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Standing in her back yard near her Japanese bell, Joan LeMieux talks animatedly about her belief that community gardens contribute to a healthy society. Greg Ebersole / The Daily News

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Community garden plots will thicken; just a handful remain available for rent

Thursday, May 8, 2008 8:37 AM PDT

By Thacher Schmid

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It takes a lot of you-know-what to make a garden grow, and organizers of Longview’s 32nd Avenue community garden even fertilize their language with some pretty bad puns.

“It’s pretty well entrenched now; I think it’s proving its mettle,” said Joan LeMieux, the project’s prime mover. “Last year was a very ripe time to be doing this.”

“It all sounds kind of corny,” said Scott Edwards, a Longview farmer who joked he was “out standing in his field.”

What lies behind the Lower Columbia’s reenergized urban garden movement is no joke, though. Skyrocketing prices at supermarkets and concern about global climate change are inspiring another look at old ideas. Portland is a longtime leader of the local food movement, and Washington state is catching up — Gov. Chris Gregoire signed a bill in March giving schools incentives to use locally grown foods.

Owned and operated by Longview’s Parks & Recreation Department, the modest 32nd Avenue garden is ground zero for an ambitious, well-organized local group who wants to make community gardening a permanent part of city life. The city council is still considering turning the 3.5-acre 32nd Avenue parcel into a neighborhood park, but the decision is on hold for now.

“The food prices are getting so high I think we’re going to see a lot more of this,” said Wendell Harper, a mentor on the garden’s advisory committee.

Joan of Food

For Joan LeMieux, a former teacher, politician, farmer and homemaker now retired near Lake Sacajawea, it isn’t the rising cost of food that motivates her to garden, but the quality of the food. However, others are looking for relief from food prices.

“I’m not a grower, I’m an eater,” LeMieux, 75, said. Last year, she and a group of six local women realized the Lower Columbia community produces little of the food it eats.

“We wanted local food and we said, ‘Where is it? Where do you find local food?' And there was no guide, no way to find out.”

They founded “Lower Columbia Farm to Table,” a brochure on local farmers’ markets and local meat and produce offerings. LeMieux also became a prime mover and shaker in the effort to save the community garden, and was given an award at Earth Day as a healthy lifestyles “champion.”

“It’s basic,” LeMieux said of the garden, “and it had been so overlooked and ignored.”

Plots nearly full

Out of 71 20-foot by 40-foot plots at the garden, 66 have been rented at a cost of $41 apiece. Only 40 to 45 of the plots filled each year between 2001 and 2006, Longview Parks & Recreation Director Rich Bemm said. Bemm said 63 were rented in 2007. The remainder are likely to disappear when the gardeners hold a season “kickoff” Friday.

A 2007 city survey determined local residents wanted a park at the location. If that becomes reality, the garden would likely move elsewhere.

Does the growing interest in the garden means its current location is secure?

“No, I would not say that,” Bemm replied, “because if they can’t find comparable land in the area (for a park) then the (city) council’s going to have to make that decision.”

Bemm said his department supports the 32nd Avenue garden and the project has room to grow at that location.

“We’re really supportive of this program, and our hope is that this is really good for these people,” he said. “If this trend continues, we can accommodate at least 30 additional plots.”

Growing community

LeMieux and participants such as Eva Davis, Jennifer Leach, Wendell Harper and Scott Edwards say the garden has many benefits, including mentoring younger generations in gardening techniques and teaching where food really comes from; producing organic, chemical-free food; providing immediate savings straight to the dinner table; bringing local citizens from diverse backgrounds together; and even offering economic opportunities.

Eva Davis made $3,000 last year at the Cowlitz Community Farmers Market selling foods she raised on five plots at the garden. A master gardener who’s been at it two decades and transplants from her own garden and greenhouse and does her own washing, packaging and canning, Davis, 80, is just one example of the garden’s economic benefits, advocates say.

LeMieux points to the “Local Farms — Healthy Kids” law signed by Gov. Gregoire in March, which offers school districts flexibility and financial incentives for using locally grown foods.

“I’m going to sit down and talk with the new (Longview) superintendent,” LeMieux said. The opportunity is broader than just schools, LeMieux adds: a range of businesses could become involved.

