Urban garden trend shows signs of community growth
Michelle Chance
An urban garden is a plot of land in a metropolitan area that is divided into smaller sub-plots. Members within the community can then farm their own produce within their designated section.
The Mesa Urban Garden, a garden that broke ground in July, plans to not only be a place for agriculture but also a center for the community.
“We want the M.U.G. to become a social place as well as a place for urban agriculture,” explains Ryan Winkle, Vice Chairman and a founder of the garden.
A few different ways the Mesa Community Garden plans to accomplish this is by hosting poetry readings, educating the public with cooking classes, and acting as a venue for local talent.
The M.U.G. is set to open Sept. 11, which is the National Day of Service where volunteers will work to help develop and build plots for the garden. Members of the community are encouraged to participate at the garden, “They can volunteer their time by lending a hand, or they can purchase a plot and grow their own food, all while helping to create a community atmosphere,” Winkle said.
The community garden located at MCC is planning more development. “Half of the garden is un-developed,” Stephen Fuchs student-employee for the garden said, “We plan on turning the other half into an ‘Urban Farm.'” The food harvested from the proposed urban farm on campus will be sold at the Mesa Community Gardens Market, offering organic food to the community.
Peter Conden, professor of Urban Horticulture at MCC, said, “the urban farm will be organically managed and will be student run as part of the urban horticulture and sustainable foods programs.”
So why is urban gardening becoming such a hit in Mesa?
Fuchs believes it has to do with the public’s growing awareness of what is in their food.
“I believe there is a huge trend in sustainability and organics because of the GMO’s that big food processors keep in the dark, and also because organic produce tastes so much better.”
The Mesa Urban Garden located at 212 E. 1st Ave. in downtown Mesa, and the community garden on campus located behind the tennis courts are both open to anyone wanting to sprout a green thumb and grow their own organic goodness.
