ADAM BELL
CITY MANAGER
CRYSTAL (22,711)

The City of Crystal has two different projects that highlight the city’s commitment to local food access and community health. The Crystal Edible Courtyard is maintained in collaboration between the city, volunteers, and the nonprofit A Backyard Farm. The Southbrook Community Garden is a traditional community garden that has plots available for rent by community members. These rented plots are planned, gardened, and harvested by the renter.

Prompted by a TED Talk and discussions with Hennepin County Public Health Promotion staff, Crystal Recreation Services Manager Scott Berggren spearheaded the initiative to establish the Edible Courtyard. The city, along with volunteers and A Backyard Farm, transformed an underutilized space outside the Crystal Community Center into a flourishing garden. This strategic move aimed to address one of Hennepin County’s lowest fruit and vegetable intake areas, as indicated by Public Health SHAPE data, which is used to understand the health needs of the community.

Before the Edible Courtyard’s inception in 2018, discussions about community gardens had been ongoing since around 2010. The subsequent establishment of the Southbrook Community Garden in 2012, in partnership with Brooklyn Park, marked an important milestone in Crystal’s efforts to promote local food production.

Both projects have faced challenges and unexpected pain points. Theft and unauthorized pesticide use have marred the Southbrook Community Garden experience, whereas educating the public on proper harvesting techniques has been crucial for the Edible Courtyard’s success. Despite these challenges, participation in both initiatives has been robust, with a long waitlist for plots at the Southbrook Community Garden and positive feedback from residents benefiting from the Edible Courtyard’s harvest.

Planning and management have been key to the success of these projects. A Backyard Farm has provided valuable expertise, while regular assessments and adaptations ensure optimal plantings and yields. If done again, Crystal would address the high demand for garden plots by potentially limiting plot allocations and prioritizing residents for access.

For other city leaders considering similar projects, Crystal’s experience offers valuable insights. Prioritizing health and wellness initiatives, fostering community engagement, and leveraging partnerships are essential for success.

LAURIE ELLIOTT
MAYOR
NEWPORT (4,328)

The Newport Community Garden was started by a group of residents in 2011. Their vision was to create garden space for residents and a “giving garden” to provide the local food shelf with fresh produce. They split the space in half to support both visions. The hope was to develop greater community through gardening. Volunteers manage the giving garden, and we have a community garden volunteer manager.

The startup effort was the largest contribution from the city. It included picking up donated materials, building a fence, hauling compost from the city site, and tilling the compost into the soil. Staff borrowed a tiller from a neighboring community to save on costs. This work took a couple employees about two weeks. Now that the garden is up and running, the most common staff tasks are trash and recycling pickup, compostable material pickup, and mowing around the garden.

We have 5-by-10-foot plots for $10 per season, and 10-by-13-foot plots for $20 per season. This covers watering costs and some staff time. Administration staff handles the plot rentals. We also collect a $20 refundable deposit, which is forfeited if the plot is abandoned or is not cleaned up by the fall deadline. Generally, all spots are rented each year.

At first the garden had no fence and gardeners lost produce to deer, rabbits, and human poachers. We recommend a 6-foot fence with chicken wire along the bottom to deter rabbits. We’d also recommend a lockable gate with a changeable code from year to year. Some other tips include:

• Choose a sunny site with access to water, which is especially important in drought years.
• Have a soil test done to determine soil amendment needs. Also test for adequate drainage and soil compaction.
• Have gardeners sign a copy of a “Garden Policy” that includes consequences for not properly maintaining their plot and follow up with city enforcement as needed. (Nip problems in the bud!)
• Support the volunteers maintaining the garden and cultivate good relationships with the neighborhoods around the garden.

Our Community Garden Policy, space agreement, and general information can be found at bit.ly/NewportCommunityGarden.