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Where oh where and how does your garden grow?
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| Robbie Bos spoke in favor of a community garden Oct. 12. (JUDI BOWERS/Big Bear Grizzly) |
By JUDI BOWERS
Reporter
Robbie Bos likes to grow things. He’s hoping other people in the Valley feel the same.
Bos has an idea for a community garden, which got the blessing of the Big Bear Lake City Council Oct. 12.
The community garden idea isn’t new. It has evolved during the past year or so emerging after the Peace Garden at Big Bear Elementary School became a reality. Bos says he worked with the Rev. Jean Sweet and the Lighthouse Project in the initial stages of the Peace Garden, but decided his focus was broader.
So, Bos went to the top, at least in the city of Big Bear Lake. He met with City Manger Jeff Mathieu and director of intergovernmental relations Cheri Haggerty about his idea. After a few false starts, the matter made its way to the City Council agenda.
Three or four community gardens in the Valley at a minimum is Bos’ ideal goal. But there’s a lot more involved than just throwing tomato seeds in the ground. That’s where the city comes in.
City councilman Bill Jahn, who is a member of the green sustainability committee, said when the idea first came to the committee it sounded fairly simple. “I had no idea this much was involved,” Jahn said.
The details include obtaining the property and then liability insurance. Haggerty said some sort of organization needs to be formed to maintain the garden. The idea isn’t to have great community support at the start then the city be forced to take over due to the commitment falling away, Haggerty said.
“I would like to see a conflict resolution component,” councilwoman Liz Harris said about the still-to-be-developed policy. She said the component would be to solve issues that might come up when gardeners have conflicts regarding weeds or trees blocking sunshine.
Vegetables are what Bos wants to grow in the community garden, but that’s not a requirement. According to Haggerty, people who participate in the gardening, can grow what ever they like, as long as it’s legal. Gardeners can grow veggies, flowers or fruits.
At least a half acre is necessary, but Bos would like a larger plot if possible. The plot will require plenty of sunshine, and there needs to be adequate space for raised beds 5- to 10-square-feet each, parking and ADA access. Bos wants to keep the gardening organic with no chemical sprays or other additives.
“I’d like a shaded seating area,” Bos told The Grizzly. The spot would be for weekly guest speakers to share gardening tips, he says. Additionally, Bos said one plot could be used as a common area for growing fruit trees.
The site city staff recommended isn’t large enough, Bos told the council. Haggerty said staff looked at potential sites and found three that might be suitable. The first is on Fox Farm Road near the CVS Pharmacy. It is about 2.9 acres and believed to have been deeded to San Bernardino County Flood Control. The second is on Village Drive/Pennsylvania Avenue near Big Bear Elementary School, which is about a half acre. The third site, and the one recommended as most suitable at this time, is on School Road on the east side of Big Bear Elementary School.
Haggerty said the plot is between 4,000 and 5,000 square feet, and is owned by the city.
Bos told the council the Fox Farm site would be ideal. The School Road area doesn’t have a lot of parking and would be an impact on residents in the area. The Village Drive site has too many trees, he said.
The City Council unanimously agreed to move forward with developing a committee and working with Bos to create the community garden. The goal is to have seeds in the ground by spring 2010.
Contact reporter Judi Bowers at 909-866-3456, ext. 137 or by e-mail at jbowers.grizzly@gmail.com.쇓
Bos has an idea for a community garden, which got the blessing of the Big Bear Lake City Council Oct. 12.
The community garden idea isn’t new. It has evolved during the past year or so emerging after the Peace Garden at Big Bear Elementary School became a reality. Bos says he worked with the Rev. Jean Sweet and the Lighthouse Project in the initial stages of the Peace Garden, but decided his focus was broader.
So, Bos went to the top, at least in the city of Big Bear Lake. He met with City Manger Jeff Mathieu and director of intergovernmental relations Cheri Haggerty about his idea. After a few false starts, the matter made its way to the City Council agenda.
Three or four community gardens in the Valley at a minimum is Bos’ ideal goal. But there’s a lot more involved than just throwing tomato seeds in the ground. That’s where the city comes in.
City councilman Bill Jahn, who is a member of the green sustainability committee, said when the idea first came to the committee it sounded fairly simple. “I had no idea this much was involved,” Jahn said.
The details include obtaining the property and then liability insurance. Haggerty said some sort of organization needs to be formed to maintain the garden. The idea isn’t to have great community support at the start then the city be forced to take over due to the commitment falling away, Haggerty said.
“I would like to see a conflict resolution component,” councilwoman Liz Harris said about the still-to-be-developed policy. She said the component would be to solve issues that might come up when gardeners have conflicts regarding weeds or trees blocking sunshine.
Vegetables are what Bos wants to grow in the community garden, but that’s not a requirement. According to Haggerty, people who participate in the gardening, can grow what ever they like, as long as it’s legal. Gardeners can grow veggies, flowers or fruits.
At least a half acre is necessary, but Bos would like a larger plot if possible. The plot will require plenty of sunshine, and there needs to be adequate space for raised beds 5- to 10-square-feet each, parking and ADA access. Bos wants to keep the gardening organic with no chemical sprays or other additives.
“I’d like a shaded seating area,” Bos told The Grizzly. The spot would be for weekly guest speakers to share gardening tips, he says. Additionally, Bos said one plot could be used as a common area for growing fruit trees.
The site city staff recommended isn’t large enough, Bos told the council. Haggerty said staff looked at potential sites and found three that might be suitable. The first is on Fox Farm Road near the CVS Pharmacy. It is about 2.9 acres and believed to have been deeded to San Bernardino County Flood Control. The second is on Village Drive/Pennsylvania Avenue near Big Bear Elementary School, which is about a half acre. The third site, and the one recommended as most suitable at this time, is on School Road on the east side of Big Bear Elementary School.
Haggerty said the plot is between 4,000 and 5,000 square feet, and is owned by the city.
Bos told the council the Fox Farm site would be ideal. The School Road area doesn’t have a lot of parking and would be an impact on residents in the area. The Village Drive site has too many trees, he said.
The City Council unanimously agreed to move forward with developing a committee and working with Bos to create the community garden. The goal is to have seeds in the ground by spring 2010.
Contact reporter Judi Bowers at 909-866-3456, ext. 137 or by e-mail at jbowers.grizzly@gmail.com.쇓
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