As We Grow

The community garden movement in America has been strong and growing. With an increased national focus on sustainability and preserving and growing local food sources, it becomes incumbent upon every community and organization to do what they can to make our earth a better place. Community gardens can be many things, but at their essence they are a way to connect the residents of the community with nature and horticulture.

In Sturgeon Bay we have provided community gardening opportunities but more than “just gardening” we created an outdoor laboratory for learning. We find families spend time together, unplugged. They experience how what we eat is directly related to how we feel. The learn, first hand, how sunshine, rain, wind, soil, water and wildlife work together to provide us with the building blocks of a healthy life. Visit us during the growing season, take a walk on paths throughout the garden and experience the growth.

The Community’s Garden is an 8 acre park located on the Door County Medical Center (DCMC) campus on 16th Street in Sturgeon Bay. Along with DCMC, the City of Sturgeon Bay, and Lowney’s Landscaping Center, Inc., are active participants at The Community’s Garden. A conceptual design for expansion of the garden includes the following features:

• Prayer Garden
• Accessible trails through cedar “forest/wetland” area with educational stops throughout
• Rain Garden
• Large pond with native marsh plantings aerated with a bog system
• Wildlife viewing area
• Areas for themed gardens
• Council ring
• Children’s garden
• Small greenhouse/educational building that will house a demonstration kitchen,
  space for starting seedlings, and classroom designed for interactive learning
• Formal perennial herb garden
• Theme gardens
• Demonstration gardens for others to showcase sustainable gardening methods
• Production gardens for use in hospital kitchens
• Outdoor sculptures

Activities that are occur during the growing season or plan to be in the future at the Community’s Garden include:

• Nutrition classes for children and families, which will include learning where food comes from, promotion of a physical activity (i.e. gardening), harvesting of food, hands-on cooking and canning classes, and utilizing foods when they are in season
• Gardening classes and volunteer opportunities
• Special activities for residents of the DCMC skilled nursing facility
• Physical therapy including horticultural therapy

Concept Drawing of Future Site

(click to expand)