| Garden site before work begins March 2007 |
Community Gardens Greenhouse - Lowell, MA
Franklin Court Garden
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Located on North Franklin Street in Lowell's Acre section
Parking: On Street
Parking: On Street
| Neighborhood Planning Meeting - March 2007 at Casey Family Services on Market Street. |
| Members of the UMASS Rugby Team |
| Growing communities from the ground up! |
Franklin Court is a new garden development created in partnership with the Lowell YMCA and Casey Family Services
Elder Cambodian residents. This area is one of the most depressed areas in Lowell with a very high crime rate. Youth
and adults worked together to cleanup this neighborhood eyesore, trying to transform it into a community garden where
the neighborhood residents can come to enjoy one another's company and admire their handy work.
The intent of the garden is to get local residents, young and old, involved in the stewardship of the plot and to build
social structure in this fragile neighborhood. Ongoing efforts to establish this garden for the past 3 years have been
dim, but with a renewed interest and some much needed seed money, this project was launched in April 2007.
The Community Gardens Greenhouse provided space in the greenhouse for the much needed seed starting and
on-site support for garden development.
Elder Cambodian residents. This area is one of the most depressed areas in Lowell with a very high crime rate. Youth
and adults worked together to cleanup this neighborhood eyesore, trying to transform it into a community garden where
the neighborhood residents can come to enjoy one another's company and admire their handy work.
The intent of the garden is to get local residents, young and old, involved in the stewardship of the plot and to build
social structure in this fragile neighborhood. Ongoing efforts to establish this garden for the past 3 years have been
dim, but with a renewed interest and some much needed seed money, this project was launched in April 2007.
The Community Gardens Greenhouse provided space in the greenhouse for the much needed seed starting and
on-site support for garden development.
At first, it was a free for all as the youth made adjustments to this new project. There was one youth who was very
disruptive, continually setting the tone for bad, unacceptable behavior. Our staff quickly identified the issues at hand and
worked together to council this youth and to correct bad behavior as it happened. Slowly, the group got into a rhythm as
we started planting and planning the garden.
Each garden session started with a planning circle where we all met and introduced ourselves and talked about what
was planned for the day. This was an excellent time for us all to focus on the tasks at hand and to check on the energy of
the group. There were many times when bad behavior was brought to the group's attention and dealt with in a friendly
and positive, reinforcing manner.
As this work proceeded, one woman volunteered her time every time we met. She brought her three children and
occasionally her husband. She was extremely interested in working with this difficult population and was a huge asset to
this project. She was always enthusiastic and full of positive reinforcements for the youth.
The greenhouse donated vegetables and flowers for planting. We talked about the garden's contents since there were
many wild flowers and an assortment of vegetables that had sprouted from previous attempts at gardening in this
location. Everyone participated in talking and learning about what was already there and the actual planting of plant
materials.
The time approached to plant the seedlings in the ground. Things seemed to be going well, but all the hard work was
destroyed by local residents. It was very frustrating for the family of six who so wanted this to work out and devastating to
anyone who put time into cleanup and planting. Anytime something was created, local youth vandalized the property.
How did the family of six make out? Their garden was trashed three times! Janice Pokorski, Community Gardens
Greenhouse staff member, met with the family and received the final garden tour. It was exceptionally bad. Everything
was trampled, knocked over and pulled out of the ground. "No more!" exclaimed one family member. Both parties were
incredibly upset and neither could do anything.
Timing is everything. The day after that family's garden was destroyed was the day that a local business owner stopped
by the greenhouse and asked to get really involved. He wanted ideas from Janice as to the needs of the Community
Gardens Greenhouse. For some reason, Janice asked if he had land. He said yes. She relayed the family's ordeal. It
was a done deal! The business owner wanted to meet the family the very next day. Janice introduced the parties. The
business owner had the land plowed, gave the family the water for the garden, a locking shed, and an agreement to use
the land for a long as they want. This fall, a greenhouse will be constructed on the land to support this garden. Check it
out!
Today, the lot is still being cleaned by the mother and her three children who do not live in the area, as well as the YMCA
director and those youth from the YMCA who stuck it out. The garden is not developed, but there is still hope that a
garden will succeed in the future. If everyone keeps trying, perhaps one day a community garden will flourish.
disruptive, continually setting the tone for bad, unacceptable behavior. Our staff quickly identified the issues at hand and
worked together to council this youth and to correct bad behavior as it happened. Slowly, the group got into a rhythm as
we started planting and planning the garden.
