Pantagraph.com Weather forecast, local radar and more
NewsThursday, March 13, 2008 5:11 PM CDT
Comments Comments (14) | E-mail this page E-mail this page | Print this page Print this page | Enlarge type Enlarge type | Reduce type Reduce type | Search archives Search archives | RSS RSS feeds | Add to My Yahoo! Add to My Yahoo!
Clare House looks for land with closure of community garden
By Scott Richardson
srichardson@pantagraph.com
Advertisement

BLOOMINGTON -- Don’t ask Clare House founder Tina Sipula how her garden grows.

The 30- by 30-foot plot that provided vegetables for her Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen was grounded after the city of Bloomington lost its $1 annual lease to land at Hershey and Ireland Grove roads that was the site of the community garden program for several years.

The property was owned by Unit 5 schools, which traded it to private land owners for a place to build a school complex at U.S. 150 when Hershey Road is extended that far. The City Council rezoned the former community garden last December to allow neighborhood shopping and mixed residential use.

With spring nearly here, Sipula now must look for someone willing to donate use of enough land so her volunteers can grow vegetables for the Clare House-operated soup kitchen that feeds the hungry twice weekly at St. Mary’s Catholic Church on Bloomington’s near west side. Surplus vegetables always were left for takers on a first-come, first served basis on the porch of Clare House, a food bank at 703 E. Washington St. Clare House holds two regular food distributions a week.

“There are a lot of people who count on this garden,” Sipula said.

Clare House volunteer Verneal Frank of Bloomington was the chief green thumb behind the effort, spending hours at the community garden. She first planted cold crops, then others that like warmer weather, and pulled weeds. The result was a cornucopia of vegetables that included lettuce, tomatoes, spinach, onions, cabbage, broccoli, squash and more.

“It was always a labor of love. There were always so many nice people out there to talk to and compare gardens,” Frank said.

Former Mayor Judy Markowitz started the community garden program. Every spring about this time, the Bloomington Parks & Recreation Department would announce several small or large plots were available for rent for a small fee.

“Thirty bucks,” answered Sipula, asked the annual cost to the food bank, which survives on donated food and cash.

Sipula learned the community garden was no more when Frank called the parks department to find out when plots would be offered.

Parks director Dean Kohn was sad he could not offer an alternative. The Hershey/Ireland Grove location wasn’t totally ideal, he said. The area had a lot of traffic. At least some passersby read the “Community Garden” sign and assumed the vegetables were free for the taking.

Not so. Most of the plots were used by people, including many senior citizens, who raised food for their own tables, he said.

The site did have water, parking and a portable toilet, qualities he must search for on other land for the spring of 2009. A couple of spots are being considered, one at Gaelic Park and a city-owned park land at Eagle View South among them No decision has been made.

Meanwhile, the community garden will be barren.

“It’s really no one’s fault,” Kohn said. “It’s just one of those things.”

Meanwhile, Sipula and Frank hope someone offers them land.

“If the property was sold, it was sold. God will provide something if it’s meant to be,” Frank said.

Take a look
Fred Pirnat of Normal weeds his garden plot at the Community Gardens at Hershey and Ireland Grove Roads in this 2006 file photo. The city of Bloomington lost its $1 annual lease to the land that was the site of the community garden program for several years.
Video
Most commented stories
Browse online archives
Recent issues:
Reader comments on this story - 14 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

wkendguy wrote on Mar 14, 2008 12:07 PM:

" I'm sure someone will step up to the plate and help out. Not just for the Clare House, but for others affected by the loss of community gardens. This community is full of kind people willing to help out. "

gbean wrote on Mar 14, 2008 9:28 AM:

" Can we get an email address for Tina at the Clare House to ask questions? "

fred smythe wrote on Mar 14, 2008 9:09 AM:

" HEY what about some land around Calvary Methodist.....................they are building again............surely they can give some land for the poor to raise some food..........huh....what about it "

Enough wrote on Mar 13, 2008 10:33 PM:

" PJ Irvin Park??? Are you serious, have you ever seen the stampede of frisbee golfers that overrun the place?? 2 more years they will be lucky to have a stand
of grass on any of it??
Unit 5??? Well just wait around and see what they do for the community
other than run their hand into our pocket!! "

Eric H wrote on Mar 13, 2008 10:30 PM:

" Last year there was a community garden at Jacob's Well Community Church on Jersey Ave. in Normal. It might be worth your time to call Jacob's Well; I'm sure they could tell you more including whether or not more space is available. If I'm understanding correctly, this garden will be planted again for 2008 as part of an event called Intersection, which takes place Saturday, April 19th. It's a really cool event. They have an informative website, but since URLs are prohibited in Pantagraph posts, I'll suggest googling "One Intersection"; the website is the first one on the first page. "

fred smythe wrote on Mar 13, 2008 8:02 PM:

" another thought..............could there be several around town........with gas prices so high............it would be good to have some on each side of town............ I would love to see this/these cities doing more to be GREEN.................... "

oldscribe wrote on Mar 13, 2008 7:38 PM:

" One person here mentioned a church; I'm sure others would offer as well. But why not ask Unit 5? They have plenty of school ground elsewhere they might be able to offer for community use. It would be a great gesture of thanks to the community for passing the bond issue and tax rate hike. "

Woodford Pundit wrote on Mar 13, 2008 4:49 PM:

" I think P,J, Irvin park would be the ideal place. "

fred smythe wrote on Mar 13, 2008 3:10 PM:

" Come on people...............these plots are needed NOW more than ever........i get iritated at these twin cities sometimes but there are good people here who can get together on this and find a solution for THIS YEAR!! People are hurting more than ever...............what can we do to help!!!!!??????? "

gbean wrote on Mar 13, 2008 2:16 PM:

" One other thought, the article says they are looking for "spring of 2009" - what are they doing for vegetables this year? "

gbean wrote on Mar 13, 2008 2:14 PM:

" How big does the new place have to be? Does it have to have a porta-potty? "

Sarah wrote on Mar 13, 2008 1:16 PM:

" Please know that there are community garden plots available at St Luke Union Church. If you are interested you can call the church for more information. "

alwayssomething wrote on Mar 13, 2008 1:15 PM:

" I wonder if the land they use has to be in Bloomington..how many miles away could it be? "

Houser wrote on Mar 13, 2008 1:11 PM:

" Wish I had a place for them. Come on BN, someone can come up with a plot for them. "
Add your own comments

Please read the rules before posting comments.

You must be logged in to leave comments.
If you don't have a member ID, please register.

*Member ID:
*Password:
Remember login?
(requires cookies)
  Forgot Your Password?
 
Lee Enterprises Customer Service | 301 W. Washington St., PO Box 2907, Bloomington, IL 61701-2907 | Ph. 309-829-9000 | 800-747-7323
Copyright © 2008, Pantagraph Publishing Co. and Lee Enterprises. All rights reserved. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy