THE OFFICIAL WEB SITE OF THE MADISON TIMES WEEKLY NEWSPAPER

TOP STORIES

Troy Gardens:

Providing a valuable resource to Madison’s northside community

by Laura Salinger

The community gardens on Madison’s north side are a familiar site for many area residents. The gardens line the road of Troy Drive and in warmer months it is common to see gardeners scattered across the landscape bent over their handiwork. Yet, many may not be aware of the extensive services and programs associated with the site. Behind the sprawling community garden space lies a prairie and woodland restoration project and a network of trails, often used by area residents, that lead to an urban farm filled with produce waiting to be harvested by staff and volunteers.

The Friends of Troy Gardens (FTG), a nonprofit organization which manages the site, recently held its third annual Troy Gardens Summer Solstice Celebration in honor of the gardens and the many benefits it brings to the community.

"Troy Gardens is a really unique space," FTG executive director Sharon Lezberg said. "This is a place where people who live here are hands-on involved. Neighborhood people use this space as a natural space."

The summer celebration included tours of the 26 acres that are managed by Troy Gardens, a bird walk, and entertainment including songs from local folk singer Clare Norelle and traditional Hmong music played by area Hmong elders. Children were able to make masks, wave giant bubbles, and create sundials for their own gardens. Those familiar with the gardens celebrated the efforts of staff and volunteers and those unfamiliar with Troy Gardens were able to learn about the many services available there.

Troy Gardens has a rich history in the community because it was created by the community. In October of 1995, 15 acres of the site was placed on the state’s surplus land list and the state intended to sell it. A year later, 16 more acres to the north of the original site were added to the surplus list.

Many area residents feared that the open space would be sold to a private developer so they came together to try and save this land, which the community had been using for garden space, bird watching, and nature hikes. The Northside Planning Council began convening to discuss the issue at regular meetings. Meanwhile, three nonprofits organizations — the Madison Area Community Land Trust, the Urban Open Space Foundation, and the Community Action Coalition Garden Program — joined together to form the Troy Gardens Coalition.

In 1997, the 31 acres were taken off the surplus land list and the coalition was given a 16- year lease to use the land for community gardens and open space. By 1998, the lease was extended to 50 years and in 2001, after extensive fund-raising, the land was purchased by the Madison Area Community Land Trust (MACLT). Twenty-six of the 31 acres are managed by Friends of Troy Gardens and combines an urban farm, community gardens, and prairie and woodland restoration. Five acres will be used for affordable housing and MACLT intends to break ground in 2005.

Since 2001, Friends of Troy Gardens have been working to develop the land and has been counting largely on community-based work. The road to completion is still long, but the vision that was formed by the community has taken root and continues to grow.

"It is not something that was built for the community, but something that was built by the community," Lezberg said. "What we have here is an area set to be sold seven years ago. The community fought to save it. We have developed a plan that integrates land uses."

Friends of Troy Gardens now offers a number of programs which brings a diverse group of people to the site. The community gardens are used by many, but have also become a vital resource for area Hmong who make up 50 percent of the gardeners there.

"It is a tremendous mental-health benefit for the Hmong population," Lezberg said. "It is a way of passing on tradition. It is also a way to save money on the food budget."

Troy Community Farm occupies five acres of the site and became Madison’s first urban farm when it was established in 2001. At the heart of the farm is the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program which delivers organic produce directly from the farm to CSA members from early June to late October. Residents can also purchase produce from the Troy Drive Farm Stand Thursday afternoons from June to October. A program for those unable to pay the set prices offers reduced rates.

Youth ages 14-17 can participate in "Farm and Field,"a youth-training program in sustainable agriculture and natural areas restoration, which allows them to earn money while working various jobs at Troy Gardens. They cultivate and harvest vegetables on the community farm, help in restoration of natural areas, sell produce at the Troy Drive farm stand, and participate in educational activities and field trips.

"We help on the farm," Farm and Field participant Preston, 14, said. "We harvest and we grow plants. I have really learned a lot."

Children from kindergarten to eighth grade can participate in the K-8 Kid’s Gardening Program which draws youth from area community centers including Vera Court, Northport, and Kennedy Heights. Children plant and maintain their own garden beds, while also getting lessons in arts, nutrition, and environmental education.

The Urban Open Space Foundation is managing the natural areas restoration which includes planting a native prairie, restoring a small maple woodland, and developing edible landscaping including an orchard. Community volunteers are a major component to the project.

Troy Gardens has become a major resource for the northside community by using a wide variety of land-use options in order to benefit area residents. While work continues to develop the site, Lezberg says that Friends of Troy Gardens will continue to solicit advice from residents because they are at the heart of the gardens.