Councilman gives Oak Park residents free gardens

2012-03-14T05:16:31Z

WayFresh, one of five programs in City Councilman Jay Schenirer's WayUp Sacramento initiative, is accepting applications through March 30 for free community and backyard gardens in the Oak Park area.

Created last year, the WayUp Sacramento initiative strives to create healthier and happier neighborhoods with the use of five programs: WaySmart, WayFit, WayHome, WaytoWork and WayFresh.

The focus of WayFresh is to build gardens throughout disadvantaged neighborhoods in the Sacramento area with the help of garden experts. These experts provide technical guidance and lead the garden development.

Last May, the WayFresh program built 10 backyard gardens as a test run to see how sustainable and productive the gardens would be. Now, with the program open to applications, and approximately $40,000 to $50,000 in funds, the WayFresh program has a goal of building at least 20 backyard gardens and five to 10 larger community gardens.

"It's a win-win-win situation because the families get to learn and teach their children where their food comes from, they get low-cost, healthy food and it cleans up vacant lots." Schenirer said.

There is no limit to how many applications will be accepted because WayFresh will build as many gardens as funding permits. Everyone is eligible to apply, but residents of Oak Park will be given priority, followed by residents under the councilman's district, and then Sacramento.

With grocery stores not easily accessible to Oak Park residents, these gardens will provide a much-needed source of food and the beginnings of a healthy lifestyle, Chief of Staff to Councilman Schenirer Joseph Devlin explained.

"Oak Park is a food desert." Devlin said.

Devlin also said that WayFresh plans to build four community gardens in the next few months, just in time for summer.

The first one will be built in April on a vacant lot in Oak Park on Broadway. The garden will be 11,600 square feet in size. The other three garden locations will be Colonial Heights Library, a high school and one more private lot.

According to the designer and manager of the garden, Oak Park resident Jennifer Solis, it will be a mixed use garden. There will be a children's garden, a learning garden, scented garden, rose and edible flower garden, a barbeque hangout area and a deck for community meetings. There will also be handicap-accessible raised plots. Seeds of all kinds will be available, as well as tools to use in the garden itself.

"My mom has grown a garden my whole life, and I share that interest," Solis said. "I've been looking at this plot for 15 years, and I've always wanted to do something with it. So, I made a vision board and one of my neighbors saw it, who knew the neighbor next door to the vacant plot (we will now be building the garden on). It's all coming together."

After the garden is built, a garden expert will visit the garden on a monthly basis to assess its growth, teach a gardening class, and talk with residents. WayFresh also provides tools that have been donated, to promote and maintain success for resident gardeners.

The process to apply is simple.

Applicants may upload video no longer than one minute, or photo with a message to WayUp Sacramento's Facebook wall at www.facebook.com/wayupsacramento . If you do not have a Facebook profile, you can send a letter or your video to Program Assistant Emily Barry at ebarry@cityofsacramento.org.

In the letter, video or picture, state the name of your neighborhood and tell why you, your school or neighborhood need a garden. Specify whether you are interested in a backyard garden or a community garden and whether you have a confirmed site or just one in mind.

Be sure you answer the following questions, "Why should WayUp Sacramento fund your garden? What would this garden mean to you?" Lastly, be sure to state your name, email and phone number.

According to Schenirer, the criteria for acceptance focuses on the need for the garden and that people have the capacity to sustain the work.

Schenirer said that Oak Park is the starting point, and with its success, he plans to reach out farther into his district, one community at a time.

For more information visit the WayUp Sacramento website by clicking here.

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Councilman gives Oak Park residents free gardens