Podcast Episode #13: Springfield Community Garden
10/17/07 • Posted in: Activism, Interview, Podcast, Springfield by Joey Marchy 4 Comments »
Photos compliments of Jennifer McCharen. Entire photoset
Podcast Episode #13: Springfield Community Garden (30:53)
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In this episode I talk with Phillip Ramsey and Jennifer McCharen about the Springfield community garden. The garden is located on Main Street in the raised lot north of The Pearl.
We talk about how the garden got started, plans for the garden and Jacksonville in general. Eventually Phillip and Jennifer hope to provide space for the community to grow their own food and possibly provide food for their neighbors and the surrounding downtown community.
Here are some links we discuss in the episode:
Riverside Avondale Development Organization (RADO)
Jacksonville Carbon Neutral Initiative (JCNI)
If you are interested in subscribing to the climate change mailing list mentioned in the interview, send an email to: atilley@unf.edu.
we are sure, (right?) that the lot isn’t sitting in superfund land or anything is it?
The lot hasn’t been tested for contaminants, although we are operating under the assumption that the soil there should not be used. Currently there are asphalt shingles covering the entire site and we are building raised beds to sit on top of these shingles. The roots and such wont be having any interaction with the lot’s ground, so we shouldn’t need to be concerned about it.
If you’d like to come check it out, we’ll be out there this saturday around noon doing some cleanup and transplanting.
In fact, I think every Saturday at noon is our official work day time. So feel free to come check out what we’ve got planned.
Philip
As far as I know superfund sites contain way worse stuff than this poor little lot. It’s just been abused and neglected, but not that badly. We’ve got an environmental engineer roommate who’s told us so!
It’s a bit like a stray dog with mange. In need of help, starved for love, but worth it.
Dearest Springfield Activists,
How exciting to find that there’s a community garden going on in Springfield! I am an AmeriCorps working right down the street at Habitat for Humanity. I grew up in the country in Northern California in a hippy-commune situation and am passionate about nutrition education and environmentalism. I am currently active in Wetlands restoration efforts (I lived in New Orleans pre-Katrina and am returning to Baton Rouge next year,) but I would really like to spend some time helping out in the Springfield area. I live on 16th and Main and am free almost every weekend.
You can give me a call at work: 208-6635
or e-mail me at mthomas@habijax.org