“This is not just for goodness of the soul; you can make money doing this,” she said. “We have restaurants that are interested.”

Longview School Board President Jennifer Leach called the new law “the right thing to do to encourage the local food movement.”

Leach oversees the local 4-H youth program and said she’s exploring a partnership between the garden and St. Helens Elementary. She and others pointed out that Northlake Elementary and the county’s juvenile detention center both already operate garden projects.

Wendell Harper is mentoring two families whose plots are sponsored by Community Action Program, families he’ll meet Friday. He spoke excitedly about teaching them how to grow “everything that you put in vegetable soup.”

“We want these people to learn how to grow things,” Harper said.

One vision the gardeners have yet to realize is including diverse ethnic groups. LeMieux admits she “didn’t get as many ethnic groups as I wanted to this year,” but for next year envisions Russians teaching about root crops and Latinos sharing corn and bean knowledge.

Scott Edwards first got involved with local gardening as a student at Evergreen State College in the 1970s.

“Being a Cowlitz County native, I felt it was an idea before its time, basically,” said Edwards, a member of the advisory committee.

Passers-by are welcome for a walk-through, but beware bad puns.

“It’s a pretty cost-effective way of doing a family activity together, and then — pardon the pun — you have the fruits of your labor at the end,” Leach said.

Sooo wrote on May 8, 2008 12:47 AM:

" This is so successful they are looking to add 30 new plots. Its great for family and community. But the parks department is considering replacing it with a park? And this was justified by a 2007 survey? Hmmm, me thinks there is more in the background of this story than meets the eye. Even though I don't grow anything there I will certainly contact council members if they consider taking this away from the community. "

Remember a few ago wrote on May 8, 2008 6:05 AM:

" The higher ups were talking about destroying the property to put in a play ground for the junkies down the street. Good thing they did'nt! "

dude wrote on May 8, 2008 7:01 AM:

" yo dude, can i like get a plot to grow my "herbs"? "

mary Jane wrote on May 8, 2008 8:27 AM:

" Although not from Longview I envy the people that can have a garden plot ready to use for only
$41. It is so great to be able to have FRESH vegetables to eat without paying the prices that the large corporations charge for their chemically grown and possibly contaminated product. This garden and the way the city treats its gardners is an example of City of Longview's attitude toward seniors and catering to the youth of the area. Perhaps if they grew meth it would fit in better. "

I dont understand wrote on May 8, 2008 8:54 AM:

" How can Ms. Davis use the community garden to run a business? Does she have a liscense? Does the health dept know about this?
It's a little strange to me that she would be using this space for her own personal monetary gain. "

Why wrote on May 8, 2008 9:11 AM:

" Why would the city have a place for a couple dozen gardeners? A park with playground would serve hundreds of youth and families! "

Benny wrote on May 8, 2008 9:20 AM:

" These gardens should be for families to grow what they need and not some commercial gardener to make money on the city's dime. I am sure the city pays more on these gardens than they make. Profit making gardening should not be allowed! "

why wrote on May 8, 2008 9:24 AM:

" A play ground for the dopers,how dumb.
The garden is beneficial to any one that uses it . If you can not see this ,
that is a problem in it self.
Most parks I see are under used and become a doper hang out, oh ya I will send my kid there. Catlin pool was another stupid move . "

Great Idea wrote on May 8, 2008 9:40 AM:

" Community gardens are a great idea! Lots of other cities are starting them too. They draw people together in a productive way. I AM surprised someone is making money from her plot. I'd like to see more, smaller plots. 20x40 is huge. I think we'll see a lot more of these community gardens in coming years. "

so wrote on May 8, 2008 9:43 AM:

" So what if she sells at Farmer's Markets and makes a bit? Those of us who want fresh, locally grown veggies but can't grow them ourselves appreciate it! It's not like it's a huge enterprise.. Thanks for keeping the garden there. I've seen plenty of playgrounds in this town, with very low usage. Another not needed. "

There are plenty of parks wrote on May 8, 2008 9:54 AM:

" Why not convert a couple of the 55 baseball fields in the area for something useful like this. This is a great program seems like they could share some of poorly utilize ballfields. "

RE Benny wrote on May 8, 2008 10:08 AM:

" Eva's an 80 year old woman making a few bucks to make ends meet, she's not a 'commercial' grower. Get a heart! "

Just wait and see wrote on May 8, 2008 10:18 AM:

" If another Depression hits, and it's quite likely, your kids can grow food in gardens all over. It's how to feed yourself.

