Lebanon Community Garden

 
Sponsored by Indigenous Cultural Education Center 501-c3

An article by Linda Reed that appeared in the Lebanon Quarterly, March 2011 edition

The Lebanon Community Garden first began two years ago with the help of Emily Mellon, Sue McCaffrey, Prides Corner, and a small group of volunteers. The goal of LCG is to provide whole foods to our community. If you recall, two summers ago it was very rainy, but in spite of the weather we were able to donate produce to Neighbors Helping Neighbors, Lebanon’s Food Pantry, and the Lebanon Senior Center. The next season’s drought brought another challenge, but again we were able to give to these facilities. Last year, LCG was awarded by the Lebanon Town Hall (thanks to Phil Chester, our Town Planner) a grant to build nine raised beds at the Senior Center. These beds are designated for local groups, such as churches, youth organizations, etc., to grow food for the Senior Center, Lebanon Food Pantry, and their own enjoyment. In these ways we have been fulfilling our mission so far by providing fresh, local, pesticide-free food to those in need. Now in 2011, the LCG has a partnership with UConn, and the goals of this program are expanding.

The University of Connecticut and the Lebanon Community Garden are in the process of applying for a grant to begin implementing a sustainable community. The purpose of the grant money is to combat childhood obesity, and ensure that the community has a reliable food source. This grant will be in conjunction with the school systems. The money will go to refurbish the greenhouses at the middle and high schools, put another one in at the elementary school, and implement the Junior Master Garden program.

This program, provided by UConn, is an international youth gardening program operated nationwide. The curriculum is for grades three through eight. It gives the children the opportunity to learn not only the basics of gardening but also a deeper appreciation of math, science, environmental concerns, and a host of other areas. The curriculum covers a broad range of horticultural and environmental education topics, all aligned to state academic standards for science, math, language arts, and social studies. Youth is where the education must begin to secure our future.

The term ‘Sustainable Community’ means that we are searching for ways to help Lebanon not have to rely on the outside world. In the community of Lebanon we will be able to eat our own local food. The goal is to grow enough food to support our community and our local towns. It will reduce the price of food by reducing the shipment cost. It takes the mystery out of what is in food products, and lowers our ecological footprint.

As the economy and climate become more unstable, no one can predict our future need. The only way to retain stability and security is to maintain our own resources. As our governments struggle with deficit budgets, they look to us to make sacrifices, cutting funding and raising taxes. We pay our taxes, maybe by spending less on lower quality food or other compromises. Why does anyone need to live in financial fear? Sometimes no amount of financial planning can prepare us for what happens. How could anyone prepare for the mortgage crisis, when people lost their 401ks? Unemployment is an unexpected situation in which many more may come to find themselves. Another important issue is that our Elders live on fixed incomes. How are the Elders going to tighten up when many live on a very tight budget to begin with?

One of the primary ways that we can liberate ourselves from the instability of the economy and climate changes is by growing food for Lebanon in Lebanon. The prices of importing foods are contingent on many factors. Having sustainable local food production is the only way to ensure quality food at low costs. In order to create a sustainable local economy, we need to be able to rely on each other and our food source. The Lebanon Community Garden is also an opportunity for community members to participate in outreach programs, such as Neighbors Helping Neighbors and Senior Center Lunches. By volunteering, community members lower the cost of production. It teaches humans to be human and the goodness of giving back.

The LCG also provides a place where our elders and our children can get to know each other again. The structure of our society has separated these two groups. It used to be very natural for all ages to be in one room together, eating dinner or congregating outside. Unfortunately, fear to let children play with anyone has divided the community. Elders are marginalized, viewed as unproductive people. Our society, shaped by the spin doctors, somehow convinced us that if you’re not making money you are a useless human being. We are not all fortunate to have grandma and grandpa close by. Somehow, our families became too busy to have time for each other. It is important to the development of our children and our community that they start to participate and integrate with the community. The raised beds at the Senior Center are an opportunity for the children to spend time with the Elders. There is much wisdom to be gained from fostering these relationships and spending time with the Elders.

The LCG website will be up soon with a Community Storefront and calendar that is an opportunity for other local businesses and events to get publicity. This website will be for any merchants, crafters, farmers, and service providers to advertise and communicate with other businesses and customers. The goal is to foster local business, making them accessible and keep the dollar circulating within our own community.

Please contact me, Linda Reed, at lebanoncommunitygarden@gmail.com with your response to this article. We are eager to hear back from the community. There are also lots of opportunities to participate in this project. This is an exciting time of expansion, and individuals really have the power to make a difference.