Professional Documents
Culture Documents
2009
To the Garden...
Community Gardens provide a host gardeners have created. Invite friends,
of benefits to our neighborhoods, towns, families, and neighbors—no publicity
and cities. is better than personal connections.
And they are a lot of work. They You can always pull a few stray weeds
don’t happen magically or “naturally,” or water a parched plant that day, but
and behind even a modestly successful leave time to take pleasure in the unique
community garden are hours of sweat blend of community garden life and the
equity. particular joys of gardening with others.
There is the cultivating, planting, If you are not a community gardener,
watering, and weeding etc. that please be our guest and enjoy with us
goes with any garden. Plus, with our community gardens. Community
a community garden, there is the gardeners, most of us anyway, are not
organizing, politicking, and cajoling showoffs, and we don’t easily show
necessary for the garden community to pride because we are always just
coalesce and survive. slightly dissatisfied with how the garden
What community gardeners do is coming along. But we are proud of
far too little is celebrate and enjoy our work, and we do it in part for our
the products of our hard work. Our neighbors and friends to enjoy. Please,
community gardens are not miracles, join us.
but they are amazing gems of Above all, let’s make this year’s
cooperative spirit, human ingenuity, Parade of Community Gardens
practical beauty and coordinated labor. a celebration. It’s an impressive
We appreciate our gardens, but story—really—how individuals can
often quietly and individually, relishing come together to take plots of urban
the small joys with subtle smiles. Biting and suburban land and transform
Special Thanks to into a tomato grown by yourself or your
neighbor is its own reward, certainly,
them into living laboratories of citizen
participation and civic pride, often with
Event Sponsor as is seeing your seeds come up in the
spring.
minimal resources.
Let’s have fun, let’s pat each other
The Parade of Community Gardens on the back, and let’s talk about what
offers a way to go beyond the sometimes community gardens can do to make our
solitary pleasures of a community community life richer, better tasting, and
garden to celebrate together with fellow ever more beautiful.
gardeners and neighbors the hard To the garden…
Linden Hills Natural Home is a
work and many pleasures of community
proud sponsor of this year’s Parade ––Russell Raczkowski
garden projects.
of Community Gardens. Open Soo Line Community Garden
On August 22nd, community gardens
7 days a week from 9 to 7, the
across the Twin Cities welcome all
store specializes in locally-made,
comers to enjoy the amazing gems of the
Fair Trade, organic and recycled/
participating community gardens, each
recyclable goods for homes, gardens
unique, each beautiful in its own way. For Parade of Community
and people. Community owned! Garden details go to
If you are community gardener, come
www.lindenhills.coop/naturalhome,
612-279-2479.
to your community garden with new eyes www.gardeningmatters.org
and enjoy what you and your fellow
Community Gardens:
the operatic delights, stay for the Mark Granlund
locally sourced picnic lunch! (Bring St. Paul Parks and Recreation
your own chairs, blankets and
The Third Place beverages.)
This performance is appropriate
Jim Howitt
Soo Line Community Garden
for children, opera lovers and
opera haters, gardeners, farmers, Ken Meter
“Oldenburg calls one’s “first place” the enthusiastic eaters and their friends. Crossroads Resource Center
home and those that one lives with. The Reservations STRONGLY
“second place” is the workplace — where encouraged. Call 612.619.2112 Mary Morse
people may actually spend most of their for reservations and additional St. Anthony Park
time. Third places, then, are “anchors” of information (including information Community Garden
community life and facilitate and foster about rain-out sites). No one turned
broader, more creative interaction.” away due to lack of funds but Barb Muller
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Third_Place donations gladly accepted. Fredrikson & Bryon, P.A.
For many people, community gardens Mixed Precipitation is a
are the third place in our lives that glue our performance initiative helmed Chuck Repke
communities together, crossing arbitrary by Scotty Reynolds dedicated to District 2 Community Council
barriers of race, age and ability. Providing exploring space, text and new
safe places for shared activity and learning, dramatic forms. Greg Sautter
community gardens anchor our communities in
Eat Street Community Garden
good times and particularly in bad times. Sat. August 22, 1:00 pm
Our Twin Cities region is rich in community & Sun. August 23rd 4:00 pm Claudia Slovacek
gardens and ranks among the top metro areas Eat Street Community Garden 12th & 13th Avenue Block
in terms of number of community gardens. 2416 1st Ave S., Minneapolis Community Garden
Even so, land security is still precarious even
among the most established gardens. In order Sat. August 29, 4:00 pm
for communities to benefit from these Third Birchwood Community Garden Staff
Spaces, gardens must become a permanent Lutheran Church of the Reformation
part of our physical landscape just as they are 2544 Hwy 100 S, St Louis Park Kirsten Saylor
part of our social & cultural landscape.
