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Locals’ effort aims for community garden in Lewes

Organizers hope to begin planting next spring
June 17, 2016

Community gardens are not unusual in cities and other high-density areas, but it's an idea still a bit foreign in Lewes. For Kathryn Harris and Michael Whitehouse, a community garden is less about working with your neighbors out of necessity and more about building a sense of camaraderie and civic pride.

Still in the very early stages, Harris and Whitehouse are presenting their idea to neighbors and local groups in order to muster support and move the project forward. With help, they say, they hope to begin preparing the first community garden this fall in order to begin planting next spring.

Harris said the idea comes from Lewes Parks and Rec Commissioner Lou Papp. Now, she and Whitehouse are working to make that idea a reality. 

Whitehouse said he's lived in cities and bigger towns where space is at a premium, and community gardens are popular in those environments.

“In dense, urban housing, many people live in condos or apartments and don't have their own land,” he said. “Catherine and I both have gardens [in Lewes]. This is more about the community building aspect, the civic component.”

They also see the community garden as an educational opportunity, a place where more experienced gardeners can work with newcomers to build a foundation for gardening.

In their conversations with neighbors, they say they've heard some concern that a community garden could have negative impacts on the community. Harris said their only intention is to add more to the community.

“This will be small with only positive impacts,” she said. “It's not going to be a big, overwhelming venture with noise and traffic. We will start modestly.”

The path forward is not etched in stone, as Harris and Whitehouse are still working to build a small group of volunteers and find and finalize potential sites for the garden.

To learn more about the effort, email cather1neharris@hotmail.com.  

Nick Roth is the news editor. He has been with the Cape Gazette since 2012, previously covering town beats in Milton and Lewes. In addition to serving on the editorial board and handling page layout, Nick is responsible for the weekly Delaware History in Photographs feature and enjoys writing stories about the Cape Region’s history. Prior to the Cape Gazette, Nick worked for the Delmarva Media Group, including the Delaware Wave, Delaware Coast Press and Salisbury Daily Times. He also contributed to The News Journal. Originally from Boyertown, Pa., Nick attended Shippensburg University in central Pennsylvania, graduating in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He’s won several MDDC awards during his career for both writing and photography. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, going to the beach with his family and cheering for Philadelphia sports teams.