs
- Paper towels - 4 rolls
- Trash bags - 4 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Sponges - 2 packs
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Hand soap - 3 bottles

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 4
Bread knivesqty 3
Serving spoonsqty 6
Pliersqty 4

Equipment

Kettlesqty 2
Extension cordsqty 3

Lighting

LED lampsqty 6

Decorations

Welcome sign
Route arrowsqty 8

Cleaning

Washing-up tubsqty 3
Broom and dustpanqty 3

Tips

Provide at least one pair of work gloves per volunteer, plus 10% extra for replacements. Keep safety goggles available for pruning, cutting and any task where debris may fly.
For drinks, allow 0.75 to 1 litre of water per person for a half-day workday, plus two hot drinks per person. Bring extra water on warm or sunny days and place it where every team can refill easily.
Match shared tools to the teams rather than buying one for every volunteer: aim for one shovel, rake or hoe per team of four to six people, and one wheelbarrow per eight to ten people.
Plan food by headcount and add 10% extra portions. Bread, spreads and fruit are easy to serve, but check dietary requirements before buying and keep separate serving utensils available where needed.
Set out one clearly marked waste bin for general rubbish and containers or a collection point for pruning waste. Arrange collection before the workday, especially if the garden cannot hold several full wheelbarrows of cuttings.

Frequently asked questions

How much water do I need for a neighborhood garden workday?: Plan 0.75 to 1 litre of drinking water per person for a half-day session. Add extra on hot days, and keep at least one refill point near the work areas rather than only at the drinks table.
How many garden tools do I need for 20 volunteers?: For 20 people, plan roughly four to five teams and provide one shovel, rake or hoe per team. Add several hand trowels and pruning shears, plus two to three wheelbarrows for moving weeds, soil and pruning waste.
How many pairs of work gloves should I buy?: Buy one pair per registered volunteer and add 10% extra. For 20 volunteers, that means 22 pairs, so a torn or wet pair does not stop someone from working.
When should I arrange waste collection for a garden workday?: Arrange it at least one week before the workday, once you know the likely number of volunteers and the tasks involved. Confirm the collection point and timing again two or three days beforehand.

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