Sat Feb 11 2012
Sellus Wilder, founder of the Frankfort Community Garden Network, spoke to members of the La Jardiniere Garden Club recently about community gardens in Frankfort. Wilder, an independent film maker and City Commissioner, started this effort by planting a vegetable garden in his front yard.
He and his wife, Jesse, welcomed neighborhood children into the yard to see the plants and taste some of the produce. He related the story of one little boy who told the couple that he liked to come into their yard because “it has more oxygen in it” and then proceeded to explain photosynthesis to them. This gave Wilder the idea to start a community garden in which people could have their own plot of land to grow the crops they wanted.
The first one that was developed was at the Dolly Graham Park on Second Street. Wilder developed the garden with two sections – the front of it is a large plot dedicated to the whole community. Residents help plant it, care for it, and share the food that is grown.
The second section is divided into ten-by-twelve foot plots that rent for $10 a year for the use of that plot. The money from renting the plots is used to pay for a small animal-proof fence and water for the garden. Two more community gardens have been started – one on East Todd Street in South Frankfort, and one in the Bellepoint community in North Frankfort.
Wilder explained the benefits of community gardens.
Gardens provide easy access to fresh produce for the neighborhood. Residents who work there develop bonds and interactions with their neighbors, which in turn creates a stronger neighborhood. Community gardens can be cross-generational. Older generations have the knowledge about gardening and younger generations can provide the labor while learning from their older friends.
Eating local produce can reduce energy costs as these foods don’t have to be shipped to the city. Extra produce can be distributed around the neighborhood or given to the soup kitchen for use there.
The goal of Wilder’s community garden project is to establish a garden in every Frankfort neighborhood, creating 25 to 30 gardens. The Frankfort Community Garden Network is hoping to become an official non-profit agency, which will bring in more government grants for these gardens.
Wilder explained the steps in starting a community garden.
A plot of suitable land must be found and secured by the city, if it is on city property. Each garden needs its own manager to be in charge of the area, making sure the property is maintained and meets any city ordinances regarding that property. The property should be kept neat and aesthetically pleasing.
If the garden is on private, donated land, then an agricultural water meter can be installed on the water source so that only the water used in the garden will be paid for by the $10 fees.
The next community garden will be an outdoor classroom at Elkhorn Elementary School in East Frankfort. The long range goal of the Community Garden Network is to have a city farm which works year round.
If a neighborhood is interested in starting a community garden, Wilder can be reached at SellusWilder@gmail.com.
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