Executive Director
Despite numerous challenges, community Sun. August 30, 4:00 pm
gardens across the metro explore third space in JD Rivers Children’s Garden Ila Duntemann
innovative and creative ways. Theodore Wirth Park Program Coordinator
There are community meetings held in the Glenwood Ave. &
garden, meals shared, students learning in the Washburn Ave. N., Minneapolis Jesse Eustis
garden, performances staged, in-garden how-to
Intern
workshops, food grown for food banks, and art Sat. September 12, 4:00 pm
projects hosted. Columbus Ave Community Garden
The 5th Avenue Community Garden in South 3300 Columbus Ave S. Contact Us
Minneapolis recently screened a viewing of the Minneapolis
documentary “Fresh”. Watch COMGAR for
Phone
more opportunities to view movies in community Sun. September 27, 4:00 pm 612-492-8964
gardens this summer. Midway Green Spirit
How is your community garden a third space Community Garden Email
in your neighborhood? Pierce Butler & Hamline Ave N. info@gardeningmatters.org
St Paul
Co m m u n i t y Ga r d e n Day
honoring ALL
Minneapolis community gardens!
Minneapolis & St Paul City Councils will be
Entering Phase 2 passing resolutions proclaiming August 22nd
as “Community Garden Day”, honoring EACH
The Initiative that started on December 10, AND EVERY COMMUNITY GARDEN and
2008 consisted of four subcommittees to develop the hard work that EVERYONE contributes to
recommendations on how the City of Minneapolis making these green spaces community assets.
If you can, attend your City Council meeting,
could improve the local food system. Gardening
and bring someone with you. It does not
Matters co-chaired the Community garden, matter whether your garden is on the Parade
Schoolyard Garden and Home-based Gardening or not, this event and these resolutions are for
subcommittee. Recently completed, a number the benefit of the entire community gardening
community.
of the recommendations have direct or indirect
The entire process is quick and easy, and
implications for community gardens. takes only 15-30 minutes. Let the City Council
You can view all recommendations at know just how important these green spaces are
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/dhfs/hgfinal.pdf. to our neighborhoods. You won’t need to say
anything -- your presence will say it all.
The recommendations of phase one received
Council meeting tidbits can be found at
strong support from the Minneapolis City the “Nuts and Bolts of Attending a City Council
Council on June 26th and now we are officially Meeting” section on page two of http://www.
in “phase two” of the initiative – implementing gardeningmatters.org/Resources/City_Hall.pdf.
the recommendations. The Implementation
Minneapolis City Council Meeting
Taskforce will consist of a number of city staff
August 14, 2009, 9:30 am
from departments which play a role in the food
Council Chambers, Room 317, City Hall
system. The taskforce will also have 7 community
300 5th St., Minneapolis
members, including Gardening Matters.
To be successful and innovative, this initiative St Paul City Council Meeting
will continue to need the voices of local foods August 19, 2009, 3:30 pm
advocates. We look forward to continuing the Council Chambers, Third Floor, City Hall
conversation and improving local food systems for 15 Kellogg W Blvd., Saint Paul
healthier residents and more resilient communities.
Contact Kirsten at kirsten@gardeningmatters.org
or call 612-492-8964.
The wheels of government don’t always up for citizen use, but the timing was late
turn slowly, Vicki Robinson and Dan and we didn’t think much could be done
Collins at the DNR were very supportive this year. With encouragement, however,
of the idea; by April we were lined up we met with a counselor at the school and
with the DNR to lease the land to District soon we found a space for some plots to
5 for a community garden! be called “Community Corner”.
