LEAF Grows Through Community Gardening Initiative
After receiving enthusiastic support from Mayor Ed FitzGerald, the Lakewood Earth & Food (LEAF) Community has officially broken ground at plots in Cove, Kauffman, Madison, and Webb Parks, as well as the Plover Garden in Bird Town, for its 2008 community gardening initiative. LEAF is a group dedicated to the development of a more sustainable, healthful and economically viable community through environmentally responsible actions producing broad access to the purchasing, growing and trading of fresh, local foods, knowledge and culture. Specifically, LEAF focuses on four initiatives: community supported agriculture (CSA), community gardening, earth building and bulk buying.
LEAF is currently involved with the following: holding its weekly summer community festival (LEAF Night) with local foods, art, and music; providing access to CSA through both the City Fresh and Covered Bridge Garden programs; community gardening at many local plots; bulk buying opportunities; a barter table for homemade goods and excess produce; and a Fall Harvest Festival. LEAF Nights are Thursday evenings from 5:30-8:00 p.m. on the front porch of the Lakewood Public Library, Main Branch. These nights serve as distribution centers for City Fresh and Covered Bridge Gardens CSA Programs as well as providing access to guest vendors and local art and music.
Recently LEAF has made particular progress on its community gardening initiative, with exponential growth in plot availability throughout the community. Beginning last year with six plots in the Plover Garden, LEAF has expanded its efforts in community gardening to more than 130 plots across Lakewood.
Aside from providing apartment and condo dwellers with green space and room to garden, community gardens have been shown to raise nearby property values, lower crime rates in adjacent areas and provide hours of enjoyment to those who work in the gardens. These garden plots provide physical activity, camaraderie with neighbors, stress relief and contribute to overall wellness. Gardening is a great platform for intergenerational bonding, provides a wholesome and fun activity for families, teaches children where food comes from and improves the nutrition of participants. Growing vegetables in community gardens can also help offset rising food prices and bring the community together in the process.
If you’d like to join one of the community gardens, plots are still available on a first come, first served basis. For more information, visit www.leafcommunity.org or e-mail leafcommunity@gmail.com.
August/September 2008 Contents