I am sickened by the way that our young people pit themselves against the seniors.

It's horrific. The seniors need their own separate community center, free from brats and basketballs, and they need a garden there. All you can think about is yourselves.

I think of this generation as the "me first, me last, me all the time" generation. "

to RE Benny wrote on May 8, 2008 10:22 AM:

" Is she breaking any rules or laws? If she is - age doesn't matter. In fact, she should know better.
"

Daily Art wrote on May 8, 2008 10:23 AM:

" A space for a handful of gardeners. What about a park for hundreds of people that live in the neighborhood. We need things for kids to do! Youth activity, culture, and art will build our citizens of tomorrow. "

Re Daily Art wrote on May 8, 2008 10:40 AM:

" I agree we need things for kids to do; how about parks and rec offering gardening. Oh they are doing that now. Just how many swingsets are needed. A class in gardening for kids might be a great experience for them. This is not a zero sum game. "

Newcomer wrote on May 8, 2008 10:49 AM:

" Folks, we are heading into a LONG term depression. Oil is shrinking, demand is increasing...most of our items in the U.S. are now imported, as is a lot of our food. Food is the ONE thing we can really take charge of, and grow a lot of it ourselves, and preserve/can it for winter. Times are tight, do not begrudge someone if they want to try to make a little money to help ends meet by selling a little of their garden produce. This country is entering a whole new era - we will never again be as we were in the 70s-90s. Community gardens are an excellent start, and a smart use of land. check out www.coutercurrents.org, and the article titled `The End Of Civilization'. It's not the end of the world, it's about how civilization is evolving due to peak petroleum and the world now being on the down side of it. Community gardens, converting lawn to gardens, raising our own food again as we used to do - it's part of the answer. "

To Daily Art wrote on May 8, 2008 10:55 AM:

" We hear you, kids do need space and culture and activity. But there is about to be an EMMINENT food shortage due to several issues - petroleum dependence, too many corn crops for ethanol (when sugar should be used instead - Brazil is 50% sugar ethanol now, and only uses 2% of their crops for it!), climate change and drought in big food growing areas like Australia, and political unrest that disrupts food supplies. FOOD availability is, within a short time, going to be a very serious issue for this country, as it already is for others. This is a reality. So we must conserve, and be smart, with our land use. Want to keep kids busy and creative? Get them involved in gardening! Teach them where food comes from, and have them learn to design/grow gardens! It's a very creative process and the kids LOVE it! I have a garden here and the schoolkids LOVE coming to see it, eat the veggies and see the bugs (no pesticides or poisons in mine), and to learn in a FUN way. "

Longviewteen wrote on May 8, 2008 11:44 AM:

" People need to remember if the city does build a park at the current site of the community gardens, the city is going to create a NEW community garden area somewhere off Pennsylvania St. Its not like we are going to lose this great program. "

Newcomer wrote on May 8, 2008 11:58 AM:

" sorry, I botched the email addy. it is: www.counterculture.org, and the article is by David Eriqat, and it's called `The End Of Civilization'. Serously, folks - it's not an end of the world, doom & gloom article. But it will offer many elightening thoughts about WHY things are happening as they are, and WHAT is coming our way. Knowledge is power - you can better prepare yourself for the future when you know the truth about it. Community gardens are an excellent part of the solution on a local level!
"

Grumpy Old People wrote on May 8, 2008 1:28 PM:

" This Joan person tryed to tell us what to do at the senior center. Causing all kinds of trouble. Now she is trying to tell us gardeners what to do. We dont want to be part of a garden club and want to be left alone. "

Refreshing wrote on May 8, 2008 1:32 PM:

" It is refreshing to read some intelligent comments looking beyond the reality inflation and the very real threat of depression. Without the recent Feds emergency rate cut combined with government bail outs of Bear Sterns in the US and Societe General in France, all the large banks would have fell over like dominos. Citibank, BofA all the big ones are ready to drop. Countrywide is basically bankrupt. And the United States itself is beyond bankruptcy. The dollar needs to continue to drop in value to correct the trade defict that have accrued for so many years. With only 2 percentage points of overnight lending rate cutting left, the fed is nearly out of bullets. The plan, like 911, is to spend our way out of this which would advance the trade deficit. If we hold the dollar up this time it is only a matter of time before it comes crashing down. The community garden is in a good location in my opinion and serves people of all ages and demographics. Surveys are worded to push an agenda. Had the 2007 survey actually asked the citizens if theyd like to replace the community gardens with a park and playground Im fairly certain they would have got a resounding no. "

Terrible wrote on May 8, 2008 1:41 PM:

" This is terrible that someone is making a profit at tax payer expense. "

ST wrote on May 8, 2008 2:04 PM:

" No one is making a profit at tax payer's expense. Everyone pays a fee for their plot and pays for their own plants, fertilizers, and plant food. What is the problem? The only tax payer's expense here is a little water and some city land, oh my goodness! "

To Refreshing wrote on May 8, 2008 2:09 PM:

" Absolutely spot on!! Our economy must correct itself, and as the citizens of this country, we must realize that only so much blame and so much fault belongs to our Govt. Our hyperconsumption, our greed for `more', for `bigger', for `best', is our burden to bear now. We must allow the dollar to fall, the markets to correct. It will hurt, it will make life less fun - but we will survive. Consume less, waste less, drive less and in smaller autos (our get around vehicle is a little '78 toyota truck - great mpg), and pitch in together to help eachother. Reducing our oil dependency is KEY to this country's survival. Local grown food, like this community garden, will be the wave of the future across the country. We are being *forced* to change, we have no choice anymore. NEW energy solutions will mean NEW jobs, MORE jobs - check out the Oregonian article on the German solar company setting up camp in Hillsboro - it will eventually have 2,000 jobs!! Think creatively, positively, tell our local leadership we want the same, and we CAN do it. This garden is a good start. "

rainier res wrote on May 8, 2008 2:19 PM:

" profit at the tax payers expense??? These people are out there producing LOCALLY GROWN vegetables for you to have the chance to buy. Oh, my goodness, they made $3000.00, better slap her with a fine for trying to get people to support the local area. You could do the same for crying out loud, but you probably prefer buying stuff grown in mexico or who knows where. "

Build It wrote on May 8, 2008 3:31 PM:

" Build it and they will come! A playground for children is needed. Not another place for a few grumpy adults to use. "

TO ST wrote on May 8, 2008 4:12 PM:

" You're a little misinformed there - the city maintains the land, mows the grass, tils the land, CLEANS THE DOG POO, cleans up the grass and mess that the homeowners around that area dump into the field. It is indeed a burden to the tax payers that few get to enjoy. And apparently make money off of! "

The community benefits wrote on May 8, 2008 4:51 PM:

" Locally grown produce is a benefit to the community, I think it's great some can make a little extra money in their retirement. They earn it. "

Great work wrote on May 8, 2008 5:00 PM:

" The article doesn't make clear who gets the $41 rental. I assumed it was the parks and recreation dept since they own the land. This community garden is a beautiful grassroots idea. The city is lucky to have a cluster of people interested in making the city a better place. Do not pave this fabulous spot over - and if you're foolish enough to do that, ensure the garden has a new home before you do. "

Its all about me wrote on May 8, 2008 5:54 PM:

" I like buying my vegetables with layer upon layer of chemicals upon them. Chemicals which are banned in the US but make it through cuz my veggies come from strange lands on the other side of the world. They are oh SO fresh and yummy. I can't understand this community garden thing...who needs to go to all that effort just for something grown here? I also have a dog who likes to crap a lot and a couple of kids who love to run around barefoot with it squishing tween their toes. Kicking out the garden would be awesome. My dog can crap, my kids can run through the squishy field and I still get my freshest of vegetables. What are those 2007 survey people thinking? "

The Garden is a Playground wrote on May 8, 2008 5:55 PM:

