First up was the UAH Garden, spearheaded by Claire Heardy. This is a "claim it and work it" garden, open to students, faculty and employees of the University. Several folks grabbed a plot and have already started growing this year and it's going to be quite pretty once everything grows up.
There's a very attractive layout and there's even a picnic table to rest for a bit.
Then it was on to the CASA Community Garden where Karen Voelker explained that the food from this garden, grown by volunteers, gets delivered to the elderly, homebound clients of CASA. They are always looking for more volunteers and it is a great way to learn more about gardening from the pros!
We swung across to the 305 8th Street site. This is a group home for developmentally disabled adults and they've started growing food for the table, mostly salads.
Next on the tour was the Lowe Mill garden, Flying Monkey Community Garden which is growing by leaps and bounds even moving into the interior courtyard. There's some fun ideas here, which is no surprise given the artistic community there. They are hoping to start a farmer's market in time. They, too, are always looking for more dirty hands!
A quick trip up the mountain to the Monte Sano Community Garden. This garden is a rented space garden, with each gardener taking care of their own plot and helping with the common areas. This is one of the most well organized gardens, with a very effective use of space. Notice the deer fencing.
The final stop before dark was a neighborhood effort in north Huntsville that is growing great! Eric has a plot behind his house where he's growing for himself and others. It's looking really good.
His neighbor, Bill, is also going large. The fall/winter garden you can see way at the back will be overtaken by a larger summer planting that's being prepped now. You'd be lucky to live close to these folks.
That's it for this tour... If you are involved in a community garden project of any kind, contact Tennessee Valley Community Garden Association or if you would like a consultation on your garden project large or small call us.
This article reminds me of a documentary "Another World is Plantable - Community Gardening in Berlin"
ReplyDeleteIn Berlin, more and more people are coming together in order to take responsibility for their surroundings collaboratively and to grow their own ecological foods.
To watch documentary visit - http://www.cultureunplugged.com/play/6693
we're hoping to get people together and share ideas and costs to help them eat healthier and fresher!
ReplyDeleteI had no idea there were so many local community gardens. I'd love to convince my neighborhood to do one (since the houses themselves have too many trees for gardens).
ReplyDeleteLee would be happy to talk with your neighbors email him thru the link to foodscapes above, or you could contact Joy McKee at the City of Huntsville (greenteam) or follow the link above to the Community Garden Association... we might know someone else in your neighborhood who's also interested :)
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