Cordata Community Gardens

Bob Sanders, retired from the Chicago Tribune, had careers in journalism and public relations before retiring to the Pacific Northwest. A graduate of Ohio University, he also worked for Field Enterprises (Chicago Sun-Times/Daily News), Public Television, Playboy and TV Guide plus other newspapers. His weekly blog, Sidebars, may be found at http://whatcom.blogs.com/sidebars. Sanders is author of “Media Rare,” an unpublished accounting of experiences with A and B List celebrities.

If there was any doubt about the mounting popularity of community gardens in this country, that doubt was removed by the recent creation of the White House kitchen garden. Unquestionably the most visible community garden as America seeks ways of dealing with the increasingly serious economic slowdown, the Presidential garden is but one of an estimated 5,000 community gardens, and the number is growing at an exponential pace.

Confronted by such realities of life as Wall Street ineptitude and worse, climate change, and diminished worldwide economics offering challenges never seen before, increasing numbers of people have begun to realize the need for good, quality food that is locally grown. Many, even in the challenging soil of Bellingham, have replaced part of their lawns with vegetable gardens.

Those of sufficient memory will recall Victory Gardens, one of many symbols of World War II patriotism. Planted in backyards, empty lots and on rooftops, Victory Gardens numbered 20 million as Americans took pride in doing their home front best. The World War II attitude was, perhaps, best summed up that era’s song: “We Did It Before and We Can Do It, Again.”

This many years later, ground was broken earlier this month for Bellingham’s fourth community garden and the city’s first on the north side when the Cordata Community Gardens became a reality. Of particular significance is a sign whose message tells much about the garden and its goals: “Building community spirit, while learning together and growing good quality organic food.” The slogan was created by Dee and Ben Andrews, coordinators for the gardens project.

The three other community gardens in Bellingham are located in Happy Valley (between 32nd and Taylor Avenue), Fairhaven (10th and Wilson Avenue) and Lakeway (Lakeway Drive and Woburn Street).

Situated north and east of the northern most extension of Cordata Parkway, the Cordata Community Gardens land was made possible at no cost by developer Ted Mischaikov and his group who had purchased the acreage from D.R. Horton Company. Horton, after developing much of the first of two tracts, sold the project last fall.

Inspiration to move quickly in developing Cordata Community Gardens came with word of a grant being offered by Community First! Gardens. Julie Guy, then president of the Guide Meridian/Cordata Neighborhood Association (GM/CNA), heard about the $5,000 grant provided through Washington State University Extension and funded by The Mary Redman Foundation. Guy, co-founder of GM/CNA, called a meeting of those interested and 22 Cordatans showed up. That was last September.

Among those who stepped forward in a big way were Dee and Ben Andrews who live in Heronwood. A couple of Texans who arrived here two years ago by way of five years in Colorado, the Andrews created a slogan: “Building community spirit, while learning together and growing good quality organic food.”

Gregarious and wise in the ways of gardening, construction and management, the Andrews feel the slogan very appropriate since one of the main objectives of the neighborhood association, in addition to providing fresh, locally grown food, is to create another opportunity for people to come together and work together in a spirit of harmony, with the same or similar objectives.

Sub-committees were formed: Design & Construction, Bill Smith and Ben Andrews; Fund Raising, Julie Guy; Enrollment, Dee Andrews and Pat Adams; Grant Writing, Dee Andrews and Judy Van Woudenberg; Events, Adrienne Lederer and Bev Jacobs; Graphic Design, Caroline Yaude. A temporary office was set up in the Andrews home for coordinating the work and maintaining files.

By mid-January, several gardeners had already been enrolled, procedures established, business forms created, materials estimates obtained and land leased. Many local businesses and organizations had also pledged their financial assistance to the effort. Recognizing the need for water, Mischaikov installed a 580-foot underground watering pipeline.

Since the awarding of the $5,000 grant, $2,500 has been provided by the city through a Small & Simple Grant given through the Healthy Neighborhood Initiative. Mirroring financial problems affecting all municipalities, Bellingham was able to make Small & Simple Grants of but $17,000, about half of that awarded in 2008. Bring into play this year’s 36 applicants whose dreams were concentrated on an anticipated $56,000 total and the disappointment that characterized this year’s competition becomes apparent.

The garden will serve 50 families in the Cordata neighborhood, plus three beds that have been set aside at no cost: one for the Sustainability Club at Whatcom Community College, another for the Flying Colors of Rebound–Whatcom County, and one for disabled gardeners, courtesy of the Cordata Community Food Co-op. The other gardeners have paid a $35 annual fee to provide for water, other supplies and general maintenance of the garden site.

The garden, designed by Ben Andrews, with drafting assistance from Eric and Sarah Pree, consists of four-foot x16-foot raised beds, 12 inches deep, with five-foot walkways between each bed. In addition, there will be 10 blueberry bushes donated by the Food Co-op and individual Co-op employees, and coordinated by Chris Elder, a Co-op employee.

A focal point at the gardens is an 18 x 12 foot tool shed provided by Dawson Construction and delivered by Birch Equipment. Many other local and national businesses and organizations have become involved — some early on, some later.

John Deere Landscaping made materials for the water system while Walmart donated soil and gardening tools. Northwest Chipping and Grinding came up with compost for the beds and chips for the walkways. A garden Web site is being created by Daniel Noonan. All of the assistance was at low or no cost to the garden project.

A key factor has been the hundreds of volunteer hours necessary to bring the gardens to an early May planting, whose date is understandably dependent upon the weather. An open house ceremony, in which the mayor and other community leaders will be on hand to recognize the project’s official opening, will be June 6. Special prizes will be awarded to those whose names are drawn among raffle tickets, whose sale began in March. The event is being coordinated by Adrienne Lederer, GM/CNA co-president. All of Bellingham is invited.

Playing a major educational role for the gardens, while offering workshops and teaching gardening skills, are the Master Gardeners of Whatcom County, whose efforts are being directed by GM/CNA board member Bill Smith and Jill Cotton of the WSU Extension. Smith is a former president of the Whatcom County Master Gardeners.

One of the outgrowths of Cordata’s enthusiasm for the project was an invitation to four of the neighbors to attend a wide-ranging design planning workshop held in conjunction with Mischaikov’s development of acreage purchased from D.R. Horton.

The meeting was attended by 45 people, including representatives of the City of Bellingham Planning Department and local engineers and land planners. The inclusion of the neighborhood people is regarded by them as another example of Mischaikov’s transparency regarding his project, as well as his willingness to develop the project along lines that are most favorable to the existing neighbors.

Just as some of what is grown in the White House kitchen garden goes to the needy, Cordata gardeners have signed an agreement regarding their responsibilities to each other and stating they will make a part of what they produce available at no cost to those with financial needs. No food will be sold from the garden.

With community gardening catching on all across the nation and the world, the Andrews say they have learned a lot by being involved in all aspects of the Cordata project. A link created on the American Association of Community Gardens Web site has produced a number of inquiries from communities within and outside the state of Washington

The Andrews are appreciative of being able to be part of something they believe is vital to the area. Their belief is that through exposing people of all ages to the natural process of growing food we help foster appreciation for, and interest in, local agriculture.

Possessed of enormous enthusiasm for what they have been doing so successfully, the Andrews plan to offer their knowledge to other neighborhoods choosing to create similar projects. The Andrews put it succinctly: “We have a passion for this, and are happy to be able to contribute something to others during our retirement years.” §