Page 5 - C.A.L.L. #43 - Winter 2017

more residents offering up their lawns on a waiting list as demand outstripped their supply of workers,
Edmondson said.

McKinney, a recent graduate from Whitworth University who works in youth programming at Shadle Park
Presbyterian Church, said he’s been hearing Edmondson talk for several years about a way to bring the
community together. While a lot of volunteer turnout is still tied to church events, the project has
brought in children from local schools and other parts of the community, McKinney said.

“It’s been great to learn from others, and it brings a fun feel to the yard,” he said. “Gardens can be
intimidating, so it’s been good encouraging people.”
One of the challenges to building
community is that people have become
closed off, afraid that anyone who
engages them just wants something
from them, McKinney said.
“There are pockets (of community), but
for the most part people are pretty
disconnected,” he said. “Even on my
street, it’s still developing, where
people are being intentional in forming
community.”

By building up their local networks,
people in a community can help one
another instead of struggling to rely on Growing Neighbors volunteer Brandon Gibson smiles as he
collects carrots to take to a farmers market. Photo: Kathy Plonka
outside organizations and services,
Edmondson said.

More than just the volunteer work itself, Edmondson said he hopes the project will grow to include
neighborhood walks, communal meals, and block parties. The point is to build a neighborhood family
that, even going into the winter, will feel comfortable inviting one another into their homes, he said.

Though the project is still in its early stages, with volunteers like McKinney still working out technical
snags like watering schedules and planting for the winter, community members say they are already
beginning to feel its effects.

Dorene Hagen grew up in the Northwest neighborhood, and she decided to donate a portion of her
large yard after hearing about Growing Neighbors at a neighborhood council meeting. Hagen, who is in
her late 70s, runs an upholstery business out of the childhood home where she still lives and said she
has fond memories of life in the neighborhood.

Hagen said she has enjoyed getting to know several of the young people who volunteered to work her
plot – as well as getting to use some of the organic lettuce and tomatoes grown in her yard. Property
owners can tell the volunteers what types of produce they prefer, but most residents are just happy to let
the gardens grow whatever the volunteers see fit, McKinney said.

Both gardening and building community can be hard work, but McKinney said he has been impressed
by what the program has harvested so far.
“No program like this takes off overnight,” he said. “But I’ve learned to appreciate the victories you get.”

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