Sunnyland's first community garden

An idea planted by the Sunnyland Elementary PTA grew to become Sunnyland Neighborhood’s first community garden.

Members of the church wanted to find a way to “connect to the community,” according to Scott Roberts, pastor for Hope In Christ Church. He approached the Sunnyland Neighborhood Association and asked what the church could do.

“One thing was that Sunnyland Elementary wanted a garden. PTA members were complaining about not having any room for one,” Roberts said.

The congregation decided to create a community garden. Land behind the church was chosen as the initial plot. This is several blocks away from the elementary school.

           

Before the project could begin, the community needed to be informed about the garden, according to Roberts.

“We went door-to-door and handed out flyers and talked to people in the neighborhood,” said Rosa McAlister, a member of Hope in Christ and part of the project.

The initial meeting occurred in March with a turnout of about 20 people. This group split into three focus groups; one for finance, another for construction of the garden and the last dedicated to searching for locations.

“We had to lay out what we wanted from the garden. The easiest way to do it is just do rectangular plots in a row, which is what we did,” said Greg Waters, who once owned his own landscaping business and help with construction.

There are 33 plots in the initial garden. Twenty-seven of these plots are 10-by-10 feet and cost $50 to rent. The remaining six are 4-by-10 feet for $35 each.

"Anyone and everyone are welcome to register for a plot,” Roberts said.

Sunnyland students have not been able to help with the garden because it is too far to bring students, according to Mary Anne Stuckart, Sunnyland Elementary principal.

Local businesses will have the opportunity to sponsor those who can’t afford a plot. McAlister and others involved with the financial aspects of the project have been approaching businesses to contribute to this cause. There is also a large plot for co-operative planting. Anyone interested may work in this area.

           

Community gardeners who are unable to kneel for long periods of time are also being considered. Waters said the group is looking into making raised beds that would make it easy the soil easy to reach for the elderly, those in wheelchairs or others that need a higher plot.

           

The initial idea was for this area to contain vegetables. However, anything that isn’t invasive can be grown at the garden as long as no pesticides or herbicides are used, according to Roberts.

           

Volunteers for the garden project have also been writing grant requests to those giving money for cooperative gardens. These requests lay out the mission of the project, the level of sustainability and why the garden needs funding.

           

The group is looking into gaining a financial sponsor to make any donations tax deductable. Becoming a non-profit takes time and this is the best way to give back to encourage donations until then, McAlister said.

           

One local business provided help that was not monetary. The owner of The Garden Spot, located off of Alabama Street, donated a truckload of leftover compost from a sale by Sehome High School and the Kiwanis Club. The garden store also allowed Janaki Kilgore, a project member, to borrow a truck for transporting the dirt to the garden.

           

Kilgore said that the church site is only the first in what the group hopes will end up being many gardens. Several more sites are being looked into.

           

One potential site for a future garden includes land owned by Puget Sound Energy. The company is interested in looking at designs the garden group creates before discussing further terms, said Roberts.

           

Another possible plot is an overgrown piece of property close to the church. The owner also wants to see designs and is “dialoguing with us about putting a garden there,” Roberts said.

           

Kilgore created a website (http://sunnylandcommunitygardens.weebly.com/) for the project. This will allow those that weren’t initially contacted to get involved in the project, she said.

          

Polly Gilbert, a Sunnyland Neighborhood Association member who has attended numerous garden meetings, said that the association approves of the work so far.

           

“I have plenty of yard of my own but think this is a wonderful idea for those who don’t have land,” said Gilbert.

          

McAlister said she is confident the community garden project will be a success.

           

“It has been a really eye-opening process…” she said. “A small group managed to do a big thing fairly quickly, I was impressed by that.”