FOREST STREET GARDENS, EAU CLAIRE

Andrew Werthmann and the other community gardeners of Eau Claire certainly aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty. Having grown up on an organic dairy farm, Werthmann knew when he came to UW-Eau Claire in 2001 that he wanted to become a part of the food-growing process. With an eye on that goal, he co-founded the Eau Claire Community Gardens back in 2010, and the program has only grown since then.

As the gardens move into their seventh season, Werthmann expects that the group will grow beyond the 200-plus members it had last year. About 100 gardeners cared for the Forest Street garden alone, but there is definitely room for more people to dig in at all of the city’s community gardens.

Getting involved is easy: You can either rent an individual plot or join a shared garden and volunteer time to help maintain it. Being part of the shared gardens does not obligate you to put in a set number of hours, however. You volunteer as much as you can when you can.
Whether you’re a first-time gardener or a seasoned veteran of the soil, the gardening community is very welcoming. Newcomers can work alongside experienced gardeners on the group plots doing a variety of jobs, such as managing rain barrels, tending to compost piles, watering, general maintenance, and harvesting.

Volunteers get to bring home a cut of the harvest, and the rest goes to the Community Table food pantry. The gardens usually contribute between 2,000 and 4,000 pounds of fresh produce to the pantry each year, which is about 70 percent of the harvest.

Aside from gardening, the community also holds a couple of potlucks and social gatherings throughout the season to relax and get to know one another. There are also meetings about garden management, which shared-garden and individual plot members can attend to help hash out any issues and give their input about what should be done. Gardeners make decisions together, which is one of the many aspects of community gardens that fosters a positive, communal environment.

Werthmann notes that, like him, many people in the area have backgrounds in farming and growing food. These experiences usually come with fond memories, and tending community gardens allows people to remember those times while creating new memories with friends and family. Community gardening also provides healthier food options to families, allows people to spend some time outdoors, and helps build ties with neighbors and other members of the Eau Claire community.

For additional information about a garden near you or to sign up for the upcoming season, check out the Eau Claire Community Gardens website at eauclairecommunitygardens.com.