Vancouver Area Community Gardens (Longview: apartment complexes, mobile home, living)

[Resfeber]

Does anyone here have a community garden plot or experience with them in the Vancouver area?
If so, I'm curious about your experience.

I'm hoping to get a plot when I move to the area and I'm wondering if they are hard to get.

Did you find it to be a very social experience? (prior to Covid)

Were the resources (water access, any tools) well maintained?

If you've have experience with more than one location, which one did you think was the best?

Any special pest problems?

Also, did you have any problems with theft, including produce?

I'd really love to hear just about anything really.

[texasdiver]

There is a big one up by Evergreen HS. I don't know anything about it though....

The city has a web site for community gardens: https://www.cityofvancouver.us/parks...munity-gardens

[cyberous]

What part of Vancouver are you looking at?

In Downtown/Uptown you will see lots produce grown in and out of planter boxes. Utilization of yards (front & back) and the median are very common. I have only seen a hand full of what I would think are community gardens. The ones I've seen are located on site at small apartment complexes.

I have not heard of any complaints on theft, rather notifications of free produce available on sites like Nextdoor and FB.

[texasdiver]

Originally Posted by cyberous

What part of Vancouver are you looking at?

In Downtown/Uptown you will see lots produce grown in and out of planter boxes. Utilization of yards (front & back) and the median are very common. I have only seen a hand full of what I would think are community gardens. The ones I've seen are located on site at small apartment complexes.

I have not heard of any complaints on theft, rather notifications of free produce available on sites like Nextdoor and FB.

Unlike central Portland, most of Vancouver is very suburban and fairly low density. So honestly there is probably much less demand for community gardens since most people have large enough yards to plant what they want in their own backyard or front yards. Most of the really serious gardeners are probably doing backyard gardens.

[Resfeber]

Originally Posted by texasdiver

There is a big one up by Evergreen HS. I don't know anything about it though....

The city has a web site for community gardens: https://www.cityofvancouver.us/parks...munity-gardens

Thanks...Yes I know where the Community gardens are....There is a large County run one as well.
I'm wondering if anyone on this board has had any experience with them.
Thanks!

[Farmer15]

Hey Resbeber, you might get the info you need from a FB group called SW Washington Area Gardeners. Very active group with diverse experiences.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/174921159995936

[StealthRabbit]

Or...
https://extension.wsu.edu/clark/heritage-farm/

https://extension.wsu.edu/clark/master-gardeners/

It would be so great if the Heritage Farm could reach back to it's "Poor Farm" history and utility of the 1800's. Just imagine how useful to have a mentoring opportunity for those wishing to learn sustainable living and business ventures... as well as safe, creative, and educational transitional housing, living, learning and growing. For individuals, families, and the community.

But because of the great central location, available land, and nice views (nearly to Longview on clear days), there is tremendous pressure to develop and make a killing.($$$$)
Many within Clark County planning and government have strong interests and objectives to make the development of Clark County Heritage Farm happen. Fortunately there in a historical cemetery on the most prime 'knoll' of this site.
(Temporarily...)

I spent years of my life trying to improve this specific region of Vancouver. Great soils, great neighbors, many previous farms and orchards (including our previous u-pick Fruit Farm, founded in 1912). But alas... In came the mobile home parks and apartment complexes, and then the pressure to quit AG related activities, then the increases in rules and property values that made it impossible to retain open land acreage as a private land owner. Thus if a farmer has ideal acreage in town, you must grow apartments or donate your farm as a public park.... Then go elsewhere and start your farm from scratch. (Again, 3x for me)