Flourish Magazine

A n increasing number of people are gravitating toward a calming, beneficial and fun leisure activity that has seen considerable growth in recent years — community gardening. Marin County residents are no different, and community gar- dens have become all the rage across the region. The gardens – which feature individually rented plots of fertile land where people grow fruits and vegetables and a variety of plants and flowers – have been around for decades, but their appeal has recently grown by leaps and bounds. According to a report by the UC-Berkeley Extension, there were 86 community gardens in Marin County, with more than 200 people on waiting lists for plots. The report stated that 60 of the gardens were on school grounds and that 60-80 percent of people use them as a supplemental food source. "We have such diverse microclimates here that people can't necessarily grow vegetables where their house is, but they're really interested in growing their own food," said Karen Hamblett, a Marin Master Gardener who founded the San Geronimo Valley Community Garden. The communal nature of a community garden and getting to know others interested in gardening are also draws, according to local organizers. "For gardeners, it means a lot to them to have a place where they can share gardening experiences," said Joan Irwin, a Marin Master Gardener who has been a member of the Mill Valley Community Garden for approximately eight years. "It's one of the most popular leisure-time activities in the United States. It's a wonderful experience for families with kids." "For me, it's been a great experience," said Melanie Peratis, a coordinator at the Fairfax Community Garden."It's a great way to connect with people, and I've found what's great at a community garden through the years is that you're sharing information. You're saying, 'This is what I did with these plants last year at this time and used this technique, and it really worked.' The ultimate for me is growing my own veggies and seeing my kids eating them. That totally rocks. The place is like a sanctuary, and it's a very nurturing environment," Peratis said. Despite their popularity, local groups have found creating and building new gardens to be a daunting task. In addition to sixfigure start-up costs, groups interested in establishing new gardens must also find land, coordinate the sharing of the cost of water and, sometimes, face opposition from local government and other citizens. "It's difficult politically to get gardens outside schools," Hamblett said. "It's easier to make a case for educating kids about gardening, and it's easier to get sponsorship and to get everyone on board. There are always a few community members who are very vocal against something, whether it's logical or not." The Canal Community Garden celebrated its grand opening on March 30, but a Corte Madera project has been unable to garner Gardeners Kathy Armbruster and Pam O'Connell discuss plans. SUMMER 2013 • FLOURISH 23

• Cover