" The garden isn't for seniors only. In fact the garden can be a great playground for kids. While digging in the dirt and participating with their parents they will see that they can create their own miracle. They'll be amazed by watching a tiny tomato plant grow into a big and leafy bush and be rewarded for their efforts by tasting a sweet, juicy tomato right off the vine. In fact, they won't even realize they are learning a life-lesson at all.
Longview and Kelso have numerous playgrounds, but as far as I know this is the only community garden. "

Go Grow wrote on May 8, 2008 6:31 PM:

" As I see it scientifically this area of town has low or poor nutrients in the soil. There should be a program to fortify the soil nutrients by gazing cattle on the land after the garden season. The manure would be just what the gardens need. I just happen to have some healthy heifers that would do the job. Can someone tell me how to do this. I would fence the front of the land on 32nd and the rest of the property is fenced. Once the cattle have consumed the left over produce I would feed them. If allowed to leave the cattle there during the off season this would provide a great benefit to the soil and gardeners. "

love veggies wrote on May 8, 2008 7:38 PM:

" Keep the gardens! "

trucker wrote on May 8, 2008 10:32 PM:

" Do any of you posters know where your food comes from at this time of year, stuff like veggies, and fruit.? I doI used to haul the stuff. Arizona, California, Texas, South America, nothing local for a while yet. And the surcharge for fuel is going to hit all of you pockets like it or not.
We have parks now that are under used.
I see them as a waste also. "

Howie O wrote on May 8, 2008 10:36 PM:

" As a consultant I can tell you that neighborhood parks are placed throughout towns. To meet planning standards they are to be with in walking distance of all people. Just because longview has many parks and play areas, to meet quality of life issues, these must be with in walking distance of every home in the city. "

bluE wrote on May 8, 2008 10:54 PM:

" yeah do away with the only sustainable thing left in the county to put in grass? when we have a water AND food crisis, not to mention pollution and oil consumption? who cares what the so called majority of tv fed consumers want? i do not. its this same all american "majority" that consumes a sick majority of the worlds resources, and put in a play ground to encourage them to breed, and yeah you know its gonna be full of junkies and pedofiles in the restrooms in no time at all? "

bluE wrote on May 8, 2008 11:22 PM:

" you know here in europe there has been comunity gardens called allotments or colony gardens at least since 1732, we can even build little shacks on them, and some of them we can build actual homes on, seriously my in laws have an amazing cabin about ten minutes walk from a cozy beach, very green, rain water catchment system for the garden, the smell of exposed pine interior, two bedroom plus loft, vaulted ceilings, detached small workshop... they did pay dearly for it but still yet it these things are available for everyone, we are broke but we have a pretty nice plot too, 3apple,1plum,4cherrytrees, currant, rasberries 6 12ft rows of strawberries, a 3room pigeon shack with 2 doves, and a huge toolshack, we still have about 60 by 30 feet of garden space and we are purchasing a bunch of manholes to use as raised beds sometime this week, i know i am leaving a lot out, but if you do a bit of research you shall find that lonview has a long way to evolve and you folks need to get with it, being self sustaining is a rather valuable thing if you plan on surviving a depression. a park isnt gonna do a thing for the comunity, i say take up some of the parking lots and put in more gardens. wordcount 228. "

lazy parents wrote on May 9, 2008 10:01 AM:

" I just thought I'd add a comment, not about sustainability but about the parents of Cowlitz County. It seems to me that parents want to dump their kids off at a playground where they can just sit on the side and not interact with their children. Gardening would produce a relationship with their child while learning to do fun and interesting things. I think parents are just lazy, get involved with your child's life and see the amazing little people they can become. Dumping them in front of a tv or off at a playground doesn't really do anything for them, it just gets them out of your hair. Teach them something, spend time with them, and you both will be rewarded. Quit being LAZY! Thats what I think it is. "

ST wrote on May 9, 2008 12:01 PM:

" I am not miss informed, the cost of the plot is to cover those expenses. If I rent a house from you and run a business from it and make a profit, it is none of your business. Also, she only made $3,000 profit for a whole season. At dept of Rev rates, that would be $145 rev tax & $3 city tax, what's the problem here? What are you really out because these nice people grow nice clean wholesome veges for us. "

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