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Community Garden Proposed

    A community garden could be coming to Umatilla.  Resident Courtney Rohrdanz is spearheading the effort that looks to create a garden space where fellow gardeners who lack space at home can gather to raise healthy food, celebrate community, offer hands-on learning, and fellowship with one another to share ideas.
    Rohrdanz has been working with the City of Umatilla to develop plans for a space that could be used for a community garden, and has been speaking with area residents and businesses about gathering the needed supplies and support to get the garden plan off the ground.
    “We’re gathering local support so the city will consider the project,” Rohrdanz said this week, adding that so far 20 families and several local businesses have stepped forward to express interest in the idea.
    So has the city, with assistant city manager Adam Bolton this week stating he has spoken with Rohrdanz.  Bolton said the city is open to offering support to the project if a group comes forward with solid plans to create and manage the garden in the long term.  He said the back open field of Cadwell Park could be a landing place for the garden should plans come together. While the city isn’t interested in managing the project, Bolton said the city could provide things like water to the project if it is comfortable the garden will be maintained in a vibrant state.
    That’s the plan, according to Rohrdanz. She envisions a garden that highlights Umatilla’s rich agricultural history, offers monthly workshops for specialty skills like citrus growing and beekeeping, and provides a place for the next generation to learn agricultural skills.
    Rohrdanz has created a website that outlines the goals of the projects.  Anyone interested in learning more about the project or who would like to get involved are invited to visit www.thehopefulgrove.com.