Two weeks ago, I began my research on community gardening by attending Mayor Dave Cieslewicz’s Community Garden Bike Tour. Initially, I was a bit nervous. I know almost nothing about community gardens and on top of this, Madison area community gardens number more than 50. Luckily, the tour visited just four gardens on the east side of Madison and Monona, giving me a good taste – not a giant bite – of the community garden scene.
The first and second stops on our tour were at the East High Youth Farm and the Glendale Elementary School Garden. At the East High Youth Farm, students from local schools receive hands-on science lessons and provide food for the local Goodman Food Pantry. As we walked by rows of onions and potatoes, I spoke with Taylor, a recent East High graduate who dedicated many hours to the garden this year. Initially, she was seeking a leadership position in the school and joined the class as a second semester teaching assistant. However, the self-proclaimed “not outdoorsy” teen has learned much more than leadership.
“I never thought I would have liked it, Taylor said. “There was so much digging and things I had never done before. It’s really nice though, I’ve found I really enjoy it.”
Behind the Scenes Dispatch by:
Lauren Knoche, a member of the EngageWisconsin team
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PARTICIPATE: Are you a Wisconsin resident who actively seeks to become self-sustainable? Are you attempting to make your life as green as possible, working to decrease your carbon imprint? Do you participate – on any level – in community gardens or Community Share Agriculture? If you can answer yes to any of the above and you’re willing to share your story, please contact Lauren Knoche via email – lauren.knoche@engagewisconsin.org – for more information.
SUSTAINABLE WISCONSIN is inspired by recent the POV documentary Food, Inc., as well as the current social trends of “sustainability” and “green living” shown through Wisconsin Public Television’s Wisconsin Foodie and In Wisconsin. This project will work to support the themes of sustainable agriculture discussed in these films by collecting stories from citizens working to make their lives and communities more “green.” Sustainable Wisconsin will focus on Community Supported Agriculture, Community Gardens, and Initiatives dedicated to making food in our state healthier and more sustainable. Sustainable Wisconsin also has a You & How To project, a participatory section which will share contributor’s and viewer’s opinions and “how to” advice on becoming more green.
