Rosemary Piser (far right) works with volunteers last summer on the community garden near the Park Forest Fire Department. (ENEWSPF)
Park Forest, IL—(ENEWSPF)—March 17, 2013. The days are longer, the snow has melted and spring is in the air – all signs that the gardening season is upon us. The Village of Park Forest will once again offer residents the opportunity to use vacant, Village-owned property for purposes of developing a community garden.
Gardening groups using Village-owned lots will be reimbursed up to $370 for allowable gardening expenditures. This $370 reimbursement represents the amount that the Village would pay to have the lot maintained over the course of the summer.
If you never tried out your “green thumbs” before or want to do some gardening but aren’t up to taking on the responsibility of a Village-owned lot, you can still participate by joining one of the existing community gardens.
There are many benefits of community gardening. Besides the ability to grow nutritious food, beautiful flowers and native plants, community gardening:
- Stimulates social interaction;
- Beautifies neighborhoods;
- Creates a good opportunity for recreation, exercise, and education;
- Reduces crime; and
- Provides a catalyst for neighborhood and community development.
So think about making 2013 the year that you start a community garden or join a gardening group. You’ll be glad you did!
For additional information about the Community Garden Project, please e-mail Rosemary Piser at [email protected] or Sarah Coulter, the Village’s Sustainability Consultant at [email protected].
