Start Now Gardens on Bloomington Avenue

by Jean Schanen

My husband and I operate an urban farm on Bloomington Avenue in Bremerton, Washington. At first our goal was to grow our own food. That was easy. Then a neighbour who loved gardening, but no longer could, gave us space in her yard for garden beds, and the neighbour on the other side, who didn’t want to have to mow the inconvenient front strip of his yard, gave us more space.

More beds on the roof, more beds along the alley, and soon we were raising enough vegetables and berries to stock a table at the farmers market. We are now the proprietors of an urban farm, set right in our busy neighbourhood!

People walking along the sidewalk stop to look. Some ask questions. Maybe they are getting the idea that they can do something similar at their homes. When we go for walks we see lots of yard space that would work just fine for gardens.

We are even starting to see more gardens. The local food idea is taking hold around the country, around the world for that matter. People are understanding the powerful ecological reasons to eat local food, and realizing that besides doing good, it IS good, the very best food there is! We know now that “fresh” produce shipped from a distance isn’t fresh. We can all tell the difference.

Imagine vegetable gardens in every yard, and big ones in public spaces. If we have the will, there is a way.

See their Start Now website here.

Early photo of children gardening at school, USA, circa 1899.

See large version of photo here.