Each garden session started with a planning circle where we all met and introduced ourselves and talked about what
was planned for the day. This was an excellent time for us all to focus on the tasks at hand and to check on the energy of
the group. There were many times when bad behavior was brought to the group's attention and dealt with in a friendly
and positive, reinforcing manner.
As this work proceeded, one woman volunteered her time every time we met. She brought her three children and
occasionally her husband. She was extremely interested in working with this difficult population and was a huge asset to
this project. She was always enthusiastic and full of positive reinforcements for the youth.
The greenhouse donated vegetables and flowers for planting. We talked about the garden's contents since there were
many wild flowers and an assortment of vegetables that had sprouted from previous attempts at gardening in this
location. Everyone participated in talking and learning about what was already there and the actual planting of plant
materials.
The time approached to plant the seedlings in the ground. Things seemed to be going well, but all the hard work was
destroyed by local residents. It was very frustrating for the family of six who so wanted this to work out and devastating to
anyone who put time into cleanup and planting. Anytime something was created, local youth vandalized the property.
How did the family of six make out? Their garden was trashed three times! Janice Pokorski, Community Gardens
Greenhouse staff member, met with the family and received the final garden tour. It was exceptionally bad. Everything
was trampled, knocked over and pulled out of the ground. "No more!" exclaimed one family member. Both parties were
incredibly upset and neither could do anything.
Timing is everything. The day after that family's garden was destroyed was the day that a local business owner stopped
by the greenhouse and asked to get really involved. He wanted ideas from Janice as to the needs of the Community
Gardens Greenhouse. For some reason, Janice asked if he had land. He said yes. She relayed the family's ordeal. It
was a done deal! The business owner wanted to meet the family the very next day. Janice introduced the parties. The
business owner had the land plowed, gave the family the water for the garden, a locking shed, and an agreement to use
the land for a long as they want. This fall, a greenhouse will be constructed on the land to support this garden. Check it
out!
Today, the lot is still being cleaned by the mother and her three children who do not live in the area, as well as the YMCA
director and those youth from the YMCA who stuck it out. The garden is not developed, but there is still hope that a
garden will succeed in the future. If everyone keeps trying, perhaps one day a community garden will flourish.
The Community Gardens Greenhouse volunteers were introduced to a
group of Cambodian residents who were members of Casey Family
Services. This group all agreed to participate and quickly came out to the
property to view the land. It was decided by 90% of these residents that
there was too much work to do and they did not return.
One family of six really wanted to make a garden and wanted it to work out.
This family was brought to the greenhouse and given what they needed to
grow hundreds of vegetables. They came and worked 3 times a week
tending after their seedlings and planning the work ahead for the land
with the greenhouse staff.
group of Cambodian residents who were members of Casey Family
Services. This group all agreed to participate and quickly came out to the
property to view the land. It was decided by 90% of these residents that
there was too much work to do and they did not return.
One family of six really wanted to make a garden and wanted it to work out.
This family was brought to the greenhouse and given what they needed to
grow hundreds of vegetables. They came and worked 3 times a week
tending after their seedlings and planning the work ahead for the land
with the greenhouse staff.
The greenhouse staff contacted the UMASS Rugby team for assistance
with cleaning the lot. This was a huge event as the men removed lumber,
mattresses, pipes, wooden pallets, tires, and everything else imaginable.
This area was used as a dumping ground by the neighborhood for many
years.
This garden had a water supply line in place, but it was not functioning
from day one. A visit to the water department and many calls later the
valves were changed and we got the news that the water was turned on
and operational. This took over 2 months to complete.
In the meantime, a group of youth, ages 8-15 of all ethnicities, from the
YMCA joined. Initially, there were as many as 15 youths participating.
with cleaning the lot. This was a huge event as the men removed lumber,
mattresses, pipes, wooden pallets, tires, and everything else imaginable.
This area was used as a dumping ground by the neighborhood for many
years.
This garden had a water supply line in place, but it was not functioning
from day one. A visit to the water department and many calls later the
valves were changed and we got the news that the water was turned on
and operational. This took over 2 months to complete.
In the meantime, a group of youth, ages 8-15 of all ethnicities, from the
YMCA joined. Initially, there were as many as 15 youths participating.
