YMCA “Wild West” Community Garden to be Built

Seeds have been planted both figuratively and literally for a new community garden on the Wildwood Family Y (YMCA) property.  Plants should be sprouting soon, due to a recently formed group of local gardeners organized by the Wildwood Y staff. 

"Here in Missouri, we should be able to garden until late in the fall, and our group is working now to get the garden opened and ready for planting,” said Jodi Smedley, a Y employee heading up the effort.  “We have been amazed by the response from the community.  We sent out a mailing to all of our ‘Y’ members, and we got an enormous numbers of calls on it immediately."

At the first meeting, 30-plus people attended, and 20 groups of gardeners already have committed to the effort. “Many of these gardeners are part of a group. For example, one group of ladies who cycle together decided to join forces to have a garden,” said Smedley. 

She said other groups are families or co-workers. 

The Y has provided space for the sunny, 5,000-square-foot garden, to be  located just west of their building, and the facility staff also will provide a watering system.  A fence will enclose the area to keep out deer and other wildlife. 

"This is a great community project, and it is a perfect fit with the YMCA and our mission.  The purpose is to educate people about healthier eating, show social responsibility and build communities," said Smedley.

"This is a project for the community and by the community. One goal of the group is to provide free food to the local food pantries or retirement communities."

Attending this week's leader meeting at campus was Jerry Mooneyham, a Y board member and volunteer; Jill Gardner and Gary Oleksiw, also Y members and avid gardeners; Julie Housley, president of the Wildwood Garden Society; Christie Greer, district marketing director of the , and Smedley. 

Discussion at the meeting covered design issues, types of soil and sources for building materials.  All of the leaders were bubbling with ideas for the new group.

“I really feel that the more you put into a community, the more you’ll get back. More importantly, I’m passionate about the importance of healthy eating, especially for children,” said Gardner.

Gardner has two youngsters, 12 and 14.  “They’re reluctant gardeners,” she laughed. 

“But it’s important that we make a connection with what we’re eating, to know where our food comes from,” she said.

To help cover costs associated with the garden, there will be an annual fee of $25 for a 4-by-10-foot plot, and $40 for a 4-by-16-foot plot, which is typical of similar community gardens.  The group is seeking donations of landscape timbers, fencing, fence posts and gardening tools. They would like to work with local Scout and community groups to bring their project to completion.  Team leaders indicate group meetings and work parties may be scheduled throughout the season, and participating gardeners will be asked to help keep the entire area looking neat.

The next meeting is scheduled for March 30 at 6:30 p.m. at the Wildwood campus of the community college; the public is invited and encouraged to attend.

“We hope that the new community garden will be fun and healthy for the whole community,” said Greer.  To help or get involved with this community effort, contact Jodi Smedley at the YMCA by calling 636-458-6636 or email her at jsmedley@ymcastlouis.org.