Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
One of the three garden founders approached an executive at the Service Technologies Corporation for a
meeting about a 10,000-square-foot corner lot adjacent to the company's building. The garden
founders—Atsuko Biernot, Joseph Filipowski, and George Ibarra—put together a proposal with a garden
plan and a promise to give away the food that would grow there. The company donated the land.
Are funders sponsoring the garden? Do the funds dictate the garden mission in any way?
The garden received a donation of soil for raised beds from a nearby organic farmer, while local businesses
donated tools. A car repair shop close to the garden offered to supply the water. Now that the garden is run-
ning successfully, there are a few garden “angels” who help when needed. For example, an angel stepped in
and paid the water bill for the loan of water from the garage.
Does the garden location or mission influence the build?
A microclimate is created by the surrounding industrial buildings' bright white walls. The garden is in a
commercial neighborhood with a low-income, mixed ethnic population dealing with food insecurity.
Does the garden location influence the mission?
Because of the neighborhood's food insecurity, there is no fence and the garden is open 24/7 to anyone who
wants to harvest the vegetables. Harvested food is delivered to various charities, food banks, and soup kit-
chens serving the neighborhood. Every year the group goes on a few outings to help other people start a com-
munity garden, including a satellite garden a mile away near an elementary school on city property.
Who is the food being grown for?
The founding group of three puts into practice their progressive ideals on social and economic justice, giving
away the bounty to anyone who comes by. One year they gave away fifteen hundred pounds of food, much of
it going to families in need.
Who are the gardeners?
Many of the gardeners are individual families with no place of their own to grow food. Volunteers do
everything and show up when they can. Monday is the dedicated gardening day; the three founders are al-
ways there, and up to twenty people show up, many with their children. Brownie troops work in the garden
to earn badges, children from the local YMCA help out, and students from Old Dominion University also vo-
lunteer. People from outside the neighborhood also come to work in the garden, thanks to word of mouth.
These participants often become regular volunteers.
Does the neighborhood have any impact on the mission?
Because the garden is in an industrial area with an economically challenged population, the founders wanted
everyone to have access to the produce, whether they put in time gardening or not. This means keeping the
garden fence-free, with all the tools and equipment available for anyone to use. According to the locals, this
policy has changed the area from a dangerous one to one in which people can walk around and garden night
and day. With zero budget, the local residents are engaged in making whatever the garden needs, such as trel-
lises and cold frames, from found or salvaged objects. Nothing is locked up; there are no rules.
Is there an educational mandate for the garden?
Because of the founders' attitudes, there is no formal structure or mandate in this community garden. But
those neighbors working in the garden are learning how to grow their own food. And now they often take
their knowledge to other communities and help them start gardens. The founders have also started a satellite
garden for an elementary school, where the children are educated about organic gardening and composting.
Is the garden genesis driven by some other need, example or force?
