Community gardens are more than a place to grow vegetables and herbs. They're a place to gather and grow relationships.
That's just what the Faribault Rotary Club Diversity Committee set out to do a month ago — create a community garden to encourage community members from various ethnic groups to work together and build friendships. The garden is now established at the corner of Willow and 17th St. SW.
A community garden is established on the corner of Willow and 17th St. SW in Faribault. The idea was implemented by the Faribault Rotary Club Diversity Committee, along with the collaboration of old and young, farmers and business people, government, multiple ethnic groups and more. (Michelle Vlasak/southernminn.com)
Together, FRC diversity committee members Sam Ouk, Hanan Mohamud, Cindy Yerington, Brian Coleman, Heidi Nelson, Juanita Picazo, David Sauer, Dick Huston and Natalie Ginter, jumped through multiple hurdles to accomplish their goal of establishing the garden.
Currently there are 12 to 15 gardeners growing vegetables. Though the Faribault Rotary Club Diversity Committee is still searching for area residents to use the remaining space, Ouk said they achieved their initial goal of getting people actively involved and getting the word out about the garden plot availability. Ouk said those who currently have plots are grateful to have a place to create a healthy lifestyle.
"Gardening adds so much in terms of having a fun hobby, it's so great," said Ouk.
The first step in the process was to find a place to house the gardens. Huston reached out to Rice County Commissioner Jim Purfeerst, and Rick Cashin, who owns property in the city. Purfeerst said he would check things out at the next commissioner's meeting. In the meantime, Cashin, well aware of the opportunities in the area, suggested a site, which is where community garden currently now sits.
Also volunteering his assistance, Cashin suggested Huston call Faribault Parks and Recreation Department Director Paul Peanasky. Hustin recalled Peanasky being very supportive of the project and took the idea to the Faribault City Council. Peanasky connected with Huston after the council meeting to let him know the council OK'd the garden.
Huston said the committee, which was formed within the last 10 months, soon partnered with the Faribault Diversity Coalition. In an effort to expand the Rotary's efforts in increasing its diversity in its membership, Huston said it was natural to partner with the Diversity Coalition. For the community garden project, Huston said the Diversity Coalition helped out financially, as they required some supplies like rope, stakes and one of the water tanks, along with helping get the word out to gardeners in the area.
Rotarian Laura Bock suggested her father, Ben Froman, and former dairy client of Huston, may be able to take care of the plowing and discing of the garden. A few days later, Huston said he disced it again and sprayed it for weeds.
While the preparations for the garden were taking place, Ouk was communicating with his friend, Kim Sin, of Rochester, who helped establish a successful community garden in Olmsted County in 2019. Sin provided valuable startup tips and a template for a contract explaining gardeners' responsibilities.
Ouk finds gardening a good way to bring people together, especially since it takes place in every culture and is a common language everyone speaks.
"There's so much you can learn about people, not only about people's backgrounds, but also the gardening skills people bring over in terms from their particular cultural background," said Ouk.
The Faribault Rotary Club Diversity Committee set out to create a community garden to encourage various ethnic groups to work together and build friendships. Rotarian Sam Ouk, right, received helpful tips and a template for a contract explaining gardener's responsibility from his friend Kim Sin, of Rochester. (Photo courtesy of Faribault Rotary Club)
Mohamud and Picazo, of the RISE room at Faribault High School, developed a recruitment flyer and spread the word that gardeners from every communities were encouraged to participate. Mohamud and Picazo, co-chairs of the Diversity Committee, are also coordinators of the RISE program, which provides individualized support to students in need at FHS.
Nora Schultz, Mohamud, Picazo and other committee members then pounded posts and strung rope around the area to make 26 accessible gardens.
The last hurdle for those involved to jump through was access to water. Due to staffing shortages, the city and Fire Department were off the table, and community advocate Chuck Budde contacted Met-Con, but it lacked the necessary tank. Huston reached out to Purfeerst, and without hesitation Purfeerst agreed to fill up the tank donated by Leon Gregor of AgPro. Now, 800 gallons of water are available, which Huston says is necessary for successful gardening.
