Agile Garden Development

by Amanda Muñoz

@amandamunoz

Agile

Extreme Programming

Lean Product Development

Agile

Values:

Humans

Working Functionality

Ability to Respond to Change

Extreme Programming (XP)

Values:

Courage

Simplicity

Communication

Lean Product Development

Smallest thing with highest value

Agile

Extreme Programming

Lean Product Development

Practices:

Iteration

Incremental Steps

Collaboration

Photo by Growing Places Garden Project

In April 2016, I moved to the Fenway neighborhood in Boston.
If there are some new yorkers in here shuddering at the word ‘Fenway’ or ‘Boston’, don’t worry, I actually grew up in Queens, go Mets.
I moved to this neighborhood, and somehow failed to realize in six years of living in Boston that there is a huge garden community in this park called the Fens.
The Fenway Victory Gardens span about 7 acres of consist of over 500 garden plots that have been in use since 1942.
They were originally WW2 victory gardens to produce local food in a time of war rations. After the war, the Fenway Garden Society was formed, and has since been a volunteer run non-profit.
Upon moving to the neighborhood, I immediately joined the wait list to get a plot.
For as long as I can remember I’ve always wanted a garden and thought urban gardens were the coolest thing. I was really excited, and I was lucky and got one right away. I’ve heard of people waiting for years on this list. It...

Imagery via Google Maps

That first season, I didn’t know where to begin. I had a general idea to have this nice garden but no concrete vision or goals - it was like I didn’t have any product direction.
I would think of something Big to do, lose focus, and leave projects unfinished. I wasn’t delivering any value to the user (which was me). My garden wasn’t improving at a rate that I felt good about, and I was feeling unaccomplaished by not finishing projects and achieving small wins.
I was clearly lacking in the project management department. For example, at one point I decided that I wanted an herb garden and a brick lined path. I’d go back and forth between the two, and I didn’t prioritize tasks between those projects. I ended up with a half finished path and a weedy herb garden.

Imagery via Total Body Workout

Iteration

Incremental Steps

Collaboration

Iteration

Incremental Steps

Build raised beds

Build 2x8 bed

Build 2x4 bed

Buy lumber

Build 2x8 bed

Build 2x4 bed

Buy lumber

Clear space for 2x8

Build 2x8 bed

Clear space for 2x4

Build 2x4 bed

Buy lumber

Clear space for 2x8

Screw sides together

Nail each side

Clear space for 2x4

Screw sides together

Nail each side

Buy lumber

Clear space for 2x8

Screw sides together

Nail each side

Add soil

Add manure

Clear space for 2x4

Screw sides together

Nail each side

Add soil

Add manure

Collaboration

Imagery via Pioneer Press: Scott Takushi

Practices:

Iteration

Incremental Steps

Collaboration

Thank you!

Amanda Muñoz

@amandamunoz