Community garden blossoms in the heart of Leavenworth

LEAVENWORTH – In a quiet lot tucked behind the downtown core, Cascade Garden Club and Wenatchee River Institute (WRI) have created an oasis for people to learn, garden, and seek respite in the E. Lorene Young Community Garden. 

The community garden holds 33 raised garden beds, or plots, which are reserved at the beginning of the season through WRI, which owns and manages the property. 

Each plot holder gets access to an eight by four foot raised bed with an automatic watering system, use of garden tools, and compost donated by Winton Manufacturing. This summer, all of this was available for $55 per plot, or $45 for WRI members.

The garden serves all ages and skill levels, from those just starting out, to master gardeners. Each plot is as unique as its gardener, with some dedicating their space entirely to flowers, and others growing an entire pantry worth of vegetables. For crops such as berries and tomatoes, many gardeners use nearby materials to make their own uniquely shaped trellises.

“It’s kind of a scavenger garden. What we encourage is to just reuse stuff and make things that are fun, because gardens are kind of hit and miss. You’re never sure you’re going to have a crop, but you just do it because you like doing it,” said Claudia Cockerham, a volunteer through Cascade Garden Club.

Nearly two decades ago, the garden space was a mere vacant lot, owned by the former mayor of Leavenworth, E. Lorene Young. According to WRI’s community garden history, she told WRI’s former Executive Director Jeff Parsons shortly before her death, “There is one thing I do not want! I do not want that lot to become a parking lot. Can you promise me that?”

When Young died in 2007, she donated the property for education and stewardship purposes. Five years later, a group of volunteers and donors developed the community garden.

“A big hindrance in forming a community garden is you have to buy a piece of land. So, by not having to purchase land, we’ve been able to just then build the infrastructure, fencing, and [have been] able to get grants to beautify it with art,” said Cockerham.

The garden was made possible by Young, but the dedication of the Cascade Garden Club has ensured its continued success. About six years ago, the community garden lost a majority of its volunteers, and plot holder interest dwindled to just five plots in use, Cockerham recalls. Cockerham and her friend Judy Chavez made a concerted effort to bring it back to life.

“Anybody we could find, we said, ‘Take a plot, put some wildflower seeds, whatever, just get something growing…Judy and I each had five plots apiece because there were so many empty ones. And now there's a waiting list…That's success,” said Cockerham.

Thanks to the club, the space was transformed into a garden oasis, with pollinator gardens surrounding the plots, donated artwork scattered throughout, a shared herb garden, and shaded seating areas.

“[Plot holders] are responsible for their garden and just right around it, and so everything else is someone else's responsibility. And the Garden Club just takes that on. The plots are looking beautiful, but I think the garden as a whole really looks this nice because they've put in so much time into getting that going in the beginning of the season,” said Joshua Schaub, WRI Community Programs Educator.

The club puts in countless hours each season in order to maintain the space. Volunteers start around May, shoveling any snow if necessary, and preparing the beds. Then every two weeks, about eight volunteers gather in the morning to weed, deadhead flowers, and check irrigation leaks and dry spots. This is in addition to maintaining even more gardens at WRI’s River Haus and the Post Office.

“This one kind of has a whole different feel to us, because it's more community [based]. We invite people in and want them to experience it, because it's just a season, you know? It does its thing, and then it's over,” said Cockerham.

Although plots are reserved for the season, the garden is something to be enjoyed by all. Visitors are welcome to walk through, admire the garden, and spend time in the common areas. 

“The part that I'm always wanting just to emphasize is how it's open to the public. I want to see more people in here just enjoying it, even if they're not a plot holder, taking some of the herbs, or having a picnic in here,” said Schaub.

Large parties, drinking, and dogs are not advised. While items grown in plots are off-limits, visitors can take home clippings from the community herb spiral or a book from the Little Free Library.

The garden is located on the corner of 12th and Commercial Streets. Those interested in volunteering or reserving a plot for next year may contact WRI at 509-548-0181 or info@wenatcheeriverinstitute.org.

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media