Comments on: Hope Gardens http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/04/13/hope-gardens/ Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:25:55 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: jencoleslaw http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/04/13/hope-gardens/comment-page-1/#comment-136686 jencoleslaw Sun, 19 Apr 2009 21:59:52 +0000 http://www.gcpvd.org/?p=2993#comment-136686 I have been trying to find some data that supports the idea that when the economy tanks, the need and drive for people to grow their own food increases, and I have found it--a 19% increase in garden food related purchases and activities this year already. Here's a white paper on the findings-- http://www.gardenresearch.com/files/2009-Impact-of-Gardening-in-America-White-Paper.pdf I suppose a grain of salt needs to be taken since the study was supported by the Scotts/Miracle Grow people, but still... I have been trying to find some data that supports the idea that when the economy tanks, the need and drive for people to grow their own food increases, and I have found it–a 19% increase in garden food related purchases and activities this year already. Here’s a white paper on the findings–

http://www.gardenresearch.com/files/2009-Impact-of-Gardening-in-America-White-Paper.pdf

I suppose a grain of salt needs to be taken since the study was supported by the Scotts/Miracle Grow people, but still…

]]> By: Sarah (Green Zone) http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/04/13/hope-gardens/comment-page-1/#comment-136096 Sarah (Green Zone) Thu, 16 Apr 2009 21:40:45 +0000 http://www.gcpvd.org/?p=2993#comment-136096 Imagine a city department that coordinated placing gardeners on vacant lots offered by local landowners. In the summers of 1917 and 1918, Providence's Board of Recreation did just that: thousands of gardens on hundreds of lots in just about every neighborhood of the city. For this and other tales of wartime gardens, the Women's Land Army of America, and how/why to plant a victory garden today, come to Firehouse 13 on May 5 for "Green Zones: From the War Garden to Your Garden." Starts at 5:30pm; Providence's first Urban Ag Spring Start Party to follow at 7:30pm. FREE. Thanks for starting this thread. Imagine a city department that coordinated placing gardeners on vacant lots offered by local landowners. In the summers of 1917 and 1918, Providence’s Board of Recreation did just that: thousands of gardens on hundreds of lots in just about every neighborhood of the city.

For this and other tales of wartime gardens, the Women’s Land Army of America, and how/why to plant a victory garden today, come to Firehouse 13 on May 5 for “Green Zones: From the War Garden to Your Garden.” Starts at 5:30pm; Providence’s first Urban Ag Spring Start Party to follow at 7:30pm. FREE.

Thanks for starting this thread.

]]> By: jencoleslaw http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/04/13/hope-gardens/comment-page-1/#comment-136094 jencoleslaw Thu, 16 Apr 2009 21:37:49 +0000 http://www.gcpvd.org/?p=2993#comment-136094 I agree that permanent community gardens are better than portable ones, but also believe that any community garden is better than none community garden. Some of the challenges of creating these gardens out of patches full of garbage is the cost of any kind of clean up in order to have decent soil there. Also, bringing in water can be expensive. but some of these old building lots already have a water line there, it just needs to be located and activated. Meanwhile: here's a good article about greening city alley areas. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-04-08-urban-alleys_N.htm I agree that permanent community gardens are better than portable ones, but also believe that any community garden is better than none community garden.

Some of the challenges of creating these gardens out of patches full of garbage is the cost of any kind of clean up in order to have decent soil there. Also, bringing in water can be expensive. but some of these old building lots already have a water line there, it just needs to be located and activated.

Meanwhile: here’s a good article about greening city alley areas.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-04-08-urban-alleys_N.htm

]]> By: Astrid http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/04/13/hope-gardens/comment-page-1/#comment-136068 Astrid Thu, 16 Apr 2009 17:56:29 +0000 http://www.gcpvd.org/?p=2993#comment-136068 There is a little patch full of garbage and unused on the corner of Douglas and Fillmore. Not sure if it is large enough or who owns it (maybe Times Squared Academy). Maybe the school could get involved and there is Chad Brown right down the street. There is also unused and littered property right at the beginning of Pleasant Valley Parkway (Elmhurst?) between the backside of Roger Williams Medical Center and the backside of the old Lying in Hospital. That would be large enough and people do walk there and live there. There is a little patch full of garbage and unused on the corner of Douglas and Fillmore. Not sure if it is large enough or who owns it (maybe Times Squared Academy). Maybe the school could get involved and there is Chad Brown right down the street.
There is also unused and littered property right at the beginning of Pleasant Valley Parkway (Elmhurst?) between the backside of Roger Williams Medical Center and the backside of the old Lying in Hospital. That would be large enough and people do walk there and live there.

]]> By: Jack http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/04/13/hope-gardens/comment-page-1/#comment-136050 Jack Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:23:13 +0000 http://www.gcpvd.org/?p=2993#comment-136050 I've heard of places that have urban chicken farming too. Another good food source and an urban farming possibility. I’ve heard of places that have urban chicken farming too. Another good food source and an urban farming possibility.

]]> By: lorelei http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/04/13/hope-gardens/comment-page-1/#comment-135989 lorelei Thu, 16 Apr 2009 11:21:33 +0000 http://www.gcpvd.org/?p=2993#comment-135989 South Prov and the Elmwood area! Put public garden zones where there are people who really need the food that would be grown. Include workshops on gardening and volunteers to help advise the new gardeners. South Prov and the Elmwood area! Put public garden zones where there are people who really need the food that would be grown. Include workshops on gardening and volunteers to help advise the new gardeners.

]]> By: Ben http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/04/13/hope-gardens/comment-page-1/#comment-135370 Ben Tue, 14 Apr 2009 00:02:58 +0000 http://www.gcpvd.org/?p=2993#comment-135370 The Hope Gardens are not a bad idea, but the concept needs some re-thinking in order to be more than just a publicity stunt. Community gardens foster community collaboration, grow healthy food, help the environment and maintain open spaces. I'm no expert on community gardens, but with so many active gardens already up and running in cities around the country we should look to the working models. A couple things to note. Though a garden in Capitol Center would be great for raising awareness and kicking off the program, the most effective gardens seem to be those that are within city neighborhoods where people live, eat, and have a sense of community that can be built upon. From there, I can see a lot of opportunity for 'cross-pollination' among the neighborhood gardens, so as to build up a citywide sense of community around the gardens. Also, the most effective gardens have an element of common management, but are divided into individual plots so people grow their own food or flowers and have a sense of pride and ownership in what they accomplish. The gardens should be permanent. A sense of community has value in good economic times as well as bad. And I see huge benefits, especially in low income neighborhoods of having a permanent source of high quality food, community activity and open space. The Hope Gardens are not a bad idea, but the concept needs some re-thinking in order to be more than just a publicity stunt. Community gardens foster community collaboration, grow healthy food, help the environment and maintain open spaces.

I’m no expert on community gardens, but with so many active gardens already up and running in cities around the country we should look to the working models. A couple things to note. Though a garden in Capitol Center would be great for raising awareness and kicking off the program, the most effective gardens seem to be those that are within city neighborhoods where people live, eat, and have a sense of community that can be built upon. From there, I can see a lot of opportunity for ‘cross-pollination’ among the neighborhood gardens, so as to build up a citywide sense of community around the gardens. Also, the most effective gardens have an element of common management, but are divided into individual plots so people grow their own food or flowers and have a sense of pride and ownership in what they accomplish.

The gardens should be permanent. A sense of community has value in good economic times as well as bad. And I see huge benefits, especially in low income neighborhoods of having a permanent source of high quality food, community activity and open space.

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