Community Gardening in Lakewood

[Annie Stahlheber]

Dear neighbors,

The LEAF Community is seeking to expand the community gardening options for Lakewood. To gauge interest and support, I am posting a few questions for all of you.
Are you interested in gardening local community space in Lakewood?

Do you think increasing community gardens in Lakewood is a good idea?

If yes to the above, please explain why.

Which spots would you pick to place a garden (ie. vacant land, abandoned home, park, along the tracks, etc.)?

Thank you,
Annie

[Jim DeVito]

Yes. I believe that the gardens could do nothing but good for the community.

I think you could take one foreclosed home about to go up for auction on a street and find some way to buy it. Not sure where the money would come from but. You could call you garden the “insert Lakewood business name hereâ€Â￾ Community Garden. Or maybe all the neighbors could pitch in and the rest could come from some kind of grant. Regardless of where you get the cash it is a very good idea.

[Mike Deneen]

Community gardening is great.

I suspect there are safety issues with the area around the tracks.

Is it possible to a person to volunteer their own yard for the project?

[Shawn Juris]

Plenty of space around Foxx Field at Kaufman Park that is underutilized. Can anything but weeds grow in an area that may attract run off from a parking lot?
Public domain- at least for the time being.

[Joe Sgambellone]

gardens sound like an excellent idea. Has anyone given any thought to container gardening or rooftop gardening, since space is such a premium around here.

Rooftop gardens would need some owner cooperation, easy (secure?) access and structural underpinnings, but it could be done.

i think gardening is a skill that people, particularly urban people, don't have. Plus, food from gardens taste so much better. I'd like to participate, if possible.

[Brad Hutchison]

I'd love to help with the gardening. It's something I miss as a renter. Community gardens are a great idea, because gardens are always a great idea...

[Chris Trapp]

Mike,
Yes, it is possible that we could garden in an individuals yard. As mentioned, in a community like Lakewood, we need to make use of any available space as best we can.
Gardening neighbors' yards can provide space for those who want to garden and fresh food for the neighbor. This could be especially beneficial for seniors who are no longer able to tend a garden on their own.
If anyone is interested, in putting their garden/yard space into more active use, you can contact myself, Annie, Dan Slife, Lynn Roderman, or Amy Bennett.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Chris/Annie


Can we share he love with our brothers and sisters in the Heights? The Heights Observer is looking for ideas on community gardening and getting it started.

We have monthly meetings with them if either of you would like to talk with them I think it would help both cities.


.

[Jeff Endress]

As this discussion evolves, can we also look into sharing our seedlings, seeds, etc.?

I'm hoping to avoid the nurseries, do my own, and if anyone else is going in that direction, perhaps we can set up an exchange? I'm really interested in some heirloom tomatoes and we're getting close to the time for ordering and starting seeds. Maybe someone has enough indoor space that we could start a community nursery and distribute seedlings to those involved in the community gardening efforts? Just a thought.

Jeff

[Amy Bennett]

I'm all about sharing seedlings. I've started a couple of flats of flowers already and I purchased my vegetable seeds already. My personal thing is varieties of Japanese squash and Italian eggplant.

Can't wait to get into the dirt!

[Kenneth Warren]

Jeff:

I stashed a supply of collard seeds, pole beans and bush beans. I wanted to see if anything will grow from them this season. You, Amy other LO readers and LEAF members are welcome to some. Let me know if you want some.

Would the groundhog in the Plover Patch consume all the collard these seeds could supply?

As we are attempting to grow LEAF and raise the natural resourcefulness levels in Lakewood neighborhoods, I'd be interested in hearing what permaculture applications and learning from The Rhizome Collective might be brought to bear practically on our processes here in the next season.

Take a look:

http://www.rhizomecollective.org

Kenneth Warren

[Tom Bullock]

Annie, Chris, Dan, Amy, Lynne:

I've got kale seeds to chip in...

Glad LEAF is soliciting community input and getting us all focused and started on gardens. Your legwork will help speed things along significantly. I'll be glad to partner with on the City Hall end of things, plus sign me up for some shoveling again...

[Anne Steiner]

I would be intrested....My backyard is too shady to grow good veggies. .

[Rob Burgoyne]

Community gardens would be a great fit for Lakewood. Not only would this provide us a safe place to grow our food, community gardens also grow community by bringing people to underutilized and vacant land and increasing property values for homes near a garden. It seems that this initiative is being launched at an appropriate time in Lakewood's history and is something else to be excited about.

-Rob

[Annie Stahlheber]

I love the community nursery idea. My hope is that we can have a community garden within walking distance of every resident of Lakewood. Obviously that is a long term goal, but it would be great if we could get at least 5 going this spring. We have found several open spaces, but need to know who will be there to maintain the gardens (and pick and eat the fresh produce!). Hey all you lurkers, let us know what you think!!