Growing Together

Posted @ Jun. 01 2011 09:51AM by Lisa -

Community Gardens Good for Neighbors

By South Sound Staff | Photo by Kristen McIvor

There’s something special about taking an empty lot full of rocks, weeds and cigarette butts and turning it into something beautiful, useful and life sustaining. It takes time, energy and patience. But in the end, it’s about more than harvesting fresh fruits, veggies and herbs in community gardens — it’s about growing stronger, better neighborhoods.

In 2008, there were about eight community gardens in Tacoma. Now there are 42 in some stage of development, according to Kristen McIvor, community gardening coordinator for the City of Tacoma and Pierce County. Many of the gardens are on city and metro parks property and some are on private land. “People have a large desire to learn and connect with food,” she said. “They are interested in fresh organic food.”

Dan Fear of Tacoma helped build the Green Thumb community garden on the Eastside of Tacoma on Portland Avenue and East Wright (between 32nd and 34th streets) last year. The garden has 42 raised bed family garden sites and last year, all of them were harvested. Twelve of the plots had kids working with adults and learning to garden.

“The garden is something to be proud of in the First Creek Community,” Fear said. “Also, we’re starting to build a new second community garden in our Eastside neighborhood. It’s called the ‘Good Medicine Community Garden’ located at East 32nd and Portland Avenue.

“The garden is being developed collaboratively by the Puyallup Tribe and First Creek Neighbors,” Fear said. “It will provide space for the community to grow food for their families and food banks, native plants for open spaces, and the Puyallup Tribe’s traditional medicinal herbs.”

Some people who join community gardens don’t have anywhere to grow fresh food. But many have homes with large enough yards that they could (or do) grow their own gardens, McIvor said. People are using community gardens as a way of meeting their neighbors as much as they are for sharing tips and tricks to growing plump tomatoes and sweet strawberries. A garden at North 45th and Orchard Streets is pretty small, but they have a barbecue pit there and it is a popular gathering place for the neighbors to catch up and connect, McIvor said.

In the heart of downtown Tacoma there’s Hilltop Urban Gardens, a community-based project that was started in 2009 to help grow fresh, healthy food for people who need it most−while teaching people how to be independent and help one another.

Most of the funding for community garden development comes from donations. Grants are also available at local and national levels. But most of the success comes from good old fashioned hard work.

“Make the building process fun,” Fear said. “Have some potlucks and make the work parties … parties! Figure out a way to get the kids and young people in the neighborhood involved in the building process.” Also, document the building process and community events held in the gardens. That way it is easier to apply (and receive) funding and other support in the future.

The growth in community garden interest has been overwhelming and inspiring, McIvor said. “I think it is a really fun, safe way for people to get to know their neighbors and build relationships,” she said. “Times are tough and we are going to get through this a lot better if we get to know our neighbors and help each other out.”