By Kat Bryant
Grays Harbor News Group
Community gardens have long been an element of urban settings, where people with no yards to speak of can claim a small plot of dirt to tend food, flowers or herbs — either for sharing or for personal enjoyment. But even Grays Harbor’s more rural setting has a variety of community gardens.
And all are feeling effects of the pandemic, both positive and negative.
“It’s really highlighted people’s access to fresh foods. Our system is too dependent on outside sources,” said Sheilia Canada, coordinator of Cultivating Roots Community Garden in Aberdeen.
Cultivating Roots splits its 32 plots into three sections: one cultivated by local residents, one by nonprofit organizations and one by the operators to benefit Coastal Harvest. “I’m focusing on a victory garden type of model to help the wider community,” said Canada.
Garden by the Sea, a well-established nonprofit operation in Ocean Shores, has 42 public plots for rent, plus some cultivated specifically for food bank donations. It also has several “demo beds,” where they train gardeners on what grows best in the local climate.
But that aspect is on hold because of the temporary ban on gatherings.
“Last year we had lots of events … educational training for Girl Scouts, elementary schools and others,” said board member Sushila Ravard. “We recently got Junior 4H training so we could present that to the kids here too, but now that will have to wait.”
Plot rentals affected
Still, business is booming there. Garden by the Sea took applications in late March for plot rentals and sold out its waiting list, according to Ravard.
“More people are in an urgent state, very anxious about making sure they got their beds and didn’t get put on a waiting list,” she said. “I assume that’s because of the situation.”
But the situation has had the opposite effect on smaller operations.
“The few members I had from last year have not committed,” said Anita Oyler, steward of the Pollen Patch in South Aberdeen. “I know this is due to them being over 65,” she added, placing them in a high-risk group for COVID-19.
The Pollen Patch opened its third season this past weekend. It has just 10 gardening beds, meant mostly for local users’ personal enjoyment.
At Cultivating Roots, only one of Canada’s neighborhood gardeners has signed up to return this year. She hasn’t heard specific reasons for the non-renewals, but suspects it might have something to do with her inability to get the word out to her neighbors during the past few weeks.
“Last year I went around and talked to people,” she said. “I haven’t been able to knock on doors like I did last year.”
Plot rentals are not an issue for the Taholah Wellness and Community Gardens, operated by the Quinault Nation for the benefit of its members. Its operators currently grow food there to distribute to tribal members, and plans are in the works to open up spaces for individual families to tend.
But they are being hit by other factors triggered by the pandemic.
“Everything is much slower than before,” said Leah Hollon Paquette, lead gardener. “Some companies are no longer delivering, some shut down operations, and others have such great demand for their products that there are longer wait times for delivery.”
Taking precautions
As far as safety precautions, the Quinault garden operators have had to make some changes in how they get the harvested foods to tribal members.
“We used to allow people to come in, browse through the produce and pantry offerings, and choose their own items. Now we are pre-bagging both the produce and pantry items to limit contact,” said Paquette. “We also are now bagging a select offering of bulk herbs and teas to hand out, rather than the self-serve herbal apothecary we had located in the pantry.”
Others have instituted safety rules such as having participating gardeners bring their own tools to use, wear gloves and of course maintain safe distance from one another.
“My beds are separated with a 4-foot circumference to accommodate clients that may be using a wheelchair,” said Oyler. “(This) allows each person to work with a neighbor to easily keep a 6- to 8-foot distance.”
Garden by the Sea is run by graduates of the WSU Master Gardener program and therefore enforces Washington State University protocols for COVID-19 safety.
“So far it’s working out really well,” said Ravard. “They respect each other’s privacy and distance.”
Cultivating Roots has always followed Washington State Department of Agriculture guidelines. “They seem to change almost daily right now, but we follow their lead,” said Canada.
Despite all obstacles, she echoed the sentiments of others who intend to carry on to support their communities’ needs. “We’re fighting on the front lines to help people learn these necessary skills,” she said. “We’re here to help.”
Local gardens
Community gardens operating in Grays Harbor and northern Pacific County:
Cultivating Roots Community Garden (Aberdeen)
Sheilia Canada, coordinator
360-581-5419
sheiliacanada@gmail.com
Randall Street Garden (Aberdeen)
Liz Ellis, coordinator
206-898-5194
South Side Pollen Patch (South Aberdeen)
Anita Oyler, coordinator
hedamoon@yahoo.com
Garden by the Sea (Ocean Shores)
Karen Young, board president
425-255-4025
Taholah Wellness and Community Gardens
Leah Hollon Paquette, lead gardener
360-276-4405, ext. 1033
leah.paquette@quinault.org
South Bend Community Garden
Brenda Priestley, coordinator
360-269-3272
Courtesy Photos Garden by the Sea in Ocean Shores took applications in late March for community garden plot rentals and sold out its waiting list. ()
Garden by the Sea in Ocean Shores has 42 public plots for rent. It also has several “demo beds,” where they train gardeners on what grows best in the local climate.
Garden by the Sea in Ocean Shores has 42 public plots for rent. It also has several “demo beds,” where they train gardeners on what grows best in the local climate.
