Another community garden sprouts in Janesville
Podcast Episode
A new community garden is taking root in a Janesville neighborhood. The Neighborhood Action Team helped establish a community garden in Washington Park. Residents can adopt plots of land to grow their own food. Kyle Geissler reports. You can read more in Tuesday's Janesville Gazette.
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The new Look West Neighborhood Garden has nine raised beds that allows people to grow their own food. By-products of the gardens are an increased sense of community in the neighborhood and residents having a stake in the overall health of their surroundings.
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Jennye Byrns, center, and her two children Gypsy (l) and Maverick, work on their plot at the Look West Neighborhood Gardens in Washington Park.
JANESVILLE — Jennye Byrns and her children Maverick, 7, and Gypsy, 6, tended their raised vegetable garden Monday morning in Washington Park.
As they pulled weeds and removed dead leaves, a breeze drifted beneath a giant shade tree on North Washington Street. Dogs barked in the distance and a bird sang.
Every day the Byrns family walks a block from their Madison Street home to the park in the Look West Neighborhood to check their garden. Theirs is among nine 4-by-8-foot raised beds adopted by neighborhood residents.
"If it hasn't rained, we water," Jennye said. "Everything is really thriving."
They're growing tomatoes, peas, green peppers, cucumbers, broccoli, lettuce, Swiss chard, kohlrabi, squash and carrots.
"I dug the holes. They planted," she said of her children.
The Neighborhood Action Team, a group led by neighbors and facilitated by city staff, created the second neighborhood garden in May. The first was established last spring in a vacant, city-owned lot near Wilson Elementary School, said Kelly Lee, city neighborhood development specialist.
"The first garden was so successful, we decided last fall to put one in this park as well. It's in the heart of the neighborhood, and there wasn't any other vacant lot feasible," Lee said.
Brian Schlaefer, a member of the Neighborhood Action Team who lives on North Terrace Street, built the cedar raised garden beds. A dozen local businesses, the city and Parker High School FFA sponsored the new gardens with donations and supplies valued at $4,000.
He said the gardens help improve neighborhood relations.
"I enjoy it, and it's fun to see," he said.
Neighbor Margaret Delaney agreed the community garden is good for her Look West Neighborhood.
"With the economy and the way things are going, it's not only good to have the fresh produce, it's a wonderful way to share and for all the kids to learn about gardening," she said.
Jun 24, 2009 at 4:18 p.m.
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I think that this garden is one of the most wonderful things going on in our neighborhood, although I may be biased, as it is my children and I in the article :) I was a little worried about vandalism myself, but so far no one has bothered any of the gardens. I'm curious as well why anyone would have a reason to say anything negative about them. My kids love checking on the plants each day, and checking their progress. They are learning so much, and of course they get a little time at the park each day too. It also gives us an opportunity to meet other neighbors who are taking part in the garden. One of the people involved runs a daycare, and the kids in the daycare got to plant vegetables. Seems to me like everybody wins. Thanks to everyone who has been supportive of this project!
Jun 24, 2009 at 3:05 p.m.
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angmarie>>maybe we would understand if you told us why it bothers you weren't contacted? What would you have like to have seen differently? As it was mentioned, I'm sure it was discussed at meetings, etc. There are agendas and minutes published from these meetings. The info is out there!! You may have just missed it or something, but it is there.
Jun 24, 2009 at 2:45 p.m.
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I just want to clarify I am not against community gardens. I am bothered with the lack of communication with the neighbors that surround the Washington park regarding this garden.
Jun 24, 2009 at 2:31 p.m.
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As being one of the members of the neighborhood action team I feel I should respond. One of our goals is to improve the neighborhoods in which we live. I personally have "adopted" Washington Park and strive to constantly make improvements to it. The neighbors have submitted items they would like to see in the park and I shall do my best to see as many as possible get done. I try to get to the park every day and pick up any trash to keep the park presentable. Instead of complaining, it would help me out to have others helping to keep the park beautiful. The park is used by more people now than in the past. We need to continue to strive to improve our neighborhood.
Jun 24, 2009 at 2:29 p.m.
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kudos chrishutch9. People should read the newsletters the city mails out!
Jun 24, 2009 at 2:27 p.m.
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i think this was a wonderful project and I only wish that the garden plots were there when i lived on washington st years ago. I have always loved Washington Park and it is really cool that kids can go there to play, have a picnic, and check on their tomatoes! Janesville should have these kinds of gardens in all of the parks. There's plenty of space for them, (especially the "parks" that don't have a playground, or a path, or a bench, just a plot of land and a tree) and more people would take advantage of it.
to angmarie who lives by the park and has a problem with the community gardens being there, just think about the people who rent and can not plant gardens in their yard. How could you possibly be offended by a garden? More people by your house? You live by a park! There's people out there EVERY DAY, all day long. Get used to it!!! You live in the City of Parks.
Jun 24, 2009 at 1:43 p.m.
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very nice- i worry the yields would be stolen or vandalized by bad people. hopefully theyll leave it alone!!!!!
For those who dont have the space CONTAINERS work well too. I have too many flowers for veg gardens so I do tomatoes, kale, cukes,peppers herbs in pots. theyre working well!! BIG containers I mean!!
even trying a watermelon too.
Jun 24, 2009 at 1:29 p.m.
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chrishutch9, I would have liked to say it better, but I can't.
Jun 24, 2009 at 12:22 p.m.
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angiemarie... this couldn't have been done without some discussion and planning - if you're that concerned with what's going on in your neighborhood/community maybe you should try attending a neighborhood association meeting, city council meeting, community development meeting... whatever it is that they have in your area. Then you'll always know what's going on. Its not their job to come knock on your door to see what you think about how they should use their own property. That's what the meetings are for; for you to come voice your opinion. I suggest you make the effort before you cast any more stones.
Jun 24, 2009 at 11:24 a.m.
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Let's see, community garden so people can feed themselves or ice rink? Ummmmmmmmm? Local government should have their hands in nothing else.
Jun 24, 2009 at 11:23 a.m.
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Sorry angmarie, but in my opinion this is one of the best uses of a park I can find!! I think it's awesome~~you know the saying give a man a fish he eats for a day, teach him to fish and he eats for a lifetime. We are fotunate enough to live somewhere to have a garden on our property, others can't. I hope to see this program grow and grow (no pun intended, oh okay maybe it was intended LOL)
Jun 24, 2009 at 10:53 a.m.
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hey angmarie, is it hurting you?? Gardens? Come on! Would you rather have other negative activity going on there?
Jun 23, 2009 at 10:17 p.m.
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Mackie! How big youre getting!
Jun 23, 2009 at 7:26 p.m.
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It would have been nice if they would of asked for input from the neighbors of the park or the property owners prior to deciding on the location of the garden within the park. It also would have been nice if they would have given the neighbors of the park ANY information regarding the community garden going in at Washington Park.
Jun 23, 2009 at 6:41 p.m.
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Cheers to the families who helped make this happen.
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