Elm Creek Community Garden gears up for spring
The award-winning Elm Creek Community Garden (ECCG) will open for its eighth year this spring. To attribute its longevity to the Iola community is an understatement. KEAGLE, described by Carolyn as an “instant volunteer,” works part time at the garden to oversee its upkeep. She made metal sunflowers in the plots, has laid down brick walkways, painted all the fixtures in the garden, built small patios for picnic benches and painted and laid down a hopscotch set.
Since its inception, through a grass roots effort, the garden has doubled in size, with child-friendly activities, compost, two sheds, numerous shelters, benches, 16 water hydrants, handicap-accessible parking and garden plots, and a memorial garden added.
In 2005, an Allen Community College teacher wanted to start a community garden for his sociology class. The professor approached Carolyn McLean and her husband Val to start a garden in and empty field across the road from their home.
The piece of land, recently purchased by the McLeans, was cleared of trees and brush.
The professor moved to another job, leaving Val and Carolyn and other volunteers to carry on the garden. The McLeans visited other gardens across the region to gather ideas.
A board of directors was formed to help establish regulations and articles of association. The board eventually earned 501c(3) non-profit status from the Internal Revenue Service.
Val is the president, Tracy Keagle is the garden coordinator, Roberta Shirley is the vice president, and Gerry Uphoff is secretary/treasurer. All of them have been with the garden since its birth. Master Gardener John Richards also has been a huge asset.
“We are really lucky everyone has stayed around,” Carolyn said.
The garden offers people of all ages and income levels an opportunity to get involved. A plot typically costs $25, and includes everything from garden education, seeds, tools, water and the plot.
If the applicant earns less than the Kansas poverty rate he is eligible for a free plot in exchange for three hours of volunteer service. There are handicap accessible tools and small tools for young children.
There are a total of 122 plots and are assigned on a first-come-first-serve basis. About half of the plots have been claimed for 2013.
The garden season begins March 17, but gardeners can start planting later if they want.
“I have worked to make the garden more child friendly, so that kids have something to do instead of running through people’s gardens,” Keagle said.
Keagle’s husband built a birdhouse, which houses an electrical outlet. Keagle calls it the “condominium.”
Keagle’s creative gene has single-handedly turned the garden from a flat piece of land to a charming community garden with character, Carolyn said.
Also contributing to the garden’s attraction and success are the volunteers and donors Carolyn calls “Miracle Growers.”
“Don Diebolt has been like Santa Claus for this garden,” Carolyn said. Don Diebolt donated the first red shed, farmhouse, equipment and a lot more to the garden.
Many other businesses and organizations have donated as well. The garden has received four grants: two from the Healthcare Foundation of Greater Kansas City, one from Kansas University Inclusive Gardening Project, and one from the American Recovery Act.
Carolyn said they are always looking for more donations and volunteers. They are in the market for picnic tables and a chipper/shredder.
For more information and an application form, contact Carolyn at (620) 365-5577.
