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Lee Hedrick of Kelso picks beans with his wife at the community garden on 32nd Avenue in Longview. Daily News file photo

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Longview scoping out potential sites for expanding community garden program

Thursday, August 21, 2008 7:13 PM PDT

By Amy M.E. Fischer

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When Longview City Councilman Chuck Wallace recently noticed a long stretch of undeveloped city property near the Seventh Avenue soccer fields, it occurred to him that the land could have a better use than just another place to mow.

“It was growing grass when it could be growing vegetables,” he said, referring to the unpaved length of Fir Street in the 900 and 1000 blocks of Seventh, Eighth and Ninth avenues.

Wallace had been reading about Portland’s “Diggable City” project, which analyzed opportunities to use vacant public land for urban agriculture.

Maybe, he thought, the city of Longview could start a similar program encouraging residents to plant gardens around town, similar to the city’s popular community garden on 32nd Avenue, but smaller in scale.

“The hope is that maybe more people would want to take advantage of something like that if it’s offered in their neighborhood,” Wallace said Wednesday. “I just think it might be appropriate, considering it’s a trend that’s gaining more and more speed in cities across the nation.”

He pitched the idea to City Manager Bob Gregory, who instructed staff to look at city maps, inventory public property and identify what unused land might be suitable for gardening.

Last week, the council unanimously voted to explore the idea, asking Gregory to have the land inventory ready by the end of this year.

That’s only the first step, Gregory said Wednesday. Before the process moves too far along, the city needs to determine whether there’s a demand to create more gardening space beyond what’s at the community garden, he said.

The city rented out all 76 plots this year at the 32nd Avenue community garden for $41 each, and had to turn away 12 people, said Parks and Recreation Director Rich Bemm. The 3.5-acre parcel has room for 38 more plots, each one measuring 20 by 40 feet, and those extra plots will be tilled and available for rent next year, he said.

“I think this is the best turnout and caring for the garden I’ve seen in 21 years,” said Parks Superintendent Al George.

At its meeting Wednesday afternoon, the Community Garden Advisory Board said it would research how other small communities have set up and overseen neighborhood garden programs. Although they liked Wallace’s idea in theory, board members said they would need answers about how the project would work before they endorsed such an endeavor, especially given that they were still figuring out how to run the community garden smoothly.

“I think it would be interesting, but I think there’s a lot to be known,” said board member Joan LeMieux.

Gregory said many questions remain, such as how to provide water to urban garden plots. Then there’s the administration aspect of it, he said.

“Quite honestly, I think we’ll need some real volunteerism in the community to go forward and do this,” Gregory said. “If the city’s going to take that on with our existing staff, what other things are we not going to do?”

Related articles:

Council solidifies community garden's home  (June 28)

Community garden plots will thicken; just a handful remain available for rent  (May 8)

KelsoWA wrote on Aug 21, 2008 12:30 AM:

" Unfortunately it is illegal to harvest rainwater in the state of Washington or that would be an answer to how to water the community gardens. So much for going green in the greenest state in the Union. "

DADDYO45 wrote on Aug 21, 2008 2:42 AM:

" Good for you charlie. A good idea for the city. "

bluE wrote on Aug 21, 2008 5:50 AM:

" hats off to Chuck Wallace , this is the kind of positive input we need from our city officials.

whether the masses understand it or not, gardens are one of the many things that can act as sollutions to some of our worlds biggest problems.

various scattered gardens all over a community, in a growing zone such as the one we have in longview could provide for vital nutrients and staple foods in abundunce, this could by all means improve peoples quality of life, health and general well being in countless ways.... it is also ingenious, in fact comunity gardens are so smart that they have been incorporated into cities and towns for thousands of years.... only recently with the advent of monocrops have we began to stray from our food source, often times with disasterous effects..

this is a prime example of thinking global and acting local. again, I must say, hats off to Chuck Wallace.

I just dont know how to say how excited I am to read this article, maybe my home town has hope afterall. "

LVRez wrote on Aug 21, 2008 8:12 AM:

" This is a long time coming and the right thing to do...Longview needs to beautify and help it's community.

I would like to see Longview become a "Garden City". "

COE wrote on Aug 21, 2008 9:01 AM:

" Too bad Chuck gets the credit for ideas brought to the City Manager by others. Oh well. "

viper wrote on Aug 21, 2008 9:06 AM:

" considering how much unused property the city has at leaset it would be doing something with the property and for the people ! thats a great thing what an idea use city property for the people of the city ! wow what a change normally it's aganist the people who's tax dollars pay for it and it's upkeep I am inpressed use tax payer properety for the tax payers should get some good votes for someone .finally the city listens to the people : Viper "

Someone Who Cares wrote on Aug 21, 2008 9:33 AM:

" Yahoo. I would love for this area to be developed in this way. I live in the 900 block of 8th and know just off hand 7 couples who live in my immediate area that would participate if it was closer to where we lived. We all have children and it's too hard to pack everyone and everything up and go over to 32nd. I'm sure there are alot more people in our area that would participate if it was close by. It sure would help with the grocery bill with the way costs are. "

classic_mustang_chick wrote on Aug 21, 2008 9:59 AM:

" Sounds good especially with gas prices...I'd support that idea it would help the image of our community as a whole. "

rosy wrote on Aug 21, 2008 10:05 AM:

" Darlin, you may be Someone Who Cares, but you are by far not the ONLY one who cares. Coe, does it really really matter who's idea it was? Isn't the thing more about ACTING on the idea? And YO, CITY Council-is there any way to put some mini-plots up on the dike? I'm two houses away and it's miles of vacont land. If there's room for travel and mischief, how about some smaller plots for those of us less able to maintain a full size plot? Or those who live alone or those who aren't as nuts about veggies or don't have storage room? Or just scared to try? "

DADDYO45 wrote on Aug 21, 2008 11:54 AM:

" Well you could also dress up the downtown and city circle. Maybe with American flags? Longview was a city founded on small town values. A the community coming together for all the towns folks. With all the crops people will be growing, maybe this time next year a Harvest Feast? Get the council to bring in excerpts to the fest; share ideas about growing crops. O Anytime I get to eat is a good time to me.

Little FYI "KELSOWA" Not sure if they have started taxing rain water yet. If they do please contact me and will move out together. "

My Kids' Mom wrote on Aug 21, 2008 11:56 AM:

" Wow, now this is being "progressive". If all the garden plots are rented and turning people away, that's enough to prove the desireabliity of the public. I would love to see this move into the idea of community composting too. There are so many wonderful compostables that get sent to the landfill to decompose when we can use it to put it back into the soil. I knew there were more reasons to enjoy this county. On the topic of collecting rain water...I'm gonna have to look into that...seems so crazy for it to be illegal....wonder if Brian Baird had anything to do with that one. "

mole wrote on Aug 21, 2008 12:14 PM:

" AGAINST THE LAW TO HARVEST RAIN WATER?HOW STUPID!!!The hawaii islands,most all are on catchment system.Our gutters catch the rain,the down spouts collect and deposits rain in a holding tank.A pressure pump,forces the water to the house.NO WE DO NOT DRINK IT,but all other needs for water is taken care of,laundry, bathing,dishwasher etc.you treat the system just like a swimming pool.A cover over the tank is required,against mosquitos. the tanks can be 2000 gallons, all the way to 20,000 gallons.WITH WATER THE WAY IT IS LONGVIEW RESIDENTS COULD DO AWAY WITH THAT DEPENDENCY.there are water purification systems for home use,but I still drink water from purifiing stations[5gallon jugs on an office style water cooler]. "

Billy Hill wrote on Aug 21, 2008 12:22 PM:

" Why stop with gardens? Lets continue through the logic gate of the Progressive. Might as well get into chickens. Grow corn, harvest, feed the chickens. Have the homeless and Quest recipients tend the chickens, slaughter and feed themselves. This will help get them off the backs of the taxpayer. "

My Kids' Mom wrote on Aug 21, 2008 12:41 PM:

" Billy Hill, along those lines, if there has to be a "foodstamps" system don't you think that they should only be allowed to buy meat, produce, dairy products, flour, sugar, raw ingredients and basics like that? I think they should have to make there own bread. They've got the time, they could gain skills out of the process. That's what I call wellfare reform. No soda, boxed meals, convenience food, chips, crackers etc. Sorry for being off subject. "

LOUIE wrote on Aug 21, 2008 12:53 PM:

" I feel that the more community projects, like the gardens, that we can promote the more we will have a positive spirit of community...it is about time don't you think.
Illegal to harvest rainwater? that's a new one to me. "

tazer baby wrote on Aug 21, 2008 1:51 PM:

" How about the grassy area, within the fence, that borders the north end of the jail? "

gr8 ant wrote on Aug 21, 2008 2:59 PM:

" Well said "my kids' mom" !!!!!! "

Billy Hill wrote on Aug 21, 2008 3:46 PM:

" MkM, I most times use sarcasm in this forum as a form of therapy. Sophomoric? Probably. But a life time of experience has lead me to the sad fact that some of the most ludicrous of ideas make sense to many Progressives. You want gardens? Build gardens. And while you reminisce about your gardening please read a little of Roman history....like the last 100 years......we are repeating it almost verbatim. Sad. "

Louie wrote on Aug 21, 2008 5:41 PM:

" You know if we all planted a vegetable garden in our front or back yards we would not have to mow and we would have fresh food right out our doors. "

longviewtransplant wrote on Aug 21, 2008 8:30 PM:

" AWESOME! Reminds me of the Farm to Table events going on around town. I think the Metro had one (outrageously priced) and the Brits is having one in a week or so. Local produce and everything is locally grown. Meats, veggies - everything. The fresher the more nutritious it is. If we could encourage more people to garden through offering these spaces, even on a small scale, it will be a great health benefit to our area as well. Fresh fruit and vegetables are miles more healthy. I would only be concerned with those people who don't want any pesticides or fungicides on their crops, from overspray of others. But that could be minimal. I say go for it, get the red tape out of the way, and get some rainwater legalization initiatives going. "

DADDYO45 wrote on Aug 21, 2008 8:47 PM:

" Billy HIll, Yes gardens and since almost everyone that has posted is in favor of it. The tribe has spoken. There are two things that are great about this. First they want to put these gardens in lower income blocks. If people grow there own food they save money. Second its a good for people to meet the neighbors in the area. It might even happen that they want to help in it. The biggest thing I can see in this. It will save lower economic people MONEY MAN! Its all good. "

just living wrote on Aug 21, 2008 10:51 PM:

" My Kid's Mom, not everyone who is on food stamps are sitting at home doing nothing. Some of them actually work and put in 8+ hours a day. Companies around Longview and Kelso only pay 10-12 an hour and if your trying to feed yourself and maybe 2 kids, paying rent, and any other necessities like fuel that doesn't leave much for food. Stop being so judgemental, you obviously haven't had any problems in your lifetime. Who has the time to make bread, when it's cheaper to buy a loaf of bread. "

mole wrote on Aug 22, 2008 8:54 AM:

" some sarcasm is funny and needed,but yours is niether!!!! "

kelsograd wrote on Aug 22, 2008 10:36 AM:

" Community gardens are a very good idea. This would be a very good opportunity for placement of the leaves the city picks up every fall. They would breakdown overwinter and provide the mulch so neccesary for good growth (see "Ruth Stout's "No Work Garden" book). The social aspect would improve community life, as well. "

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