by Mary Wilson
Neighbors in one South Kansas City community are sharing
their love of gardening and homegrown nourishment through their collective
green thumbs.
Along undeveloped park land in the Terrace Lake Gardens
neighborhood, resident Eilene Myers had visions of a way to utilize the unused
space and bring neighbors together. The community garden has been established
as a way homeowners and residents of Terrace Lake can connect with others in
the association through planting.
“Last year, I wanted to do this project,” said Myers. “We
had the garden shed in one of the four parks that our association maintains,
and just ran out of time to get the garden going then.”
The association learned that, according to city ordinances,
the shed on the park ground could not be there unless it was adjacent to a home
or an established community garden.
“It was something we already wanted to do, so it worked out
really well,” said Myers. “I want it to be something that everyone can get
involved in, including renters and everyone who lives over here. I hope that it
fosters some ownership of the neighborhood and gets people out and talking to
one another.”
Myers, with funding help from the homeowner’s association
and a few committed gardeners, rented a truck and purchased the supplies,
including two full loads of dirt.
“All of these people came out to help,” said Myers.
“Wonderful people showed up with wheelbarrows and shovels, too. I’ve had other
people volunteer to come help water and weed throughout the season.”
Homeowners or residents of Terrace Lake Gardens can rent
space in the garden on an annual basis. They are then responsible for their plot,
tending to it for the season, then winterizing it and keeping it for the next
year or releasing the plot for another resident. The garden is still a work in
progress, and Myers hopes to expand the available plots as interest in the
community grows.
“If it wasn’t for Eilene, we wouldn’t have this,” said resident
and community garden volunteer John Dell. “She got the dirt here and unloaded
all the boards herself. We had community members out here hauling dirt and
helping build who aren’t planting, but just wanted to chip in and help.”
Myers said the response from neighbors in her community has
been positive. Any resident of Terrace Lake interested in becoming involved
with the community garden can contact Myers by emailing eilenemyers@hotmail.com.
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