The town won the Virginia Municipal Innovation Award for Community Health and the Virginia Municipal League President’s Award
Lori Graham
Contributing Writer
The Town of Blacksburg was recognized at the Nov. 28 town council meeting for their achievement of the 2023 Virginia Municipal Innovation Award for Community Health as well as the Virginia Municipal League (VML) President’s Award for Innovation for the community gardens program, Mayor Leslie Hager-Smith announced.
“We won both awards at the VML this year, and I think that there is really a main reason why, and that is a partnership,” Kim Thurlow, Blacksburg Housing and Community Development Initiatives Manager. “We are lucky tonight to have Arlean here with us, and really, she was the spark plug behind the community garden program in the town. She opened up her private land for the community benefit.”
Arlean Hale Lambert offered up a garden space on her own property.
“Arlean and the YMCA operated the garden on her property until 2019. That year, she donated the land to the Town of Blacksburg, and LWEG took on the management of the garden program,” Garden Coordinator Steve Kruger said. “Two new gardens were added in Town Parks and managed by LWEG: Wong Garden in 2020, and the Garrison Garden in Cedar Hill Park in 2021.”
The successful partnership between the Town of Blacksburg and the community garden project is growing again, with additional garden spaces.
According to the presentation at the Council meeting, there are 100 existing community garden plots, 30-50 more in the works, a variety of programs that function all year round, with many opportunities for volunteers to become involved.
Blacksburg Town Council approved a plan to allocate funding for the community gardens, along with other town projects, through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Signed by President Biden in March of 2021, a 1.9 trillion-dollar plan was established to provide assistance to Americans in need following the pandemic.
“Our mission is to cultivate vibrant communities by fostering local food, farms, and gardens; creating jobs and growing small businesses; supporting an affordable home for all; and gathering friends and neighbors,” the nonprofit organization states on their website at www.liveworkeatgrow.org.
What started as revitalization of the old Prices Fork Elementary School in 2012, has become successful in meeting many needs for the local community members of Blacksburg.
The Prices Fork Elementary School provides mixed-income apartments, contains a shared-use kitchen called the Millstone Kitchen, has an independently owned restaurant business called El Ranchero, and craft beer at the Moon Hollow Brewery.
There are many opportunities to volunteer with the organization as well. Local organizations such as Virginia Tech University student groups, boys and girls scout troops, master gardeners, and individuals that just love to work in the garden find a way to support one of the local gardens. The Adopt-a-Bed/Weed Hunter is also a fun and relaxing way to spend some time outdoors while beautifying a spot at a local garden. Those interested in signing up for a garden spot to tend can send an email to gardens@liveworkeatgrow.org, or go directly to their website, select the volunteer page and click on the Choose a Garden Spot on Signup button.