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Many finding peace, low-cost fresh produce from working the soil in communal plots
By Jim Carney
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Monday, Aug 11, 2008
STOW: When Lorie Hart tends her garden, she often meditates and prays over the plants.
''It is quiet here and I commune with nature and God,'' she explained on a recent sunny morning out at the two plots she has at the Stow Community Garden.
Along with the good feelings the 62-year-old Stow resident and WEWS Channel 5 retiree gets from working in her garden, there's a side benefit — lots of fresh vegetables Hart doesn't have to buy.
With gasoline and food prices high, community gardens appear to be on the upswing this summer.
At the 40-year-old Stow Community Garden, located on Stow Road, every plot has been rented — about 100 more than last year.
''It must be the economy,'' Dave Roberts, naturalist for the city of Stow, said of the boom in community gardening.
Roberts said there are two types of plots at the Stow garden — adult ones of 40 feet by 20 feet and children's ones of 10 feet by 20 feet. Adults pay $15 a plot, children pay $5 and senior citizens get them free.
This is the third summer that Roberta Brumit has had a plot at the Stow Community Garden.
The 59-year-Kent resident started gardening there three years ago as part of an effort to try new things in her life.
''The bonus was the food,'' she said of all the produce that her garden has produced.
Another Stow gardener, Jerry Porrini, 69, a Stow resident and Michelin retiree, said he sees a lot of people weeding and caring for their gardens when he is out at his.
''I think it has something to do with the economy,'' he said.
Twinsburg is another place where community gardening is booming. All of the city's plots — 149 one-year ones and 46 three-year ones — were leased this year, said Derek Schroeder, parks and recreation director in Twinsburg.
''This is the first time [in years that] we sold out of every plot,'' Schroeder said.
The higher interest in the plots, located on the west side of state Route 91, north of Center Valley Parkway, this year is likely due in part to expensive gas and food, he said, but there is probably more to the story.
''I talked to younger families,'' he said. ''They are re-evaluating lifestyles. . . . People are looking for satisfaction in a more earthy fashion.''
At the Cuyahoga Falls Community Garden at Keyser Park, Christine Sterling has two plots. It's her first time as a community gardener.
''I wanted to feed my family this summer,'' said Sterling, a 32-year-old Cuyahoga Falls mother of two.
She said she also has a garden at home but wanted to experiment this summer on the community plots.
''You can't beat it,'' Sterling said of the $8 price she paid for each plot, ''even if it doesn't produce.''
Jeff Auburn, building and grounds maintenance superintendent for Cuyahoga Falls, said the city first had a community garden on Howe Road in 1975. Plots cost $3 to rent then.
The community garden was moved to Keyser Park in 1993, and each plot was set up at 25 square feet, Auburn said.
In recent years, there have been an average of 35 plots renting for $8 each, he said.
Let's Grow Akron is a nonprofit organization that's helping people grow vegetable gardens on 30 vacant lots in Akron and at 250 backyard gardens.
''There has been an increase in calls this year,'' said Elaine Evans, the group's executive director.
In previous years, the group had supervised gardens at 90 vacant lots in Akron, Evans said, but because so many new homes have been built on vacant lots in the city, this year only 30 vacant lots have gardens.
The Barberton Garden Group is renting plots to 222 people on a 15-acre site on Summit Road in Copley Township this year.
''You can plant anything that's legal,'' said Barbara Gray, president of the Barberton Garden Group.
Barberton started its community garden in 1975, and Gray's group, which she manages with her husband, Andy, took over management of the operation in 2003.
Back in Stow, Hart, the Channel 5 retiree, said the economy makes gardening very attractive.
Already, her family has enjoyed lettuce, zucchini and other squash from her garden.
And there's that spiritual mood. While Hart has her hands in the dirt, she often says prayers.
''I've been praying for my tomatoes,'' she said.
Jim Carney can be reached at 330-996-3576 or jcarney@thebeaconjournal.com.
STOW: When Lorie Hart tends her garden, she often meditates and prays over the plants.
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