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On East 65th Street in Cleveland's Slavic Village, just beyond a chain link fence, lies a lush, green garden bursting with vibrant veggies. This is Morganic Garden, the first Summer Sprout community garden in Cleveland.
In 1974 Dan Kane began gardening here with troubled youth as part of a crime prevention program. Kane's idea caught on, and today there are nearly 180 community gardens tucked away in neighborhoods throughout Cleveland. Thanks to the efforts of individuals like Dan Kane, these gardens are improving their communities, providing urban retreats and creating nutritious harvests.
For the past thirty years, community gardeners in Cleveland have been transforming vacant land into beautiful and productive gardens. The American Community Gardening Association (ACGA) promotes community building through gardening because these gardens not only beautify their neighborhoods, they also foster safer communities, increase self-reliance amongst participants, and improve the overall neighborhood image. The gardens also support the emergence of new community leaders and create opportunities for neighbors to work together.
The ACGA estimates that there are currently 10,000 community gardens throughout the world, many of which exist in urban areas. Neighborhoods in urban areas, such as Cleveland, particularly need the green space that gardens offer. City dwellers greatly benefit from the opportunity to take part in the natural cycles of life.
Community gardens also create a bounty of freshly harvested vegetables and fruits. Most community gardeners share produce with local hunger centers and other neighbors in need. A 1999 study conducted by the Ohio State University Extension in Cleveland found that garden participants in low-income neighborhoods were eating above and beyond the national “five-a-day” standards in servings of fruits and vegetables. The gardeners continued this healthy habit throughout the entire year despite Cleveland's short growing season. In addition, a study done by Saundra Lorenz at Texas A&M University found that children who were involved in growing their own vegetables were more likely to eat those same vegetables.
Anyone anywhere can create a community garden. Local resources are abundant. The Summer Sprout program in Cleveland provides gardeners with essential resources such as seeds, plants, leaf humus, soil preparations and access to the fire hydrants for watering. In Cuyahoga County, the Community Gardening Program of Ohio State University Extension offers workshops and educational resources to assist people in starting and maintaining a community garden. Growing a community garden in your neighborhood, school, senior center, social service agency or summer camp guarantees a rewarding experience. Just dig in.
Lynn Gregor is the Community Gardening Program Coordinator at the Ohio State University Extension. For more information, call (216) 397-6046.
Photo by Don Snyder, www.dasphoto.com.
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