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Growing together By Vickie Aldous Ashland Daily Tidings Apartment dwellers and homeowners with cramped or shaded yards will soon have room to grow their own produce and flowers. Ashland gardeners Carol Carlson and Carol Kale are founding a community garden on undeveloped parkland near the intersection of Hersey and Water streets, just north of the Ashland Skate Park. "You'll be able to dig your hands into the earth," Carlson said. "As we become more urbanized and more developments happen, there's less room for people to garden in their own back yards." The Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission gave the go-ahead for the community garden late last month. A master plan has yet to be drafted for the undeveloped park land, which is slated to become a neighborhood park in coming years. Organizers hope to open the garden on May 15. The garden will occupy the corner of a horse pasture bordered by Ashland Creek and a protected riparian area. Visitors will have panoramic views of both Mount Ashland and Grizzly Peak, and may catch a glimpse of deer that frequent the creek on the far side of the pasture. "We hope anyone could walk in and enjoy the area," Carlson said. "The riparian area will be protected. Wild animals need access to creeks and rivers. We envision green vegetables and bright flowers and people and kids." Organizers envision nearly 50 plots of various sizes covering half an acre of the 6.72-acre park property. The area will be protected by a deer fence. The fee to rent a 20-foot-by-20-foot parcel annually is $50, and the cost for a 10-foot-by- 10-foot parcel is $25, according to Kale. Smaller raised beds for senior gardeners could be created in the future, she said. Ashland Parks and Recreation Department staff estimated installing fencing and irrigation and tilling the soil would cost $1,800 for materials, with staff providing the labor. Before receiving a plot, community gardeners must sign a contract agreeing to follow garden rules, including using organic practices only. Organizers hope to bring master gardeners on site to help garden participants establish their plots during the first few weekends, Kale said. Green thumbs and inexperienced gardeners alike will be able to work side by side throughout the season, organizers said. "You get to commune with other gardeners, share knowledge and share seeds," Kale said. To reserve a plot, call the North Mountain Park Nature Center at 488-6606. LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -