[Community_garden] The Phoenix: Community pressure on St. John's garden pays off

[Alliums]

Hi, Folks!

 

Great op-ed by Brain McCarthy of The Phoenix:

 

Dorene Pasekoff, Coordinator

St. John's United Church of Christ Organic Community Garden and Labyrinth

 

A mission of 

St. John's United Church of Christ, 315 Gay Street, Phoenixville, PA  19460

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Thursday, February 28, 2008 



 

 


Community pressure on St. John's garden pays off 


 

beyond the wall by brian mccarthy

Perhaps it was the outpouring of community support. It could have been the
series of informal meetings that borough council officials held with members
of the Housing Authority of Chester County.

Or maybe it was just those snazzy tomato stickers.

In any case, St. John's United Church of Christ Organic Community Garden
will remain on its .84 acre site (which is HACC property) while low-income
family housing is constructed in the area. Garden members including
coordinator Dorene Pasekoff and St. John's U.C.C. Pastor Linda Gruber, as
well as community supporters including borough councilman Mike Speck,
D-East, were hopeful before the meeting that the HACC board of directors
would decide to extend the garden's property lease. This objective was the
focus of Gruber's proposal to the board during its meeting in December.

Even though that didn't happen, board President Donald J.L. Coppedge said
that the garden would remain in one of two ways: it could either receive a
long-term lease or purchase its parcel from the HACC to own itself.

All in all the board's announcement seemed like a reason to celebrate for
all involved. Patrick Bokovitz of the HACC's board of directors commented
that the Fairview housing development would be done "through the borough
planning process," a definite plus since many people have remarked in the
past that it's seemed as if the HACC has attempted to circumvent the borough
council and planning commission in its efforts to develop plans for the
Fairview project.

The HACC board had kind words for the garden. Many residents of King Terrace
(where the board meeting was held) applauded the HACC's efforts to provide
affordable housing to those in need. Hugs were shared between Coppedge and
Gruber, future meetings were promised between HACC, St. John's U.C.C. and
borough officials including borough council Vice President Richard Mark
Kirkner, D-Middle. You could hear the collective sigh of relief from the
community gardeners and supporters once the discussion ended. The positive
energy was so palpable, Coppedge joked "I wish we had some grape juice!"

Yeah, I didn't get it either.

Not only does the compromise allowing the garden to remain mean that local
non-profits including PACS will continue to receive fresh produce generously
donated by the members of the garden (PACS executive director Carol Berger
has said the gardeners give much more than the standard Biblical tithe of
ten percent). It also provides a pleasant footnote to the latest honor
bestowed upon the garden.

Last week, the garden and Pasekoff were awarded a "Seeds of Encouragement"
grant by the Community Gardens As Appleseeds Foundation of Los Gatos, Calif.
The $50 grant, which Pasekoff says will be used to take some of the
gardeners to the Philadelphia Flower Shower next week and possibly be used
to purchase a birdbath, was given to the garden for Pasekoff's advice on the
American Community Gardening Association's Listserv. The listserv is a
professional society in which community gardens across the United States and
Canada offer tips and advice to each other. The listserv can be visited at
www.communitygarden.org/connect/listserv.php.

But there may have been a couple of sour grapes used in this juice. Of
primary concern is the garden's community labyrinth, which according to the
HACC's statement read during Tuesday's meeting will "likely not be included"
in the compromise. Dug by volunteers in 2005, the meditative labyrinth is
open throughout the year and is worked on by many volunteer groups for days
of service.

 

To me, the labyrinth and garden go hand in hand. Both, not just the garden,
are extremely beneficial to the community. The labyrinth's fate isn't set in
stone, however, and Gruber has said she will continue to work with HACC to
include the labyrinth in future plans for the site.

Another sour grape is the housing project itself. The HACC and the United
States Department of Housing and Urban Development have not been very
forthcoming with plans for the project, and we still don't know much if
anything about what is definite in regards to the plan. This is not just a
sentiment of my own, but one shared by multiple people involved with the
garden and borough government.

The lack of communication between the borough, HACC and HUD reached the
point where at a resident's request U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak, D-7th, sent a
letter to HUD requesting details on the plan.

HUD mailed a response to Sestak on February 10; Sestak mailed his request on
December 19. HUD's response stated among other points that previously
released sketches were "concept plans" and subject to change. It also
responded to Sestak's letter by separating the project into two "phases,"
with phase one including the construction of 10 new townhouses and a new
road extending to Fairview Street. Phase two would include 16 additional
townhouses. However, HACC has not submitted this development proposal to
HUD, and HUD states that the proposed "phase two" development is still in
the "planning stages."

Hmm. In additional to these "clarifications," borough figures including
Kirkner and Main Street Community Development Corporation Executive Director
Barry Cassidy have said that there is no need for additional public housing
on the north side. And while these housing projects will be underway,
currently 16 of 20 public housing units on Fairview are vacant, which both
Mayor Leo Scoda and Kirkner have stated after speaking with Phoenixville
Police Department personnel. HACC Executive Director Tonya K. Mitchell
Weston has previously said there is a long waiting list and that this is due
to a thorough screening process.

A lot of questions remain. But I'm hopeful these will all be addressed in
future meetings between the borough, HACC and garden representatives.

And in the end, the most important thing is that the garden will remain, so
for the immediate future it's best not to dwell on these for too long.
Congratulations to Gruber, Pasekoff and the rest of the gardeners for being
able to continue their tremendous efforts to feeding the needy members of
our community.

To email Brian about his column, contact him at
bmccarthy at phoenixvillenews.com.

 

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