Would you like to see more photos?

Then check out our new garden photo album!

We started out like this.......

....but with hard work, cooperation and patience.....

.....by September, we had created this!

Midvale elementary school in the background.

Midvale Gardens

"Gardens, scholars say, are the first sign of commitment to a community. When people plant corn they are saying, let's stay here. And by their connection to the land, they are connected to one another."

-Anne Raver

Midvale Community Garden

The Midvale Community Garden opened for business on Saturday, June 3rd, 2006. The Children's Garden broke ground in spring 2007 with students planting a sunflower hut, bean and morning glory teepees, a butterfly garden and much produce including gourds, corn, tomatoes, and peppers. In fall 2007 we added 70 fruiting trees and shrubs thanks to a generous contribution by the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation

Currently, we have twenty-six 10x10 foot plots. Payment for plots is based on a sliding scale, set to be affordable for everyone while still collecting enough money in the garden bank account to pay for tools, hoses, a shed, etc. Information for registered gardeners is available, including garden events and garden rules. If you are interested in a plot, please contact Nancy Letcher:

What is Community Gardening?

You’ve probably heard the term community gardening, but what exactly is it? Many people think community gardening is simply a way to grow food -- the same as back yard gardening, only not in their back yard. Community gardening is different for it creates the opportunity for a diverse set of people to work together to care for a wonderful and productive neighborhood space. Natural outgrowths of these gardens are new personal relationships, cross-cultural exchange, a greater sense of connection to one's community, neighborhood beautification, and an overall strengthening of the neighborhood's social fabric. Click here to learn more about Madison's Community Gardens.

The Vision Behind the Midvale Garden

Our goal is to create a community/school garden and gathering space with year-round beauty at Midvale Elementary School. We would like this space to be used for meeting, eating, teaching and sharing. We are motivated by a vision where the community and school work together to contribute to a healthy, positive neighborhood environment and improve the livability of the community as a whole. Our proposed landscape plan is now available as a pdf file.

This landscape plan shows what is possible however, we would like to work with our neighbors and the school to ultimately determine what the garden should look like. We plan to work towards this goal in phases starting first with the establishment of community plots. We recognize that it will take several years to accomplish this vision.

The Need for a Garden

Currently there are no community gardens in the neighborhood, existing community gardens have a waiting list and the closest garden is not within walking distance.

Who's organizing the garden?

The Midvale Community Garden Committee consists of a group of neighborhood volunteers with the following duties:

Co- Coordinators – Rachel Martin and Nancy Gutknecht

Registrar – Nancy Letcher

Treasurer – Betsy Hambrick

Web site designer – Ann Wieben

Volunteer coordinator- Kristen Davis

Current goals of the Committee are to provide for on-site tool storage, secure a more permanent water source, and create the school garden. Long-term goals include creating a living fence around the entire garden out of native perennials, establishing a beautiful community gathering space, and building a green-house or hoop-house. Our proposed landscape plan is available as a pdf file. Every year we make more of this plan a reality. If you would like to help with any of these goals, please contact us.