Worcester's Urban Gardens: Many Hands, Many Histories' By: Carolyn Kriso 08, Dianne Rocheleau Facult

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Worcester's Urban Gardens Many Hands, Many
Histories. By Carolyn Kriso (08), Dianne
Rocheleau (Faculty Sponsor)
Environmental Council
Regional
Abstract This project is the first of a two part
study of community gardens in Worcester. I
conducted a series of preliminary interviews of
current and past gardeners involved with the 22
plots that have arose in Worcester within the
past 30 years. The oral histories behind each
garden will be documented in a book, intended to
recognize and encourage community gardens. Key
findings include the diversity of use, type of
gardener, measures of success, and the impact on
the community. The second part of my study will
be a more broad study of the history and
processes of urban gardening in Worcester,
including key-informant interviews of founders,
past participants, facilitators, and city
officials in order to identify larger patterns of
community use of space. The collaborative
research will provide documentation of the
history of community gardening in Worcester, as
an identification of opportunities, problems, and
constraints for community use of space.
Important Findings

• Different Uses
• Social gathering space BBQs, music, art
  
• More utilitarian gardening space
• Aesthetic appreciation
  
• Play space for youth

Echinacea- Castle St. Garden
Benefits of urban community gardens
Research Question Who gardens at community
sites, why, and what are the impacts on the
neighborhood?
-Recreation -Education -Community
partnerships -Soil remediation -Quiet
refuge -Urban oasis -Greening public
housing -Greening empty lots -Building
relationships and -Social gathering places
food, -Neighborhood pride community music,
art.
Purpose To Assist the Worcester Regional
Environmental Council in documenting, evaluating,
and promoting urban community gardens.
Methods Over 30 interviews were carried out,
which served as the principle source of data for
this study. Interviewees included past and
current gardeners from various community gardens.
A set of guided questions turned into organic
conversation about personal experiences in the
gardens.
Provided by the Regional Environmental Council

• Whos Growing in Worcester?
• Multi-generational
• Multi-ethnic
• Cross class

• Questions and quotes
• How long has your community garden been here? How
  did it start?
• Since 2004. It used to be a rundown playground-
  Charles Buffone Garden
• We decided to start right in our backyardWe
  knew nothing about who even owned the lot. Dave
  McMahon (Dismas House), Richard St Garden.
• How long have you been gardening? Why did you
  start gardening? Where did you grow up?
• Puerto Rico, Italy, Hungary, Russia, Worcester,
  Poland, Albania, Philippines, France, Jamaica.
• We gardened in my country- the Philippines-but
  my children dont know. This is our first harvest
  together. -Esther Batino daughters, Charles
  Buffone Garden

Whats growing in Worcester? Lettuce, tomatoes,
sweet potatoes, sweet peppers, jalapenos, Snow
Peas, squash, flowers, Swiss chard, collard
greens, purple/white eggplant, okra, orgon,
scallions, chives, radishes, dandelion greens,
strawberries, lemon grass, basil, chocolate mint,
lemon balm, arugula, onion, garlic, rhubarb,
potatoes, Echinacea, cloves, various flowers.
Seed-saving workshop

• Problems in urban community gardening
• Water supply
• Land tenure and security
• Participation getting the word out

Oak Hill Garden
Oak Hill Garden

• What do you grow? Do you eat what you grow? Do
  you save your seeds?
• It takes us away from the concept that
  everything comes from the grocery store. People
  are continuously amazed that you can produce
  stuff that looks and tastes better than the
  fruits at the grocery store. It reminds us of our
  connection to the earth. Scott Shaeffer Duffy,
  Mason St Garden
• How do you run the garden? Do you have any
  problems with the garden?
• Everyone goes into everything. I dont think
  nobody has a special bed. These people really
  get along. There is no animosity we all met
  here for the first time.- Patricia Weston,
  Charles Buffone Garden.

• Future Research Directions
• Expanded study of community group use of open
  space in Worcester
• Book of Oral Histories of Worcester community
  gardens

Building compost bins at the youthGROW farm
Castle St Garden What makes this garden unique
is its historical and social aspect.- Cassandra
Datena. After a row-house burnt down in the mid
1960s, the residents of castle street began
informally gardening on the remaining plot. As
interest and participation grew, Worcester
Common Ground secured the lot for the gardeners
to prevent in-fill housing and to pay back-taxes
on the property. Various neighbors salvaged
stones and pillars, creating benches, terraces,
a barbecue pit, and brick sidewalks. Others began
clearing out more of the lot to section off more
plots. With more people are more space designed
for socializing, neighbors began frequent
barbeques, musical events, and social gatherings
in the garden. The garden has turned into the
glue that holds the neighborhood together
(-Castle St. gardener). It is a neutral place
where all people, including those not involved in
gardening, can interact.
YouthGROW Farm (Growing and Raising Organics in
Worcester)
Richard St Garden The Richard Street garden
demonstrates the opportunity for partnerships
between organizations in community gardens. The
garden was started in 1998 by the Dismas House-a
transitional house to reintegrate former
prisoners with the community- on a lot that
housed much illegal dumping and drug and sex
trade. With the help of Goddard School and
Aldersgate Methodist Church, and Worcester
Shines, over two tons of car parts, dead iguanas,
diapers, and construction debris were cleared
out. These community groups have secured the lot
with various donations, and continue to work
together on this and other community projects.

• Youth leadership roles
• Theatre skit performances
• Positive summer activity
• Involvement in community and ARTichoke food co-op
• Stipends of 36.00 per week

YouthGROW farm
BBQ at the Castle St garden
Richard St Garden and Mural by local muralist