Trees at library cleared for community gardens

Regular patrons of the Newport Public Library have no doubt noticed the recent change to the landscape there. A number of shore pine trees were removed at the north end of the parking lot to clear the area for a project called Juntos in el Jardin (Together in the Garden), which provides garden plots for use by the Latinx community and Mesoamerican Indigenous community members.

Juntos in el Jardin had been located at the Lincoln County Commons (fairgrounds), but because the county is getting ready to start a major improvement project there, those garden beds had to be removed. Members of the group spoke with the Newport City Council in February about obtaining space at the library, and the council approved that request. City Manager Spencer Nebel told council members, “This has filled an important need to address basic needs for this population.”

The site at the library is being provided through an agreement between the city of Newport and the Olalla Center/Lincoln County Extension as primary garden managers. The city also agreed to assist in making improvements to the land to be utilized for this purpose.

Library Director Laura Kimberly is a big supporter of the project. “The Newport Public Library is an ideal location for the establishment of a community garden space,” she stated in a report to the city council. “With existing infrastructure such as the Newport Seed Library, raised garden beds, ongoing programs, and partnerships, the library presents a unique opportunity to further enrich the community through sustainable gardening practices.”

Alex Llumiquina, with the Olalla Center, is a member of the Juntos en el Jardín leadership team. “For three years, 20 families had the opportunity to plant, harvest and celebrate the Juntos en el Jardin space, thanks to Lincoln County, who provided space to start this project,” he said. “We started with 16 garden beds and now we have 22 of them. Directly and indirectly, we serve about 80 community family members.”

Evie Smith, with Lincoln County Extension, is also on the leadership team. ““I have seen firsthand the importance of having access to the space to grow food for these members of our community,” she said. Both she and Llumiquina expressed appreciation to the city for making this garden space available.