Community Garden Debate Continues in Corte Madera

After planting the initial seeds for a community garden, supporters in Corte Madera are still waiting for something to grow. They might have to wait a bit longer before they can harvest anything.

Residents again filled Town Hall beyond capacity during Monday night's Park and Recreation Commission meeting. There was considerable buzz when the topic of creating a community garden in Town Park was heard at last month's meeting. The excitement hasn't died down since.

"I've seen different community gardens and I'm hesitant (to vote for this) for a lot of different reasons," commission chairman Kim Noble Baez said. "Gardens 6-9 months out of the year sit fallow and don't look particularly good. I've seen this in East Bay gardens and San Francisco gardens. This may be the wrong venue for this particular garden.

Commission member Joan Fray countered "I disagree. I think it's the exact appropriate place for a community garden. … I really believe the interaction between older people … and the daycare center kids and the school will be participating in it … so maybe they can do something with it in the wintertime. I don't think it'll be a big blight on the park. Many people believe beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I don't think a fallow garden is particularly unattractive. It's full of life."

Commission members voted 3-2 in the end not to recommend the plan to the Town Council. They did move to investigate other possible sites and designs for the garden.

The major sticking points are the size and location of the garden. Jana Haehl, representing the beautification committee, pointed out that the original design of the garden was much smaller than the one being voted on.

"I feel there is a definite need for a community garden, but not in the park," commission member Kitty Prosser said. "You'll probably have to find some other place, because the park is already so small. … When you first presented the plan, the garden was small but it's grown much bigger."

The proposed garden, located next to Neil Cummins Daycare Center, would include 50 raised beds, ranging in size from 4 feet by 8 feet to 4 feet by 12 feet. It would also include a tool shed and compost bin.The Corte Madera Community Gardens website promotes pesticide/herbicide-free planting, soil building and composting, children's programs, water conservation and holistic gardening.

Some argue a 6-foot chain link fence surrounding the garden would be a major detractor. Others argue any runoff from the fertilizer used in the garden would cause health problems for the park's residents — the ducks.

Supporters believe Town Park is the best site for the garden is it is relatively level, provides parking and handicap access.

The San Clemente Park area is one of the other options being investigated as a possible site for the garden.

Dr. Gretchen LeBuhn, an associate professor at San Francisco State University and a project leader in the Great Sunflower Project, offered a passionate and informed plea on behalf of the garden.

"One of the things we're trying to promote in the community is sustainability and a sense of community. There's a very good sense that could come out of the garden," LeBuhn said. "The center of the community is often a very good place for a garden."