Community Garden

[dezk85]

Hello all. I am PCSing to Yokota in March and I was recently doing research about the base. I couldn't find if there was a community garden there or not, but I did notice that Osan has one... does anyone know of one at Yokota?

Anyways, if there isn't one, I will have a lot of sparetime to try to see if one would be possible to establish. Would anyone know of other communities on the base who would be interested? Or, would anyone here be interested in doing something with this?

Any thoughts would be great.

[MOMx3]

There is not one.
I am glad that you asked this question. At our last base(scott) you could purchase garden plots- I think they went by the month- like $10 a month or something and you had a 4x10 area. You were required to keep it weed free and maintain it. I miss being able to go and harvest(as my kids would call it) the veggies that we grew. I am not sure where there would be able to put one here. I cant think of a big enough area where there would be enough room. I would put a garden in my back yard but dont know where elextrical and water lines run.

[Timenough]

I think it's a fantastic idea, and worth pursuing. The base has a community planner who would probably be the go-to person for something like this. But just like everything else on base, the command will want to know where the funding will come from, who would be responsible for enforcing the rules, and how to determine who gets plots.

With the Japanese coming on board in a few years it might also be a great way to promote cross-cultural exchanges. Especially among those who might not otherwise have a reason to interact (like work).

[MOMx3]

At our last base we had to sign up at housing office.We would have to pay $20 if it was our first time getting a garden plot. That $20 went to housing maintnance to go weed and till the garden for us. Then every month after that we had to pay $10 to rent the spot and we were responsible for maintaining our garden. Where would the gardens be placed is going to be the challenge. Also they would have to make it near where water is accessable. Unless we carry several gallons of water in our cars to take to our garden. But I am up for a challenge.

[MaggieMontgomery]

There was a community garden on base when I was a kid (30 years ago) I'll have to ask my mom where it was and how it worked. I think it's a great idea!

[dezk85]

There are definitely all those issues to work out as far as where to put it (I'm not there yet so I don't know what the layout is), planning the garden, where to get water, etc. etc.

As far as funding is concerned, there are lots of grants that can get the program running and there are lots of ways other bases have done this so there are some examples out there as to how it works after the initial push. In most places there is a small fee for the plots. The one back home was a similar $10 per month for a 10x10. And of course there are established rules like no chemicals, clean up after yourself, etc. etc. A board, if it is a private organization, would be in order I'm sure.

Does anyone know if housing is run by a private contractor? If so, what's the name of the company? Where we are currently at, the housing has major rules but like new ideas. They have some clout too as the wing king's wife works there. Anyways, housing may be able to help out with determining an area as well.

Thanks so much for all your responses. I think a big part of getting this pushed through from plan to action will be having the data there to support that people want it. The benefits to community gardens are obvious: inspire community togetherness, boost morale, makes healthy choices, learning/teaching opportunity. And nobody can deny that. But, in the end, it's always about the numbers.

Again, thanks and if you think of anything else, or know anyone else who has information, I'd love to compile it.

[Timenough]

Housing is not run by contract here. It is part of CE. Once you get here and settle in, if you are still interested and still have time to shake things up, PM me and I'll help connect with the people who can get it done (if they feel like it).

[okiegirl]

I think a community garden is an awesome idea. With the cost of veggies at the commissary being sky high on some things, it could really benefit alot of people. Bravo to you for thinking of it.