Community garden may take root in Conneaut

May 03, 2008 12:41 am

— CONNEAUT — An idea planted week ago may grow into a way for Conneaut families to help feed themselves.
The Conneaut Food Pantry and the Conneaut Area City Schools district are teaming up to create a community garden on land the school district owns along Parrish Road, near Lake Erie.
People will be encouraged to plant vegetables and other produce on plots they can use within the garden, said Renea Roach, Food Pantry director. “The only requirements is that they have to produce food and they must tend their plot themselves,” she said.
The garden, is still in the planning stages, but already four or five Pantry clients have already warmed to the idea, Roach said. “They’re very interested in doing it,” she said.
Organizers are looking for fence that would enclose the garden to keep deer, rabbits and other nibblers at bay.
The Conneaut school district has already agreed to allow some of their Parrish property to be used for the project. The Board of Education has endorsed the idea, said Mary Zappitelli, superintendent.
A community garden could be a big boost for the city, Roach said.
“We’ve got to have more positive things in Conneaut,” she said. “Anybody can be a part of it.”
The amount of land the garden would encompass is still up in the air, Roach said. “We’ve asked for an acre or two if possible,” she said.
If the garden takes root, agencies may try to offer transportation to the site and arrange canning lessons, Roach said. There’s also a chance a local market may buy surplus veggies, she said.
There’s no timetable for the garden, but planners would like to get growing quickly.
“Right now it’s all in baby stages, but we want to get going as soon as possible,” Roach said.
People with ideas to share or fencing to donate can contact Roach at the Food Pantry (593-5273)