From Community Garden to Family Table

(Aug. 3, 2024) On Saturday morning, despite a weeklong spell of hot muggy weather, everyone enjoyed the guided tours of one of the Brown County Community Garden’s oldest community garden. Established in 1996 and located in the Fort Howard neighborhood at Maple and Augusta in Green Bay, this Community Garden boasts a thriving and diverse population of gardeners growing a healthy variety of vegetables, herbs, and flowers—from corn, beans, and squash (The Three Sister) to lemon grass, Thai peppers, cabbage, onions, watermelons and tomatillos, on 32 plots. The crops were in peak form. Obviously well-tended, Maple & Augusta Garden does just what it was designed to do--provide “access to affordable, nutritious and culturally appropriate food.”

 Rachel Quintas, whose background includes organic agriculture, is the Community Gardens Coordinator and guided our Community Garden tours.  She collaborates with FoodWise and other local organizations to support accessible and culturally appropriate  foods, education on regenerative agriculture, and ideas and plans for urban farming/gardening.

Rachel Quintas, Brown County Community Gardens Coordinator

Jenna Mobile, who has rented a garden plot at Maple & Augusta for 4 years, is the Site Leader. She grows tomatoes, peppers, watermelons, basil, pumpkins, squash and some flowers to decorate her table. She lives in the neighborhood, but her yard is too shady to grow vegetables, so the Community Garden was just what she needed. Believe it or not, Jenna says she “likes to pull weeds” because it relieves the stress from her stressful job. She uses fertilizers sometimes and also mulch and composted plants and crops rotation to maintain the soil fertility. She’s “plant crazy”, a true gardener at heart. Jenna cans her tomatoes and makes spaghetti sauce with them and pesto from her basil. From urban farm to urban table—nice!

Jenna Mobile, Maple & Augusta Community Garden Site Leader, with her harvest of basil.

Brown County Community Gardens developed in 1996 by UW-Extension FoodWise Program to increase food security in Brown County, by 2024 the program grew to 15 community gardens on over five acres with more than 375 plots and 368 gardeners.

If you’re Interested in growing your own food, you can rent a plot of land at one of 15 community garden locations! Plot sizes range from 4’ x 8’ to 50’ x 50'*, and rental fees range from $15 to $55. Cut your grocery bill, get more fresh fruits and vegetables, and have fun as a family! Submit an interest/waitlist form here to be contacted for the next year’s growing season.