June 4, 2014

How to start an Urban Garden

I finished Jeanne Nolan’s memoir “From the Ground up.” It’s a fascinating narrative as Jeanne describes her departure from the North Shore of Chicago at age 17 in search of a life more closely connected to the earth and to detach from the trappings of an affluent childhood. Only to return 17 years later to the place she grew up.

While her book talks in detail about the life she experienced living on organic farms far away from her childhood home it’s also documents how she has helped bring organic farming to this part of the country.

One of the chapters I found most interesting was her experience creating a rooftop garden for one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago – “Uncommon Ground.” I started thinking of our friends and followers living in cities and thought it would be fun to give some guidance on how to start your own urban garden.

So I interviewed one of my favorite gardeners, my partner, Jane McKay. Jane moved to Chicago from the UK in Spring 2010. As one of the most intential people I know I loved how she helped found a community garden in her own Northside Chicago neighborhood. In addition to supplying food for their homes a portion of the harvest goes to WIC (Women, Infants and Children food and nutrition). Here’s how she got started…

M: How did you decide to start a garden in your neighborhood and where did you get the funds?
J: The genesis of the garden came from a desire by neighbors Ann Kauth and Bruce Yeager to transform this hidden parcel of wasteland. More than 12 months of planning and fundraising including a kickstarter campaign was done by a growing organisation, we just jumped in at the last minute to help build thirty two 8 x 8 ft plots.

M: How did you gather people to work on the project? And is it only residents of your neighborhood?
J: A core team of neighbors at different ages and stages with a range of skills brought the vision to life in the years before our arrival. Plot rental extends to anyone in Chicago but typically and not exclusively that means people within walking distance.

M: How did you select the land? Was is donated by the city?
J: The land was a vacant and awkward triangle of wasteland tucked behind Addison St, Milwaukee Ave and Keeler Ave. The Alderman of the 30th ward, Ariel Reyoyras, initially granted permission for it’s use as a garden. In order to secure the land, in perpetuity, we embarked on a long process with Neighborspace. The application was successful following a hearing in the city, the garden is now protected under the Neighborspace umbrella.

M: How do you work together to determine the planting schedule?
J: Each plot holder plants and maintains their own garden. Typically the season begins after the last recorded frost (May 17th) and when organic plants become available but many gardeners plant seed earlier. Some friends garden all year round under plastic. We have 2 plots set aside for growing solely for WIC (Women, Infants and Children) which are planted and maintained by Erin who helped with an earlier post called The Zen of Composting.

M: Does everyone have their own place in the garden?
J: Yes each person pays for and maintains their 8 x 8 plot on a yearly basis.

M: Do you take turns working in the garden or does everyone work at the same time?
J: In order to maintain communal areas we host Spring and October festivals which include garden clean up and a pot luck with entertainment. We organise a range of community gatherings throughout the year and now that the garden is at capacity we are planning a rotation system for periodic clean up of weeds and communal areas.

M: Why did you chose to donate some of your food to WIC (Women, Infants and
Children food and nutrition)?
J: It was chosen because its not only a great cause but we felt sustainable because we can harvest weekly and deliver fresh. We now grow sufficient that it requires driving or a sturdy bike to deliver it a mile from the garden. We’ve continue to support WIC because it’s providing access to nutritional, organic fresh food and recipes for those who most need it.

M: Anything that you didn’t anticipate?
J: Yes. As well as being amazed at just how much a family can grow in such a small space, It’s surprisingly easy to find peace and tranquility while watering my plot alone during the warm summer mornings or balmy evenings. You can only water as quickly as the watering can allows.The garden has a serious side and a fun side.

Rats! Last year was a particularly bad year because of the heat. We dug out any nests at the end of the main growing season.

Interesting bugs, squash bugs have been especially problematic wiping out entire crops. We only use organic pesticides so its interesting to see what works.

M: Can you share final thoughts about the experience.
J: The garden has a tagline “a backyard for us all” and it truly is. It takes dedication and hard work to maintain it as a Community garden. Personally it was the first solid commitment, stake in the ground, that we made when we arrived in Chicago to live. We signed up immediately when Ann our new neighbor and founder of Merchant Park Community Garden knocked on our door with her two children to welcome us to the neighborhood. As a family we immediately became involved.

I see it as a catalyst to making and enhancing our life here.

M: Can you offer assistance to our people interested in starting a garden?
J: Yes our website is http://www.merchantparkcommunitygarden.org
and we’re happy to answer any questions. Other good resources are the Peterson Garden organisation which hosts classes, and Neighborspace.

This month we’re bringing recipes from a number of our favorite gardens, including Elawa Farm North of Chicago and also Katie Morford’s creek side garden south of San Francisco.

Zen Moment

“Large streams from little fountains flow, Tall oaks from little acorns grow”
– D. Everett in The Columbian Orator, 1797: