By Kevin Crater
The NewsOutlet
Some people who had problems getting fresh food, found a solution — grow it.
Let’s Grow Akron Inc. is a nonprofit group that has taken vacant land in the city and turned it into community gardens.
”We have about 17 gardens,” Elaine Evans, director of LGA, said. ”Already, we have plans for three more this year.”
Of those gardens, the most popular is on Copley Road at the John Brown House, site of a museum dedicated to the abolitionist. Gardeners at the site say it’s popular because of its location and the number of residents in the area.
Officials at the Summit County Historical Society contacted Evans about establishing a garden at the site.
”They asked me if I was interested,” she said. ”I said I will only do it if we can garden with the folks over in the [Saferstein] towers.”
They agreed.
”I thought it would be great to have some young adults and children in this garden because those [the senior citizen residents of the towers] have very little company and companionship. We recruited some young adults with children and now it’s an intergenerational program.”
The garden has 17 plots. LGA tills the land, erects fencing and supplies the seeds. The city provides the water.
”We connect to the fire hydrant on the street,” said Evans.
The upkeep on the garden is the responsibility of 17
community gardeners, one of whom is Lisa Nunn.
”Our garden is the best. It’s on a historical landmark and that makes it unique,” Nunn said.
Nunn plants, weeds her plot, waters her plants and helps others with their plots. She said the results are worth the responsibilities.
”It’s a spiritual experience,” she said. ”You have the sunshine, the interaction with the gardeners, and I am just always in awe of nature.”
While Nunn has planted vegetables and herbs in the plot she uses to feed her family and share with others, gardener Marguerite White has planted cabbage, peppers, cucumbers, squash and is experimenting with asparagus.
”I use some of the vegetables and give some to the members of my church,” said White.
Evans said the garden does more than supply a struggling community with fresh food.
”Outside of the vegetables, folks intermingle with all ages and friendships develop,” she said. ”The folks at the senior towers were so grateful for this; it brings them hope.”
The John Brown House garden, which is 6 years old, has expanded every year, except this year.
”We keep enlarging it, but we can’t enlarge it anymore,” Evans said. ”There are black walnut trees there and they destroy tomato plants.”
The garden may have reached its limit, but the trend for gardening hasn’t.
”People have gone crazy here in Akron for gardening,” Evans said. ”There are 17 gardens. How many lives does that affect, I don’t know.”
Nunn said the garden’s influence on the community is apparent.
”It’s a peaceful place to go and it does a lot,” Nunn said. ”There’s intergenerational interaction, cultural interaction, education for others, and people just really enjoy the space.”
It is free to join an LGA garden, and no application is required.
”Call us, we’ll find you a lot,” Evans said.
For more information, visit http://www.letsgrowakron.com or call 330-745-9700.
The NewsOutlet is a joint media venture by student and professional journalists and is a collaboration of Youngstown State University, Kent State and the University of Akron, the Akron Beacon Journal, the Canton Repository, Rubber City Radio, WYSU radio and the Youngstown Vindicator.