Raising a garden for Jackson Ward
Photo by Erin Edgerton
Jackson Ward resident and VCU employee Jourdan James launched a crusade to privately-fund a community garden and engagement space in Jackson Ward at the intersection of West Jackson St. and Chamberlain Parkway despite facing obstacles.
The Jackson Ward Community Garden GoFundMe has an overall goal of $2,700, which would pay for a two year lease on the land, as well as help covering expenses like raised beds, soil, mulch, picnic tables and other utility equipment.
“It’s something I decided I believe in and want to do,” James said. “Hopefully the community supports me.”
According to James, each plot would be rented to local residents, or in the case of someone being unable to pay, plots could be rented in exchange for volunteering hours at the garden.
“I want it to be resource for the community, for the residents that live here that are trying to be green, or learn how to pull in more butterflies around their houses, or take care of bees,” James said. “To teach people about landscaping their own yards.”
Of the 8,000 square foot space, James says she plans for half to be raised beds, with the other half for to be used for picnic tables, community engagement space and perhaps beehives, James said.
“I kinda figured I had to do it myself to get the ball rolling,” James said.
The minimum goal is $2,200, for a two year lease. At the time of this publication, the GoFundMe had raised nearly $900. James said she plans to make the push to purchase the land before the two year lease is up, to stop the owner from selling or leasing the land.
James said she hopes to be breaking ground on the lot in November.
“When things settle down to get ready for spring,” James said.
Because of lead levels in the soil in Jackson Ward, Richmond Grows Gardens, a program by city administration to promote and create community gardens in Richmond, rejected the proposal for a community garden in Jackson Ward, James said.
“But if you look at the policy – they require raised beds so the lead levels in the soil are irrelevant,” James said.
According to Richmond Grows Gardens policy and guidelines, if the soil conditions require the use of raised beds, then a barrier must be installed to ensure that existing soil does not come in contact with plants or clean soil being used for gardens.
SPECTRUM EDITOR
Jesse Adcock
Jesse is a junior print journalism major and Arabic and Middle Eastern culture minor. He has walked in the valley with no water and bitten the heads off of snakes.
