10 Ways to Build Community Where You Live
Start fostering a more vibrant and resilient community in your neighborhood with one or more of these actions
Lauren Dunec Hoang
June 8, 2020
Houzz Editor; landscape designer and former garden editor for Sunset Magazine and in-house designer for Sunset's Editorial Test Garden. Her garden designs have been featured in the Sunset Western Garden Book of Landscaping, Sunset Western Garden Book of Easy-Care Plantings (cover), Inhabitat, and POPSUGAR.
Houzz Editor; landscape designer and former garden editor for Sunset Magazine and... More
Sheltering in place and staying closer to home as restrictions start to ease can be an opportunity to put down deeper roots in the community where you live. From small actions like introducing yourself to neighbors to larger ones like lending a hand or organizing a (socially distanced) block party can all add up to help create a vibrant and resilient community. If you’re looking for somewhere to start or want to keep the momentum going, take a look at the following ideas and see if any resonate with you and would work in your neighborhood.
1. Hang Out on Your Porch or in Your Front Yard
Just being outside can signal to neighbors that you’re open to a chat or would welcome a friendly wave as they walk past. You won’t hang out in your front yard if you have nowhere to sit, so move a couple of chairs outside or a bench by your front door and see if you end up with more interactions with neighbors.
10 Friendly Front-Yard Seating Ideas
Just being outside can signal to neighbors that you’re open to a chat or would welcome a friendly wave as they walk past. You won’t hang out in your front yard if you have nowhere to sit, so move a couple of chairs outside or a bench by your front door and see if you end up with more interactions with neighbors.
10 Friendly Front-Yard Seating Ideas
2. Plant Fruits and Veggies in the Front Yard
If you have a sunny spot in the front yard, plant fruits, herbs and vegetables, and you’ll likely strike up a conversation with neighbors interested in edible gardening. Consider sharing harvests. This can make the most sense for plentiful veggies such as zucchini or fruits that ripen all at once, such as apricots, peaches and plums.
If you’re planting along the street or sidewalk, raised beds can help lift plants above dog height and offer a solution for planting in compacted soil. Communities may have codes dictating what can and cannot be planted in front yards, so check local regulations before planting.
10 Ideas for a Front-Yard Edible Garden Your Neighbors Will Love
If you have a sunny spot in the front yard, plant fruits, herbs and vegetables, and you’ll likely strike up a conversation with neighbors interested in edible gardening. Consider sharing harvests. This can make the most sense for plentiful veggies such as zucchini or fruits that ripen all at once, such as apricots, peaches and plums.
If you’re planting along the street or sidewalk, raised beds can help lift plants above dog height and offer a solution for planting in compacted soil. Communities may have codes dictating what can and cannot be planted in front yards, so check local regulations before planting.
10 Ideas for a Front-Yard Edible Garden Your Neighbors Will Love
3. Check In With Neighbors
Knowing someone is looking out for them can make a big difference to elderly neighbors and anyone who lives alone. If you know a neighbor who’s in an at-risk group for COVID-19, extend an offer to help. If you have a close relationship, you could consider offering to add their groceries to your grocery delivery from a local store or pick up their prescriptions from the pharmacy.
Knowing someone is looking out for them can make a big difference to elderly neighbors and anyone who lives alone. If you know a neighbor who’s in an at-risk group for COVID-19, extend an offer to help. If you have a close relationship, you could consider offering to add their groceries to your grocery delivery from a local store or pick up their prescriptions from the pharmacy.
4. Welcome New Neighbors
A small gesture can go a long way toward making a new member of your community feel welcome. Just a quick note of welcome with your name and house number is a good place to start. Or you could put together a few takeout menus from your favorite local spots or drop off a bouquet of flowers clipped from your yard as a gesture of welcome.
If you’ve lived in an area for some time and don’t know many neighbors, you haven’t missed the boat. Start a conversation with a simple “Hello, I’ve been meaning to introduce myself,” and you’ll know one more person on the street.
A small gesture can go a long way toward making a new member of your community feel welcome. Just a quick note of welcome with your name and house number is a good place to start. Or you could put together a few takeout menus from your favorite local spots or drop off a bouquet of flowers clipped from your yard as a gesture of welcome.
If you’ve lived in an area for some time and don’t know many neighbors, you haven’t missed the boat. Start a conversation with a simple “Hello, I’ve been meaning to introduce myself,” and you’ll know one more person on the street.
Memphis, Tennessee, block party. Photo by dani0010
5. Organize a Socially Distanced Block Party
You may not be able to have a typical block party this year, but there’s nothing to stop you from organizing one that complies with social distancing guidelines. It can be as simple as dropping off notes to each neighbor specifying a date and time and inviting them to pull chairs to the end of their driveway and their own drink or plate of food to enjoy. Neighbors can walk up and down the street for a chat while easily keeping their distance.
How to Throw a Block Party
5. Organize a Socially Distanced Block Party
You may not be able to have a typical block party this year, but there’s nothing to stop you from organizing one that complies with social distancing guidelines. It can be as simple as dropping off notes to each neighbor specifying a date and time and inviting them to pull chairs to the end of their driveway and their own drink or plate of food to enjoy. Neighbors can walk up and down the street for a chat while easily keeping their distance.
How to Throw a Block Party
6. Help Raise Awareness About Local Issues
If you have a cause you care about that affects your local community, bring it up with your neighbors. You can do so in casual conversation or go a step further and organize a fundraiser or circulate a petition. If you or any of your neighbors are involved in city government, consider hosting a town hall to raise awareness about local issues.
If you have a cause you care about that affects your local community, bring it up with your neighbors. You can do so in casual conversation or go a step further and organize a fundraiser or circulate a petition. If you or any of your neighbors are involved in city government, consider hosting a town hall to raise awareness about local issues.
7. Make Your Front Yard Welcoming
Tall fences and wall-to-wall hedges don’t present a welcoming message to neighbors and passersby. While you may want to preserve privacy or have security in your front yard, consider dropping the height of fences or setting the fence back from the street and planting something friendly on the street side.
Tall fences and wall-to-wall hedges don’t present a welcoming message to neighbors and passersby. While you may want to preserve privacy or have security in your front yard, consider dropping the height of fences or setting the fence back from the street and planting something friendly on the street side.
8. Connect Online
A great way to get started is by creating a street or apartment directory for anyone who would like to participate. Drop off sign-up sheets to neighbors and, once they’ve returned them to you, send out a compiled directory via email. More connected neighbors form the backbone of more resilient communities, where neighbors can help one another in times of need. You can also encourage neighbors to use online platforms to share useful information or to post jobs for babysitters and pet feeders.
A great way to get started is by creating a street or apartment directory for anyone who would like to participate. Drop off sign-up sheets to neighbors and, once they’ve returned them to you, send out a compiled directory via email. More connected neighbors form the backbone of more resilient communities, where neighbors can help one another in times of need. You can also encourage neighbors to use online platforms to share useful information or to post jobs for babysitters and pet feeders.
9. Be a Respectful Neighbor
Move garbage and recycling bins out of sight, clean up after your dog, be mindful about noise and exterior light levels and be respectful of property boundaries. If you have an issue with one of your neighbors, don’t let it grate on you for years. Consider bringing it up respectfully to find a solution.
Move garbage and recycling bins out of sight, clean up after your dog, be mindful about noise and exterior light levels and be respectful of property boundaries. If you have an issue with one of your neighbors, don’t let it grate on you for years. Consider bringing it up respectfully to find a solution.
10. Share Your Skills or Resources
If you’re handy, tech-savvy or an experienced gardener, you’ll score major brownie points with your neighbors by sharing your skills or helping out on a one-time basis. This can be particularly welcome if a neighbor would like to do something you’ve already done, like install a rain barrel or add a raised bed. They’ll be grateful to hear how you did it or what you would have done differently.
If you’re handy, tech-savvy or an experienced gardener, you’ll score major brownie points with your neighbors by sharing your skills or helping out on a one-time basis. This can be particularly welcome if a neighbor would like to do something you’ve already done, like install a rain barrel or add a raised bed. They’ll be grateful to hear how you did it or what you would have done differently.
Your turn: How do you foster community in your neighborhood? Share your thoughts and ideas in the Comments.
More on Houzz
7 Ways to Create a Neighborly Front Yard
Get inspired by landscape photos
Find a pro for your home or garden project
Shop for outdoor products
More on Houzz
7 Ways to Create a Neighborly Front Yard
Get inspired by landscape photos
Find a pro for your home or garden project
Shop for outdoor products
Related Products
T. Walton Carr, Architects is a full-service Architecture firm based in Ohio. The firm specializes in customized... Read More
Related Stories
Life
10 Ways to Cope With Grief During the Holidays
If you are experiencing loss, take it from an experienced griever — life has changed forever, but it does get better
Full Story
Curb Appeal
7 Ways to Create a Neighborly Front Yard
By June Scott
Foster community spirit by setting up your front porch, paths and yard for social interaction
Full Story
Entertaining
5 Ideas for Hosting a Party With a Purpose on Giving Tuesday
Invite guests to a festive gathering to socialize — and donate to a charitable cause — on Dec. 3
Full Story
Disaster Prep & Recovery
How You Can Help Flood and Tornado Victims in the Midwest
By Julie Sheer
Here are ways to donate to help victims of the spring floods and tornadoes
Full Story
Remodeling Guides
How to Take Care of Your Neighbors When Remodeling
Being communicative, considerate and responsive can help keep the peace in the neighborhood
Full Story
Disaster Prep & Recovery
Fall 2018 California Wildfires: How You Can Help
By Julie Sheer
Here are ways to donate to help victims of the Northern and Southern California fires
Full Story
Disaster Prep & Recovery
Hurricane Michael: How You Can Help
By Anne Colby
Find out how you can donate to groups providing disaster relief and recovery assistance to storm victims
Full Story
Disaster Prep & Recovery
Hurricane Florence: How You Can Help
By Anne Colby
You can donate to groups offering disaster relief to storm victims. Also: how to help victims of Super Typhoon Mangkhut
Full Story
Disaster Prep & Recovery
How You Can Help Japan’s Flood Victims
By Julie Sheer
Want to donate to help people affected by the flooding in Japan? Here are groups providing assistance
Full Story
Thank you for these great ideas on how to connect with neighbors and build up our communities. There are some that I’ve never considered before, and at a time like this, we could truly benefit from building relationships that strengthen where we live.
High fences are a fact of life in Costa Rica, probably all of Latin America. However, most high fences are see through so we can see each other. We end of exchanging food from the garden or from the kitchen with our neighbors. Fresh avocados for sour dough bread. Mulberries for surinam cherries. Tomato plants for fresh beans. It creates a bond.
Thank you for these ideas! I think signs in front of your house are a great display of unity, such as thanking first responders. My neighbor made a sign out of string lights that says "TOGETHER" which is really nice!