It’s time for community gardens to again take root across Richland County.
Found in many countries of the world, in American community gardens vary in shape, size, and function, but are similar in a goal of bridging the gap between people and nature is central to their creation. These gardens weaken the divide between nature and culture, city and country, and producer and consumer.
The largest community garden in the nation is reported to be Shiloh Field Community Garden in Denton, Texas, measuring 14.5 acres in size.
A list found on the website of NECIC (North End Community Improvement Collaborative) indicates that there are 26 community gardens in Richland County, 21 of which are in Mansfield. Nine of these are in the North End of Mansfield. These and others are supported by NECIC through offering needed materials such as seeds, plants, buckets, and funding to create and/or sustain community gardens, according to the site.
NECIC also connects volunteers with local gardens – if interested, call 419.525.3101.
The city of Shelby administers the largest community gardens in Richland County, Ohio, with over 56,000 square feet of gardening space dedicated for residents and community organizations. The city just issued a notice to registered gardeners that plots are ready for planting; please call the City of Shelby Utility Office at 419.342.4085 between 8 and 4:30 PM.
Sources: Wikipedia, City of Shelby, NECIC
