Snowy Field is Site of Proposed Community Garden Project

Bill Bohlen envisions a land of near-ripe tomatoes and leafy cucumbers. It's a small land, one right in the middle of Rochester. And every spring, it brings together green thumbs and garden novices, children and seniors, educators and learners.

It's a vision that's outlined, partly, on a napkin.

"Yeah, the napkin sketch," he said with a laugh. "Believe it or not, that napkin is going to be part of the presentation to City Council."

Bohlen, director of the city's Department of Public Works, is part of a team of city leaders and residents looking to bring a community garden to Rochester this spring.

Their vision will be outlined for members Monday night.

A community addition

The community garden will be part of , which is near the DPW's headquarters off Wilcox Street.

The garden's creation has been the main focus of the 10-member City Beautiful Commission, which formed last fall and is headed by Lynn Oates.

Oates is an avid gardener and shares Bohlen's excitement for the project.

"It will be a great community addition that will pull people together," she said.

The first phase of the plan will use a 70-by-100-foot area of the park and include 14 raised planting beds. Each 4-by-25-foot bed will have three separate garden plots, which will be about 4-by-8-feet.

In all, there will be 42 garden plots, which residents will be able to rent for about $20 a year.

The committee will create guidelines for what may be planted and how the gardens should be taken care of; there will be no chemicals used in the planting or maintenance of the gardens.

Eventually, the community garden would include more garden plots, a children's garden and outdoor classrooms.

The lofty goal, Bohlen said, is the addition of another 250 garden plots, an effort that may take up to three years.

"The sky's the limit," he said.

Everyone can garden

The concept of a community garden is not new; they exist in cities across the country. In Oxford, there is a large one at Upland Hills Farm. Bohlen formerly worked with a community garden project in Ypsilanti.

He said they are mainly for residents with unsuitable yards or for those living in apartments or in senior housing. The gardens are also full of educational opportunities and can be used for community service projects.

Rochester Mayor Jeff Cuthbertson said he envisions people maintaining a garden to raise fresh vegetables for area food banks. Cuthbertson, who is also an avid gardener, said there are endless possibilities for what may be planted; he mentioned tomatoes and cucumbers, but also eggplant, carrots — even raspberries.

On Monday night, City Council members will get their first look at details of the plan. They will also consider adopting an agreement with nearby for the administration of the garden.

The city's cost for the first phase would be $10,000 and would pay for fencing, soil and materials.

"We're putting to active use a space that's not currently utilized," Bohlen said. "Actually, the city cuts the grass there now. So it will be less for us to maintain in that way."

The Rochester City Council meets at 7:30 Monday night at Rochester City Hall.