The community garden was an idea to help feed those most in need in the city of Newark.  Terry Mooney, community programs coordinator in Newark's community-development department, said the idea for a community garden started with Second Presbyterian Church looking for ways to combat hunger.   "They had a group that was concerned about hunger, and they thought growing things would be a way to feed people," Mooney said.    The idea is to set aside patches of land for community members to participate in growing vegetables that then could be donated to local food shelters and sold to keep the garden going. Not only is the activity beneficial in bringing the community together, but the end result likely is vegetables for people whose budget might not otherwise allow it

Denison students currently run a program during the summer called Garden of Hope.  The Garden of Hope currently partners with the Licking County Juvenile Court System and the Department of City Development in Newark. Helping Hands Garden of Hope is a restorative justice program for teenage girls who have been assigned community service hours by the Newark Court System.  The Garden program combines organic gardening with lesson plans that promote a positive and healthy lifestyle. 

In 2009, we additionally partnered as gardeners with SPARK and we hope other similar organizations,  New Beginnings, and the Main Place, will encourage their clients to garden as well. In addition, neighborhood homeowners have come forward to join in taking plots in the community area of the garden and we expect this community aspect to continue. We gather donations from local businesses to offset some of the costs of the program, but still require funding to maintain operations, since neighborhood gardeners and our agency partners do not have resources to commit. In addition, there is currently no other program in place that provides low-income residents with land, basic starter supplies, instruction, and support. In fact, our program is being evaluated for replication elsewhere in Newark.

The next meeting will be February 18, 2010 at 5:30 at the 2nd Presbyterian Church.

Contact:   Terrie Mooney  670-7539

 

Garden Map [jpg]

 Timeline for Community Garden Project [jpg]

 Meeting Minutes [pdf]