In Oella, Garden Helps Cultivate Community

Looking at the tall tomato plants, plentiful zucchini vines and bounty of herbs that now flourish in a corner of land at the Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum in Oella, it’s hard to imagine the land was once waist-high with weeds.

That was before the fenced-in space was taken over neighbors associated with the Greater Oella Community Association and turned into a community garden. After months of laying the groundwork and planting this spring, the last two months have yielded a plentiful harvest that has benefited the whole community.

“It was like a big bush; a jungle,” said Jay Patel, as he gestured around the greenery that surrounded the property on a work day this summer.

The idea was first hatched several years ago by some neighbors, as many lamented that some of their properties in Oella didn’t have enough space for a garden. In the fall of 2009, a group from the community association approached the with a formal proposal. The community garden group is an affiliate of both organizations. Ilse Munro, Ann Hackeling and Amanda Lauer all worked together on the proposal.

By Earth Day, the groups broke ground on the plots, which are behind a deer fence in a 35-by-60-foot area that has been designated a nursery at the park.

“It’s beautiful,” said Munro. “It’s exceeded everyone’s expectations.”

This year, 12 individual plots are occupied. Members paid $50 for a plot or $25 if they shared it with someone. The group has shared seeds, set up a watering schedule and group work days to weed and harvest together.

They’ve also shared in the challenges of modern-day gardening, which include fending off bugs, blights and other invaders.

Hillary Brich and her husband’s plot was the couple’s first attempt at gardening. Their most fruitful plants have been their tomatoes and green peppers.

Some of their other plants didn’t do as well. The blueberry bush produced exactly one blueberry, which she and her husband shared.

But what’s been the best part about working on the garden together has been the community it has helped create.

The gardening group has an e-mail list where they swap recipes, share ideas for detering rabbits and celebrate their harvest.

“It’s more fun to do this together,” Brich said.

As far as the members know, the community garden is the only one of its kind in Baltimore County that is run by a community association. There is a community garden in Howard County run through the Howard County Conservancy.

There is still space for more plots next year. The group is also looking at expanding the idea of community gardens across the county, potentially in other neighborhoods, schools or senior centers.

For more information on the garden, go here.