Community garden open for business
Published on Wed, May 20, 2009 by Carmell EmoryRead More Local News
In mid-April Bethlehem Lutheran Church and the City of Marysville opened the gates to the new Wilcox Farm Community Garden. The garden is located at 9212-67th Ave. NE in Marysville, next to Kellogg Marsh Elementary School and the city-owned Doleshel Tree Farm.
The one-acre piece of land now holds 68 individual garden plots, each 10-feet square, that can be planted with the grower's choice for an annual donation of $30 to Bethlehem Lutheran Church.
John Natterstad, a member of the church's property and grounds committee, explained that the plots are to be maintained by the users. "You can do whatever you want with them--it's yours to decide! Some have planted fruits and vegetables and some have even planted plants that prevent pests and insects in the garden," he said.
Natterstad encourages growers with surplus fruits and vegetables to donate the produce to the Marysville Community Food Bank.
Bethlehem Lutheran Church acquired the 15-acre parcel of land that includes the garden after Bly Wilcox, a church member, left the property to the church in his will. It was Wilcox's dream to have a school on the property one day, which is in the planning stages. While the idea to build a school is a long-range goal, Bethlehem Lutheran felt the acreage could be used to benefit the entire community immediately, so for the past several years, the church has been preparing an acre of the land for public use.
While the local church was organizing and prepping the Wilcox land, the City of Marysville was looking into different locations that would be appropriate for a community garden. The Doleshel Tree Farm, next to the Wilcox land, was considered a possible option for the garden. However, the City recognized that the Wilcox land was ready for immediate use and had easier access for vehicles, so leaders entered into a partnership with Bethlehem Lutheran to help promote the community garden and the Healthy Communities project.
The goal of the Healthy Communities project is to provide healthy lifestyle choices that are promoted through healthy eating, staying active and providing the community with educational tools that will help guide them toward a healthy standard of living. The community garden idea ties in perfectly with the project goals.
On June 6 from 1 to 7 p.m., the Healthy Communities committee will host a Challenge Day. Ciscoe from KING 5 TV's "Gardening with Ciscoe" will be at the Wilcox Community Garden to promote the idea of growing your own vegetables. There will also be "how-to" seminars on gardening, and plant and garden giveaways.
If there is enough community interest, the Wilcox Farm Community Garden has room to expand. For the remainder of the Wilcox property, Bethlehem Lutheran will honor their donor's wishes and build a school.
"The cost of building a school is estimated at $21 million," said Natterstad. "We haven't decided what kind of school we'll build yet, but we believe that there is already learning going on out at the Wilcox Farm Community Garden. We are also learning about what it takes to do this project, what resources we have and what demand this project is going to take."
In fact, the church is really using all of the 15 acres to its benefit. On the back 10 acres where the school will eventually be built, 40 sheep graze on the lush grass of the property. Now that spring is here, most of the sheep are new mothers, tending to their newborn lambs.
Susan Carlson, the owner of the sheep, was looking for a large piece of land for her sheep and came across the church's property. Carlson uses the sheep's milk to make cheese and when she sells the sheep, she pays the church for housing her animals.
The church's goal of expanding and teaching community members has not stopped at the 15 acres. Wilcox also left the church ten more acres east of the property that includes a portion of Allen Creek. Bethlehem Lutheran has been in contact with local conservation and water management districts to ensure the stream remains clean.
"Later down the road we will have students from Edmonds Community College come and look at the stream for educational research purposes," said Natterstad.
For now, Natterstad and other church members will slowly try to create the vision that Bly Wilcox had for his land. The partnership with the City of Marysville has been a great way to incorporate Wilcox's dream of learning, as well as promoting a healthy community.
There are currently 66 plots available for local gardeners. The garden is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days a week.
To start the journey of growth on your very own garden plot, contact the Bethlehem Lutheran Church at (360) 659-2022, e-mail office@bethlehamlutheranchurch.com, or call Marysville City Hall at (360) 363-8086.
The one-acre piece of land now holds 68 individual garden plots, each 10-feet square, that can be planted with the grower's choice for an annual donation of $30 to Bethlehem Lutheran Church.
John Natterstad, a member of the church's property and grounds committee, explained that the plots are to be maintained by the users. "You can do whatever you want with them--it's yours to decide! Some have planted fruits and vegetables and some have even planted plants that prevent pests and insects in the garden," he said.
Natterstad encourages growers with surplus fruits and vegetables to donate the produce to the Marysville Community Food Bank.
Bethlehem Lutheran Church acquired the 15-acre parcel of land that includes the garden after Bly Wilcox, a church member, left the property to the church in his will. It was Wilcox's dream to have a school on the property one day, which is in the planning stages. While the idea to build a school is a long-range goal, Bethlehem Lutheran felt the acreage could be used to benefit the entire community immediately, so for the past several years, the church has been preparing an acre of the land for public use.
While the local church was organizing and prepping the Wilcox land, the City of Marysville was looking into different locations that would be appropriate for a community garden. The Doleshel Tree Farm, next to the Wilcox land, was considered a possible option for the garden. However, the City recognized that the Wilcox land was ready for immediate use and had easier access for vehicles, so leaders entered into a partnership with Bethlehem Lutheran to help promote the community garden and the Healthy Communities project.
The goal of the Healthy Communities project is to provide healthy lifestyle choices that are promoted through healthy eating, staying active and providing the community with educational tools that will help guide them toward a healthy standard of living. The community garden idea ties in perfectly with the project goals.
On June 6 from 1 to 7 p.m., the Healthy Communities committee will host a Challenge Day. Ciscoe from KING 5 TV's "Gardening with Ciscoe" will be at the Wilcox Community Garden to promote the idea of growing your own vegetables. There will also be "how-to" seminars on gardening, and plant and garden giveaways.
If there is enough community interest, the Wilcox Farm Community Garden has room to expand. For the remainder of the Wilcox property, Bethlehem Lutheran will honor their donor's wishes and build a school.
"The cost of building a school is estimated at $21 million," said Natterstad. "We haven't decided what kind of school we'll build yet, but we believe that there is already learning going on out at the Wilcox Farm Community Garden. We are also learning about what it takes to do this project, what resources we have and what demand this project is going to take."
In fact, the church is really using all of the 15 acres to its benefit. On the back 10 acres where the school will eventually be built, 40 sheep graze on the lush grass of the property. Now that spring is here, most of the sheep are new mothers, tending to their newborn lambs.
Susan Carlson, the owner of the sheep, was looking for a large piece of land for her sheep and came across the church's property. Carlson uses the sheep's milk to make cheese and when she sells the sheep, she pays the church for housing her animals.
The church's goal of expanding and teaching community members has not stopped at the 15 acres. Wilcox also left the church ten more acres east of the property that includes a portion of Allen Creek. Bethlehem Lutheran has been in contact with local conservation and water management districts to ensure the stream remains clean.
"Later down the road we will have students from Edmonds Community College come and look at the stream for educational research purposes," said Natterstad.
For now, Natterstad and other church members will slowly try to create the vision that Bly Wilcox had for his land. The partnership with the City of Marysville has been a great way to incorporate Wilcox's dream of learning, as well as promoting a healthy community.
There are currently 66 plots available for local gardeners. The garden is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days a week.
To start the journey of growth on your very own garden plot, contact the Bethlehem Lutheran Church at (360) 659-2022, e-mail office@bethlehamlutheranchurch.com, or call Marysville City Hall at (360) 363-8086.
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