A community garden could take root behind Huntington North High School this spring.
Stan Bippus, representing Helping Hands Gardening, asked the Board of Public Works and Safety on Monday, March 15, for access to water for a community garden at that location.
The request was unanimously approved, and will be handed off to the city's water department for implementation.
Bippus told the board that he is looking at the three acres available between Ind.-5 and the Huntington North softball diamond, next to Viking Lane. He said a 100-foot by 200-foot plot could be used to offer the community two things: free, fresh produce to needy families, the elderly and veterans; and an education.
Bippus reported that the high school's agriculture students already have starter plants - such as broccoli and cauliflower - in the greenhouse, and third grade students from Flint Springs are interested in planting them.
Dave McKee, assistant superintendent for business for the Huntington County Community Schools, said after the meeting that the land in question belongs to the school corporation, but Bippus is partnering with Huntington North's agricultural department and FFA in the project.
McKee added that he and Superintendent Tracey Shafer gave Bippus permission to use the land back in September 2009.
Bippus requested permission from the city to access the fire hydrant behind Peebles in the Huntington Plaza, but he said he is prepared to use buckets to bring water from the high school. The water, he explained, would be necessary for two time frames, planting and harvesting, so that the vegetables can be washed off.
"We're just asking for a little water," he said, noting that a Water Buffalo system would be used. According to the MECO Military Web site, this system is a "self-contained water purification unit that has its own integral power source" and is housed in a small aluminum building that, explained Bippus, will probably be chained to a tree.
Dave Schoeff, the city's director of engineering, said that installing a padlock and a water meter could control access to the enclosure.
The board of works decided it was a matter for the water department, but members Mayor Steve Updike, Shirley Powell and Barry Cochran gave their approval of the donation of water and time to help Bippus' cause.
Updike suggested that Bippus and Schoeff form a partnership for this program.
"We still have a lot of things to work out, but we think it's going to be worthwhile," Bippus told the board.
One of those aspects is what to do with the extra vegetables. Bippus said he could give them to Love INC, but that would defeat the purpose of people picking their own on-site, he said. Other ideas include selling them at a farmer's market or setting up an honor system roadside stand with the money going into next year's seeds.
Bippus explained his hopes to expand the educational side by partnering with the local Purdue Extension office to provide information to buyers on how to preserve the vegetables and recipes to cook them, and with the Extension Homemakers clubs so they can go into the schools in the fall and teach the students how to make salads with the different vegetables available.
The goal is to provide the food to the unemployed or people in need, but Bippus added that no one would be turned down.
Schoeff said his office offers temporary water user permits, and part of the approved motion was to waive that fee so Bippus could get a permit and the water used could be tracked through the water department's meter.
