neighborhood leaf honors community gardens
October 19, 2010
OMAHA – They’re scattered throughout the city. They bring neighbors together to work, share experiences and exercise. They’re helping create a healthier Omaha, one plot at a time.
They are Omaha’s community gardens, and Omaha by Design is recognizing their important contributions to neighborhood life with its 2010 Neighborhood Leaf. The annual award honors an individual, organization or business that has worked to preserve and enhance the metropolitan area’s residential neighborhoods.
The Douglas County Health Department defines a community garden as a piece of land shared by friends and neighbors for growing produce and flowers and providing opportunities for positive social interactions, recreation and education. As of the last count, 47 community gardens are registered with the department. They are as diverse as they are plentiful.
At the Christ Child North Garden, 2111 Emmet St., the “Sassy Seniors” maintain the garden and harvest the produce. Programming is offered from May through August. The Lutheran Family Services/Benson Apartments Garden, 5128 Northwest Radial Highway, provides an opportunity for refugee tenants to return to their agricultural roots and grow fresh produce that is a staple part of their diets. At the Gifford Park Teen Market Garden, 3028 Cottage Grove Ave., youth ages 10 to 18 garden intensely and explore entrepreneurial possibilities under the direction of adult mentors.
“A community garden is the perfect connection,” said Mary Balluff, chief of community health and nutrition services with the Douglas County Health Department. “It links neighbors to neighbors and people to healthy food and places to be physically active.”
The health department maintains a community gardens web site at http://www.douglascounty-ne.gov/gardens/community-garden-info that offers information on how to start a garden, how to get kids involved, how to donate produce and more. One link provides users with access to produce information cards – everything from arugula to zucchini – that contain information on storing, preparing and serving the item as well as a recipe for its use.
The department also hosts networking meetings that allow gardeners to share information, problem solve and connect with others who have similar interests. The next networking meeting is set for Tuesday, Oct. 26, at 4:00pm at The Omaha Home for Boys.
Past recipients of Omaha by Design’s Neighborhood Leaf are the Rev. Stephanie Ahlschwede, the Community Bicycle Shop of Omaha and the Deer Park and Old Market South neighborhood associations, Bill Seidler Jr. and Syl Orsi.
For more information about Omaha by Design’s awards program, call 402.554.4010 or email info@omahabydesign.org.