While mostly a joy, there have been We were recruiting gardeners at events
challenges in getting started. The DNR is this spring, but summer was approaching
working on getting water access installed; fast and we needed to prep the ground,
we wanted to garden this year, so we a challenge given the existing automated
said we would start without the water. sprinkling system. In addition, we have
Who knew it would be the driest planting been dealing with expenses, liability
season since the Dust Bowl? insurance and having gardeners sign
Got Mojo, Just We hope to have the running water agreements. The word is getting out, we
before the Parade of Community Gardens; hope to start planting soon, nurturing
University of MN Extension
Leaf lettuce 40-60 survives light frost Kristen and Dan Arnott
Matt Beckman
Peas 70-80 * longer than if spring planted survives high 20s Marianne Carolan
Joaquin Contreras
Radishes 30-60 dig until soil freezes Janet Court
Bob Dahm
Spinach 35-45 survives light frost, may overwinter Mollie Dean
Julia Eagles
Beth Fritcher
Melvin Giles
Rocky Gordon
Freezing Vegetables
Tom Guettler
Soyini Guyton
Stephanie Hankerson
Ben Hastings
Freezing is a quick and convenient Barb Heideman
way to preserve vegetables at home. Soozin Hirschmugl
Fresh produce contains enzymes which Nick Jordan
cause the loss of color, loss of nutrients, Kaisa Kerrigan
flavor and color changes in frozen Beth Kivett
Amanda Koonjibeharry
vegetables. Enzymes in vegetables are Candace LaCrosse
inactivated by blanching, the exposure of containers or freezer bags. Bread bags Allan LaValier
the vegetable to boiling water or steam and sandwich bags are not moisture- MJ Lavin
for a brief period of time followed by vapor resistant to be used for freezing. Sue Mazanyi
rapid cooling in ice water. Most vegetables will maintain high Aimee McAdams
Blanching time varies with vegetable quality for 12 months at 0°F. When Stefan Meyer
and size. Follow recommended done properly, freezing is the food Andrew Montain
Jennifer Nedry
blanching times carefully and begin preservation method that may potentially Anna Newton
counting time as soon as you place the preserve the most nutrients. Patricia Ohmans
vegetable in water. For best quality, For answers to your food preservation Cordelia Pierson
blanch in small quantities; enough for questions contact AnswerLine, which Severin Peterson
only a few containers at a time. provides research-based information Susan Reed
Microwave blanching may not be through University of Minnesota & Nick Schneider
effective, as some of the enzymes may Iowa State University Extension. Call Connie Shannon
not be inactivated and it does not save Robert Skafte
toll-free 1-800-854-1678 or email
Karen Swanberg
time or energy. answer@iastate.edu. Website: Mala Vujnovich
Select good quality freezer www.extension.iastate.edu/answerline/
C A L ENDAR
Jesse Eustis Putting Down Roots
into Gardening Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus, OH
Matters. As For details & registration: www.communitygarden.org
intern, Jesse
will be helping
with the general
Saturday, August 22, 10am – 2pm
administration Fourth Annual Parade of Community Gardens
Hello Jesse!
duties as well 40 community gardens from across the Twin Cities & greater
as assisting Minnesota open their gardens to the public. Experience the
with enhancing unique and individual gardening efforts happening around the
capacity of community gardens state. Details and maps available at www.gardeningmatters.org or
and strengthening a network of call Gardening Matters at 612-492-8964.
community gardens. Jesse’s brings
new perspective to our work, drawing OCTOBER 29 – NOVEMBER 1
on his experience and talents with Growing food and Justice for All Initiative’s
communications & political organizing
2nd Annual Gathering
& biodynamic farming. Jesse is a
Food and Spirit: Building Cross Cultural
tango dancer and trained in the
healing arts. Understanding for Systems Change
Jesse is a member of the St. (Pre gathering training: October 28 & 29)
Stephen’s Whittier Community Garden Wisconsin State Fair Grounds:
and helped to establish the Sisters’ Tommy Thompson Youth Center, Milwaukee, WI
Camelot 5th Avenue Community For details, go to www.growingfoodandjustice.org.
Garden. Jesse is a graduate of our
Community Garden Leadership Series
Training offered this past spring. Jesse
is also part of a three-member team
that designed and implemented the
Yards-to-Gardens website, which
connects those with land with those
Nurturing a Racially Inclusive
seeking land for gardening. Keep an
eye on this website, www.y2g.org, as Community Garden (or Organization)
its services expand to include other
gardening resources. In this workshop, participants Alliance (MFJA), and Sarah
Welcome, Jesse! will challenge each other to move Claassen, Land Stewardship Project
beyond their comfort zone when and MFJA.
thinking, talking, and acting
about race, and will learn how WHEN:
to nurture an environment that Saturday September 12,
encourages people to grow with 9 am – 12 noon, Room J
Check it out! this challenge. Participants will build
relationships that allow them to WHERE:
The Twin Cities Urban continue and deepen this dialogue Sabathani Community Center,
and take action together. 310 E 38th St, Minneapolis
Ag Connection (TCUAC)! To foster relationship-
building within your community COST:
This networking tool was assembled
garden or organization, we $15/person with scholarships available
to provide information about urban
ask that AT A MINIMUM, two
agriculture activities in the Twin
persons from your garden or R E G I S T R AT I O N :
Cities, and provide networking
organization attend. Total Go to www.gardeningmatters.org
opportunities between organizations
workshop attendance is capped or call 612-492-8964
and individuals working in urban
at 30 participants. Facilitated by
agriculture. www.tcurbanag.com Sponsored by Gardening Matters and
Melvin Giles and Tom Guettler of
the Minnesota Food and Justice Minnesota Food and Justice Alliance