Grandview Green Thumbs

Former World War II victory garden welcomes growers of all experience levels

FOR 70 YEARS, Wallace Gardens has been the go-to spot for Grandview Heights residents who want to expand their gardening habit beyond their own back yards.

Wallace Gardens, 1569 Goodale Blvd., began as a victory garden during World War II with land donated by the Wallace family. After the war, it continued as a community garden, says Grandview Heights Parks and Recreation Director Sean Robey.

Residents can rent plots of plowed land each year and plant produce or flowers. For an annual fee of $25-$70, depending on the size of the plot, the city offers gardeners perks for planting there.

“This park makes a profit for the city and its only expenses are occasional mowing, plowing and the water bill,” says veterinarian and veteran gardener Tim McDermott. “All of those things are much less than they take in for the fees of using the garden. And the fees are not a burden at all. You get you all the garden you can handle from April 1 to Nov. 1 and they clean up after you.”

McDermott has planted, weeded and harvested at Wallace Gardens for 16 years, making sure his garden gets at least an inch of water a week. This year is no different – his 30 x 40 foot plot is full of onions, tomatillos, leeks and potatoes, among other vegetables.

This community garden has grown on him since he moved to Grandview.

“My wife and I put our names on the list immediately and we’ve been down here ever since,” McDermott says. “The garden was something that, even when we didn’t live in Grandview, we would come down and enjoy in the summer.”

In contrast to this year’s high participation rate – 102 individuals or families have plots – the garden was on the verge of closure a few years ago.

“Going back five or six years, people were thinking about getting rid of it and turning it into another ball field,” McDermott says. “A bunch of us gardeners decided to put a lot more time into the garden to make sure that it would not go away. Now, it’s back to being full every year and having multi-year waiting lists.”

Wallace Gardens acts as a social hot spot for gardeners and yields friendships throughout the growing season, relationships that may not have developed if everyone were just to garden at home, McDermott notes.

“There are a lot of other Grandview people who bring their families, and on a nice summer day, you’ll see all of your pals down here,” he says. “There is a big social aspect involved and it’s never competitive.”

McDermott gives tips on gardening for those who are interested, but not experienced.

“In February, I do a class on seed starting and getting ready for the growing season for the Grandview Parks and Rec,” he says. “In the past, we’ve done walkthroughs in the garden and I will meet any of the gardeners and answer any questions they may have about pests, diseases, plants and anything else. My biggest tip is to just be patient and don’t get discouraged if Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate.”

For the past 25 years, McDermott has harvested a vast knowledge about gardening both from personal experience and from classes.

“I took a class called bio-intensive vegetable gardening at Ohio University in Athens and it really got me started,” he says. “Students were given a plot of land and grades were dependent on how well they did that spring quarter. I got a C, but I would like to think I have improved since then and that my teacher might be proud of me now.”

The garden may be a hobby for many participants, but it has functional undertones as well.

“My family does this as a fun thing to do together and it pays off in that we get a tremendous amount of vegetables,” McDermott says. “It produces about half of our vegetables for the year. You can eat real healthy if you grow it yourself.”

The garden’s location provides it a great contrast with the surrounding urban atmosphere, Robey says.

“It’s so cool to have the garden juxtaposed to the urban horizon,” he says. “You can see the 20-story Summit Chase high rise in the background. It’s so unique.”

Those interested in renting a garden plot can contact Robey at 614-488-3111.

“Assuming you’re a Grandview Heights or Marble Cliff resident, all you have to do is email us or call us and we will have one for you as soon as they become available,” Robey says.

Stephan Reed is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at laurand@pub groupltd.com.

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