Bumper crop of interest in community gardens

Community "Victory Gardens" and regular backyard gardening are cultivating more interest these days, whether it's due to the recession or the search for a sense of community.

According to the National Gardening Association, tilling the soil is expected to increase by 19 percent this year, meaning an additional 7 million households plan to grow their own fruits, vegetables, herbs, or berries. Last year, gardening increased by 10 percent.
The association says more people are realizing that home-grown food tastes better and that a well-maintained garden can yield a $500 return on the investment -- not counting exercise benefits.

Some commentators say Michelle Obama's White House garden is inspiring people. Locally, people have said they're looking for connection between the land and the community.

"It was clear that people wanted to come together and plant a garden," said Rory Klick, chairwoman of the College of Lake County Horticultural Department. The college is starting its community garden this year at the Grayslake campus. County residents can lease a 200-square-foot patch for $15.

"It gives people a chance to connect with each other and build that sense of community," she said. Klick said food security is another issue, and she will be urging people to plant a row for the local food pantry. To reserve a garden patch, call (847) 543-2320.

At the Gurnee Garden on Kilbourne Road, caretaker Greg Alderson said the village has doubled the number of garden patches. 

"I think we should have them all over the community," he said. "We try to keep it organic."

Sixty-six flowering bushes have been planted around the plots to beautify that area, and someone donated a bench. The $10 fee is used for rototilling and watering the gardens.

The village of Grayslake started its community garden in 2005 on Library Lane.

"We have 42 plots, and we are generally full each year. We do have to turn people away each year," said Derek Soderholm, assistant village manager. "It's doubled in size over the years."

The charge there is $30, but $10 is refunded if you clean your plot at the end of the year.

In Waukegan, the Greentown Project sprouted the Community Garden on South Genesee Street in 2007 as a "garden for everyone," said organizer Nada Finn. Organizers decided on raised beds for the empty lot offered by the city. It was the site of a dry cleaner, and they were worried about the chance of chemicals in the soil.

"We would like to spread the gardens throughout the city," she said. "We want people to find their sacred place in the garden."

Finn said she also wants the gardens to be a source of pride in the community.

She and others also pointed out the "eat local" trend to eat food grown close to home.

"People don't realize that head of broccoli traveled farther than you did on your vacation. That's not good for the environment," Finn said.

Other community gardens include the 1-acre Green Youth Farm run by the Chicago Botanical Garden at Green Belt Forest Preserve in North Chicago. It's a youth leadership program that grows fruits, vegetables and flowers .

Lindenhurst's Peace Garden Project still does not have a home, but the police and library have offered space. The Peace Garden can be a vegetable garden or trees. The aim is to create a gathering place dedicated to peace, reconciliation, forgiveness and healing, said Bill Scheurer.

"We're building peace in the county and the connectedness of life," said Scheurer.The Peace Garden is a national project and each garden displays the statement: "May Peace Prevail On Earth."

Master gardener Sharon Yiesla with the University of Illinois Extension Office said she has heard from nurseries that they are expecting a boom in gardening. Her office is already getting vegetable gardening questions. 

Yiesla worries that some people will be discouraged by the amount of work and the time before harvest.

"But some gardeners believe that any time spent in the garden is good time," she said.