Community Garden: Pathway To Creating A Healthier Community

Like minded people who wanted to see their community be as healthy as possible, saw those dreams begin to come true when four years ago, they received a grant for a community garden at Barb Dye Park in Ulysses.

"In 2019, IMPACT Ulysses, Inc., the local community health coalition was selected to receive the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Pathways to a Healthy Kansas grant," explained IMPACT Ulysses Executive Director, MargaretHermocillo Obholz. "The whole purpose of the grant is to increase or create healthy opportunities in the community - basically to have active living, healthy eating, and commercial tobacco prevention - encouraging communities to designate community spaces as tobacco free zones."

Pathways to a Healthy Kansas provided the tools and resources needed to remove barriers and engage the community in August 2020, according to Obholz.

"There is total of six packages we choose from that will focus on different areas to build the corroboration within the community," Obholz said. "The community garden is already set and done - that was one of our food pathways, so it would be a package."

IMPACT Ulysses, Inc., has "engaged multiple sectors to create energy toward the six pathways of health".

"(We have) partnered with many organizations to apply for Implementation Grants that supported community input, community needs and supported the identified goals, through the InitiativesTeams' work within Ulysses."

Obholz said they had "access" to $20,000, but received more.

"The Blue Cross Blue Shield grant awarded the City of Ulysses $30,000, because of the expenses of what would be included," she said.

Obholz is hopeful the $30,000 grant, to create the community garden, will be one of many to come.

"The park, also known as Peach Tree, was selected based on the input of various focus groups, availability of space, and a partner (the City of Ulysses) who would support the community garden over the next five years," she said, adding that Barb Dye Park was a "great place" to begin work on the health initiatives.

"(These) health initiatives, will impact the entire community, and (Barb Dye Park) was already established with open space," Obholz said.

The Pathways Implementation Grant covered the cost of a water meter installation, fencing, raised beds, gravel, tools, concrete, pergola covered sitting areas, benches and trees, according to Obholz. 

"The community garden will have 24 plots available to residents to rent for a low fee with the requirement of a signed agreement to follow the garden guidelines and recommendations," Obholz explained.  "Along with the land, the City of Ulysses will provide the water needed for garden crops."   

Many of the initial steps have been completed for the project, but there is more to do.

"We've gone through the process of the focus group, the policy resolutions with the city - all of that was successful in getting implemented,"Obholz said. "What is new to that is the additional funds through Pathways that is available for communities which led to other ammenities at that park. Part of our Pathways is called place making. We have alloted some money for those ammenities at the park."

The park will also be designated tobacco and vape free.

"That's something we have been working on in the community anyway," Obholz said.

The community garden will be managed through a partnership with Grant County Research and Extension.

"Grant County Extension will help organize the rental of the plots, provide some valuable training and hopes to create a community orchard," Obholz said. "The community garden has just started, but over the next several seasons, we will see tremendous growth and improvements. This gift to the city from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas and the partnership with the City of Ulysses, Grant County Research and Extension and IMPACT Ulysses, Inc. kickoff the first of many projects to bring attention to the opportunity to get started with healthy eating and active living.

Troy Unruh, IMPACT Ulysses Director of Community Engagement emphasized the opportunity available.

“The community garden belongs to Ulysses, and it is another community feature that creates opportunity to build relationships, while building health," Unruh said.

Obholz reiterated the importance of the project.

“The community garden will beautify the park, provide increased accessibility to fresh produce, promote healthier lifestyle, provide an outlet to relieve stress, and increase wellness.” she stated.

As a result of the Pathways grant, cost to the city is kept at a minimum.

"We don't want to be a burden," Obholz said. "At the same time the city does have staff who are helping us with the installation so there was their time for doing that."

So far, the water meter, and a a fence have been installed, and plots are being installed.

Obholz said there used to be a community garden in 2012 across from the Hickok Elementary. She was not sure who had started that project, but noted IMPACT Ulysses is the result of a cooperative effort.

"That's what we bring to the table," she said.

The community garden will be available for organizational and individual use.

"There will be a charge for the plots there has to be some type of agreement," she said.

Obholz said they anticipated for the community garden to be completed in February or March, but there are still things to finalize.

"We do want to encourage people to take advantage of the community garden," Obholz said. "It will be handicap accessible. Monica Walker with K-State  Research will be planting some orchids to beautify the area and there will be some pergolas for people to be able to sit within the garden - to allow people to gather."

Barb Dye Park was selected because it is in town, Obholz said, and it was a "blank canvas."

The Barb Dye Park is located one half mile south of Highway 160 on the southeast side of Ulysses. The park is equipped with a jungle gym near a nine- tabled picnic shelter, grassy turf and a basketball court. A picnic table is located on the north end of the park along with an additional set of swings. The park was formally dedicated in honor of Barbara Dye in 2004. “Barb” was a beloved member of the community of Ulysses.

In the United States, community gardens got their start in the 1890s during an economic recession. Detroit was the first city to start community gardens on vacant lots. Due to a significant amount of unemployment and hunger, these vacant lot gardens helped fill an essential need.

Following vacant lot gardens were school gardens. In urban settings, schools wanted to connect children to nature. Then, three significant events impacted US history. World War I in 1917, the Great Depression of the 1930s, and World War II in the 1940s. Gardens provided food security for millions of families. During WWII, it’s estimated that Victory Gardens provided 40 percent of all fresh vegetables.