• Who is this for (parishioners, school, neighbors, clients)? What spiritual and practical fruits do you seek (prayer, beauty, education, food donation, gathering place, community)?
• What does “success” look like this year (2–3 outcomes)?
• Will we name the garden? Will we have a patron saint or theme?
• Who will maintain the garden day-to-day? (watering/weeding schedule, summer coverage, tools/storage access)
• When will it be open/quiet? Who welcomes newcomers?

• Lead + 1–2 backups; determine meeting/work times.
• Treasurer/logistics lead; where funds live; receipts/tracking.
• Weekly maintenance ownership: Who handles watering, weeding, and tool care? Simple rota or Adopt-a-Week? How will you cover vacations/summer?
• Will minors regularly participate? If yes, add [SAFE]: diocesan/school policies, permissions, ratios, training.

• Sun, water, drainage; accessible path from parking; winter maintenance (snow/leaves).
• Simple sketch: beds ≤4' wide; 18–24" paths; drip/soaker; compost area; seating/shade; native/pollinator strip.
• Delivery/stockpile spots; storage for tools; security/locks.

• Who signs off (pastor/principal/administrator/facilities/grounds)? Insurance coverage for workdays; any permits.
• Call 811 before digging; cemetery/diocesan policies where relevant; county/city rules and permits as required.
• Procurement rules for permanent fixtures (statues, benches, fencing, hardscape, signage) if you choose to use them.

Open the Community Context section below and complete the one that matches you.

Open the Garden Type(s) section below and complete the ones you’ll build.

• Budget tiers (pick one or phase): Micro ($0–$150) • Starter ($250–$600) • Small ($600–$1,500) • Medium ($1,500–$5,000) • Expanded ($2,500–$7,500) • Large/Complex ($5,000–$20,000+).
• Big-ticket ranges: Statue $500–$5,000+ • Benches $200–$800 (ADA $600–$1,200) • Trees $75–$300 ea (large $400–$800) • Fencing $8–$40/ft + gates $150–$500 • Paths $2–$10/sq ft • Drip system $200–$1,500 • Storage $200–$1,200 • Lighting $150–$600 • Pergola $500–$3,000.
• Fast funding: Bulletin/QR + donation jar; Sponsor-a-Bed/Row/Tree/Bench; seed/seedling swap; Knights/PTO micro-grant; engraved bricks/pavers; mini-grants (beautification, garden, pollinator, community).
• Grants quickstart: Eligibility; 1-page case + 200-word summary; 2 quotes for >$1k; simple outcomes (volunteers, lbs donated, native species); grants calendar; in-kind partners.

• Finalize bed count/paths/zones; irrigation layout; seating/shade; signage/wayfinding; compost/wash station.
• Donation logistics (if V): harvest days, cooling, cleaning, delivery window.
• Prayer/quiet norms (if PR/HEAL/MEM): intention book, quiet hours, lighting.

• Workday plan; tool list; safety talk; soil/compost/mulch delivery; drip install; plant.
• Blessing (optional): choose timing — after a Sunday Mass, at the end of the first workday, or a short dedication on a feast day. Identify who presides (pastor/deacon/chaplain). Prepare a 5–7 minute rite (opening prayer, brief Scripture, intercessions, blessing, sign of peace).
• Gathering/Celebration (optional): coffee/lemonade table or potluck; name tags; a 60-second “why this garden” story; acknowledge donors/sponsors; invite a photo at the sign or brick/paver area.
• Comms & photos: Take 3–5 photos; confirm permissions if needed; post a thank-you to bulletin/website/social; add your garden to the CGN Garden Directory.
• Accessibility & safety: Provide seating/shade; water station; clear, trip-free paths; battery candles if used; tidy site before departing.

• Weekly tasks board; watering/harvest schedule; incident log.
• Track outcomes (lbs donated, pollinators observed, students engaged).
• End-of-season tidy; 15-minute debrief; plan for next season.

• Diocesan/school policies and training; ratios; permissions/photo consent; allergy awareness.
• Kid-safe tools; shaded water breaks every 20–30 minutes.

• Print this checklist and add initials/dates.
• Add your garden to the CGN Garden Directory and say hello in the CGN Community Forum.

• Approvals & insurance; ministry partners (SVDP, liturgy, youth, creation care).
• Facilities & access (water, storage, deliveries, security).
• Communications (bulletin/pulpit/bilingual); volunteer hospitality.
• Donation partner alignment (if food); transport.

• Principal approval; teacher/club sponsor; storage & water.
• Curriculum goals; class flow; supervision; rainy-day plan.
• Family engagement, permissions, photo/media policy; summer continuity.

• Approvals: superior/administrator; clarify enclosure boundaries and visitor access.
• Purpose: prayer plus—if desired—production for the refectory/guests and donations, as fits the charism.
• Stewardship & labor: compost/water per house policy; secure tool storage; small weekly task list.

• Program goals (e.g., families served, lbs donated) and distribution alignment.
• Garden types: choose any that fit your mission (V, N, PR, HEAL, MEM, PLOT, HYB).
• Volunteer roles (staff/clients/parishioners); background checks.
• Safety; data & reporting; partner MOUs.

• Advisor & grounds approvals; keys/water/storage.
• Governance & continuity (officer transitions); academic ties.
• Summer maintenance plan; campus comms.

• House consensus; material/aesthetic limits.
• Guest/retreatant participation; trauma-informed guidelines.
• Quiet hours; stewardship & safety; partnerships with nearby parishes.

• Recipients & crop preferences; sun/bed count; compost source.
• Irrigation (hose/drip/timer); succession plan.
• Harvest/cooling/wash/pack standards; transport; food safety.
• Pests/disease thresholds; tools/storage; monthly impact story.

• Goals (habitat/beauty/education); target % native; no invasives/neonics.
• Bloom sequence; host plants; shrubs/trees; water & shelter.
• Care policy (no pesticides; mowing/weed schedule); interpretation signage.

• Purpose & users; location & feel; wayfinding.
• Accessibility (48–60" paths; slope <5%); seating with arms/backs.
• Patron saint or theme is optional — a quiet space works without images. If you include a focal (Mary, cross, patron), note approvals.
• Hospitality norms; lighting/safety.

• Mary Garden — focal (optional) with approvals; Marian-symbol plants vs. native/pollinator species; fragrance sensitivity; 4-season interest; May Crowning option.
• Rosary Garden — decade markers; bead-like path; start/finish; seating; bilingual prayer QR; lighting & sound norms.
• Stations of the Cross — 14 stations (option for Resurrection station); accessible loop; durable materials; Good Friday processions; battery candles.
• Labyrinth — 7-circuit/classical or Chartres; 30–36" paths; stable surface; how-to sign; shade if possible.
• Memorial elements — scope/policy; uniform plaques; no trip hazards; no interment or ash scattering; if primary purpose, also see MEM — Memorial Garden.

• Grades/subjects; 2–3 objectives; assessment.
• Class roles; tool safety; weekly cadence; substitute/rain plan.

• Location & load; container sizes/materials; drainage; potting mix.
• Watering plan; weekend coverage; storage.

• Varieties for zone/disease; pollination; rootstock & spacing.
• Protection (guards/fencing); pruning plan; IPM; harvest & sharing.

• Purpose & partners (pastoral/health ministry).
• Accessibility (raised bed 30–34", shade, seating with arms/backs).
• Sensory design; quiet norms; inclusive language.

• Scope/policy; naming & records; design language.
• Standards for plaques/candles; pastoral guidance; cemetery compliance.

• Eligibility/priority; fees/waivers; plot map; guidelines.
• Sign-up & agreements; shared infrastructure; community rhythm; Grow & Give.

• Zones & intent; zoning sketch; shared infrastructure.
• Scheduling (quiet hours vs. harvest windows); wayfinding; roles.
• Example: Prayer + Donation + Pollinator.