Exciting news! We got a "Letter to the Editor" published
in this week's Eugene Weekly. Here's the link... and below it, the
actual text of the letter.
STONE
SOUP GARDEN
We are pleased to see the coverage
EW has given in the last
two issues regarding local food security (“Give the homeless a garden?”
2/18, and “Food Security Action No Longer a Choice” 2/10). Here in
Monroe and Alpine we have created a solution that is helping people
learn about gardening, grow their own food and lift the burden on our
local food bank to provide for its ever increasing customers. We call
it a “Sharing Garden.”
What makes these ‘sharing’ gardens unique
is that
, instead
of
many separate plots that are rented by individuals, these
gardens are
one large plot, shared by all. All materials and
labor are donated. The food we grow is shared amongst those who have
contributed in some way as well as others who are in need in our community.
All surplus is donated to our local food bank. No one is ever charged
money for the food that is grown.
We like to think of it as a “Stone Soup” garden where each of us donates
a little of our surplus — whether in time or materials — to grow both
a sense of community, and plenty of food to share. This model is easily
replicated anywhere there are vacant lots and people with enough gardening
experience to oversee the project and does not require a large input
of money to make it work.
Alpine has been host to this unique type of community garden for a
year (and is heading into its second). Monroe is starting its first
plot this spring. For more info about our project:
www.thesharinggardens.blogspot.com
Llyn Peabody and Chris Burns, Garden Coordinators
