Garden Infrastructure
In order to flourish, a community garden needs a vast infrastructure of support. These include mechanical, electrical, and other environmental systems. Human labor and funds help maintain these systems. The location, layout, and use of these systems are unique to each garden. The garden needs soil, water, seeds, and beds. These materials are sourced from various locations. By mapping the sources of these materials and labor we begin to see that a garden is a node within a larger infrastructural network. This page examines what these background systems are and how they work. Come back to this page often, as we will add further information on such systems.
There are three water tanks at different points of the garden that stores water for the garden. Water comes from one of the community member’s houses through a hosepipe. Gardeners use water cans to water the garden. There is a tool shed that stores all the garden tools and necessary other instruments for gardening. The compost bins are just beside the tool shed. There are also bio-recycling bins on the northwest side of the garden close to the flower garden.
One final note: Although we see plants and animals as part of an ecological infrastructure, we created a separate webpage to discuss the living residents of this garden. Check out the Garden Ecosystems Page.
There are three water tanks at different points of the garden that stores water for the garden. Water comes from one of the community member’s houses through a hosepipe. Gardeners use water cans to water the garden. There is a tool shed that stores all the garden tools and necessary other instruments for gardening. The compost bins are just beside the tool shed. There are also bio-recycling bins on the northwest side of the garden close to the flower garden.
One final note: Although we see plants and animals as part of an ecological infrastructure, we created a separate webpage to discuss the living residents of this garden. Check out the Garden Ecosystems Page.
Gardens need a steady supply of water. The Cherry Street Community Garden occupies an entire city block and hence it becomes difficult for gardeners to carry water in watering cans or jugs. The location of the garden, the large size of the garden beds, and mobility issues that many elderly gardeners face, make it necessary that water is easily accessible to the growers. The Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee allows the Cherry Street gardeners to access water from the surrounding properties owned by HACM. Rick and Lisa of BloomMKE use a long hose to fill up a series of 1000 gallons water tanks. Gardeners can then fill watering cans to tend their beds. On exceptionally warm days they use the hose to directly water the beds. Access to water allows this garden to flourish.
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There are many tools used to maintain the garden and the land it is on. This diagram highlights the tools that members of the BLC Field School observed being used during the time they spent at the garden. Of course, some tools are only used seasonally, and others might be used weekly. The things that got the most use were the gardening gloves and the lawnmower. Because the shed is locked at most times, the main users of this equipment are the Roszkowski's. However, because they take care of all the maintenance at the garden and are there most days, most of the gardeners don't need access to the tools or are able to ask while Rick or Lisa is there.
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This story map (see below) shows a network of places related to the Cherry Street Community Garden. A garden doesn't exist in a vacuum. A system of support spaces and people helps maintain a healthy garden. This includes suppliers of soil and mulch, city officials, visitors, youth volunteers, funders, and the Housing Authority.
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