Community Gardens - Success?

6/19/11

In 2009, Shorewood's Council agreed to establish a "demonstration garden" on the east side of the city at the skate park location. Some volunteer gardeners were to plant the area while teaching locals how to garden and donate the produce to food shelves. The garden was planted and food donated, with education during the season delivered.

At the same time, Mayor Lizee was beating the drum with the Parks Commission and the Council to establish community garden plots in every city park. The Parks Commission recommended a go slow approach.

In 2010, the volunteer gardeners reduced their ambitions and their space was shared into individual plots available to Shorewood residents. All 10 of the plots were rented. The City had been providing water for the garden plots by filling rain barrels on site. The volunteer group pressed for a real water source and in 2010, Council agreed to have a water fountain and garden hose connection installed in the park at a cost of nearly $2,000. The Council also agreed to increase to 15 the number of plots for 2011 as there had been some gardeners who could not get plots.

Now, the Insider has learned that just 13 of the 15 plots have been rented for the 2011 season. Obviously, there is no waiting list. Further, the water installation is underway.

The Insider estimates that hard dollar and staff costs since 2009 have eaten up nearly $10,000 of City funds.

Think about this when you hear Mayor Lizee and her gardening friends want to spend even more and expand to more parks. At a subsidy of $250 or more per plot wouldn't it be better to hand prospective gardeners a coupon for the grocery store?

Happy Reading!
The Insider