Kathy Figel is shopping — sort of — for volunteers.
Figel is a volunteer founder and long-time director for the Edna White Garden, a flower and vegetable patch in the Morgan Park community of Chicago. Figel has tended the garden since its inception, which was in the early 1990s, and while there have always been volunteers for the garden, she is looking ahead to see what her needs are for this coming summer.
“We could use bee keepers, mowers and someone who is interested in keeping hops growing on a trellis,” Figel said.”I’d also like to see the space used for public art, and it would be really nice to get a greenhouse in that area.I’m sure there are folks in the community who have ideas and would like to volunteer to make their ideas happen.”
The Edna White Garden, located near the police station on 111th Street, 1812-26 W. Monterey Ave., is part of NeighborSpace, a nonprofit urban land trust in Chicago. Residents in a community put in “sweat equity” in maintaining the garden, and NeighborSpace helps with costs such as providing insurance, access to water and links to support networks.
When Figel and others started the garden, it was intended as a way to improve the community. Before the garden started, the area was an eyesore, but Figel and other volunteers — including long-time Morgan Park resident Edna White — worked to establish the space. When White was murdered in 1993, the garden was named for her as a memorial, and also to honor the amount of time she spent as a volunteer there.
“Summers in the garden are very nice, and this past October, we had a gathering for peace. I’d like to see more of that, or maybe Sunday afternoons with music or an art show,” Figel said. “We need to gather for peace again, because this can make our community stronger.”
Sal Campbell, a co-founder and lead curator of the Beverly Area Arts Alliance, liked the idea of an art show at the garden.
“We really value the Edna White Garden as a cultural asset in our neighborhood,” Campbell said. “It’s a beautiful place, and we look forward to partnering with them and working with them to make art happen there.”
Getting the garden to its present state was not an easy task. On two occasions, the city of Chicago delivered dirt to the area that Figel then had tested, and as a result of the tests, she requested removal of the dirt. The soil was not conducive to growing vegetables, and because the garden supplies fresh produce to the Morgan Park Food Pantry, Figel wanted to be sure the soil was adequate for growing good vegetables.
Another problem that occurred was that seedlings were literally washed down the drain during bad storms. Subsequent work with landscape architects help set the area up for proper drainage, and now the garden has grass, prairie plants, flowers and vegetables.
Figel estimates it took about three years for the garden to be in its present condition, but keeping the garden up requires volunteers, which is why Figel is always seeking helpers. There is always more that can be done.
“We started strong harvesting honey, but when the bees had trouble (referring to bee colony collapses throughout the world), we lost hives.Purchasing new bees every year is expensive. The garden has spent more than $400 on bees. It’s difficult to recoup the cost if the bees have trouble or the hive leaves. If the bees don’t make it through the winter, new ones need to be purchased again. Edie McDonald was an awesome beekeeper, and the garden relied on her.Now, we need a beekeeper to get us strong again.”
Resident businesses, particularly Bob and Geri DiCola of Olivia’s Gardens, share Figel’s enthusiasm for the garden, and have reached out to help.
“The DiColas have been crazy helpful, putting in plants around the police station and post office and helping in the garden with annuals and workers,” Figel said.
Chicago Ald. Matt O’Shea, 19th Ward, also expressed appreciation to the many volunteers who have worked in the garden and said another opportunity to help will be in April.
“It is important that we utilize, enjoy and promote the Edna White Garden,” O’Shea said. “We’ve worked hard to get it where it is today, and we still need more people to step up and improve things. There will be a cleanup there the third Saturday in April, and we will continue to help to make it clean and green there.”
Figel also spoke of her commitment to the garden.
“We have a great little eco-system there, and when city kids come in, they are so surprised to see things like white grasshoppers. We also need help mowing at particular times of the year, and we would love to see a public art piece at the garden.That would be so nice.
“And a greenhouse for the winter — that would be so great,” Figel said. “Musicians on a Sunday would be great too. There are so many things we can do in that garden. We’ve even had two marriages take place there.
“I was so upset when Edna White died. I was in my late 20s or early 30s, and we became friends. I could not say no to that woman, and I learned from her. Now, I’m not going to let this garden go.”
To volunteer to work in the garden contact Figel through the Edna White Garden Facebook page.
Patti Ahern is a freelance columnist and can be emailed at PattiRMA@aol.com.
