Commons Community Garden and Park

The Kent Community Garden project is officially complete, and we are excited to announce the Grand Re-opening in its NEW location! (behind the accesso ShoWare Center on the corner of 5^th Ave N & W James St) Saturday, April 1, we held a formal ribbon cutting ceremony.

The Kent Community Garden has been a valuable community asset since 1997, and our community has demonstrated just how excited they are to get gardening again by maxing out all plots available for registration! Mayor Ralph and members of the Kent City Council will be joining us, and we hope that you can, too. The event is open to the public and is now being promoted on social media and the City of Kent website.

Attendees enjoyed light refreshments and Kent Parks giveaways, plus herb starters will be available to go home with you (while supplies last!). Plus, the King County Certified Master Gardeners from the WSU Extension Master Gardener Program; they interacted with attendees and gardeners, and answered their questions about various home gardening topics.

There were 11 total responses to the survey, those results are as follows.

1. Are you a current participant of the Kent Community Garden Program? All respondents are current gardeners.

2. How many years have you had a garden plot in Kent?

1. 1-3 years: 81.8%
2. 4-7 years: 9.1%
3. 11+ years: 9.1%

(Questions 3 and 4 were asked of people who currently do not have or participate in the garden, those questions were not answered.)

5. Why are you interested in participating in a community garden? Select all that apply.

6. If you do or would like to participate in a community garden, what plants are you interested in growing? Select all that apply.

7. You are using your garden plot for:

8.What happens to the food you grow?

9. Would you be interested in participating in a food donation program at the garden? 10 respondents said yes and 1 said no.

10. Do you want to see composting and composting education? 9 respondents said yes while 2 said no.

11. Would you be interested in participating in training sessions or receiving help from experienced gardeners with growing your plants?12. How many hours per week do you think you would spend in a community garden?

13. Garden maintenance consists of many tasks to ensure an enjoyable gardening experience. The new garden space will require new and varied maintenance duties. Volunteer hours will be required with participation. Tasks could include weeding paths, organizing the tool shed, participating in work parties, planting in common areas, updating the bulletin board or assisting with garden coordination. How many volunteer hours during the growing season do you think could accomplished?

14. Would you be willing to take on a leadership role in the garden? 1 person said “yes”, and 3 people provided their email addresses.

15. Like most community gardens, the Kent Community Garden also charges a small annual fee for participation to maintain shared spaces and administration. How much would you be willing to pay for participation?

16. How would you want to join/register for the Community garden?

17. As the Kent Community Garden grows should the garden partner with for education or community connections with any of the following?18. How do you see the garden working with these groups?

19. With what race or ethnicity do you identify?

20. What language is spoken most often at home? 10/11 spoke English, 1/11 stated Swahili