November 21, 2009

Community Garden in Danger of Demolition

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By KSEE News

Story Published: Oct 15, 2008 at 7:09 PM EST

Story Updated: Oct 15, 2008 at 11:07 PM EST

Residents who use the community garden in east central Fresno were advised the City of Fresno plans to reclaim the property where the garden sits. Gardeners will have to leave by November 1.

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Supporters of the garden held a meeting Wednesday night to try to figure out what to do next. They have asked council members to find another place for the police station, but a majority of members think the garden has to go.

Many of the people who use the garden do so out of necessity. They work in the fields and then take home what they produce to feed their families. Some worry without the garden, families will have to do without.

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Thursday, Oct 16 at 12:21 AM leaf dingbats wrote ...

Right. Theres NO WHERE ELSE TO BUILD IT. Thank you Fresno for helping families out. Good Job. NOT

Thursday, Oct 16 at 1:44 AM mike wrote ...

It's the citys land. And I don't believe for 1 minute that anyone will go hungry.These "farmers are asians growing asian crops, look at the cars vans and trucks they drive,all nice and new.most of them get goverment aid.I don't see any "Community" I see only 1 race out there.

Thursday, Oct 16 at 12:25 PM don't generalize wrote ...

Fact: I really doubt that many of these 60- or 70-year-old farmers drove to the farm in their new toyota tacomas. Many of them can't drive, much less afford a brand new car. I'm not saying that the city is wrong about wanting their land back. But I am asking for a little respect and appreciation for farmers --whether they are Hmong, German or Somali. The farmers wouldn't be working under the hot sun unless they have to.

Friday, Oct 17 at 4:34 PM Taytum Rose Popp wrote ...

I am 10 years old and I don't know a lot about land use or new city buildings, but my personal opinion is that I think community gardens are necessary. They are useful for many reasons. They teach skills, they provide food that is local, organic, inexpensive, they are a good community project. Perhaps this one is not in a good location and we can help find some place else. It doesn't matter, Asian, Hmong, or something else, they rely on it, with a bad ecomomy there might not be enought food

Wednesday, Oct 22 at 8:46 AM C. DiAngelous wrote ...

The community around Melody Park was not contacted about the change in the ponding basin. The city spent thousands of tax dollars to create this basin and now they want to fill it in for farming. Does this make any sense? There must be other property available in the city or county that could be used by the Hmong community for farming? Explore more options! The ponding basin is needed for flood control and recharge of the underground water table.

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