NW Valley Times

A community hub fostering friendship, nutrition, and health has emerged in Glendale over the past decade. This development is due to the efforts of a dedicated non-profit organization, committed volunteers, and supportive city employees.

Heart for the City’s Community Garden, situated on 69th Avenue just north of Bethany Home Road, serves as a green oasis where residents of all ages engage in planting fruits and vegetables, taking cooking classes, celebrating events, and bonding outdoors.

The non-profit Heart for the City focuses on nurturing at-risk children and teens. It receives support from the city of Glendale, which provides a scenic neighborhood spot behind Glendale Fire Department Station 152. The city also offers infrastructure such as waste disposal and a paved parking lot while continuously recruiting volunteers to assist with planting and maintenance tasks.

Stephanie Fenderson-Gonzales, Glendale's Community Services Program Coordinator, noted that the garden developed in an “organic” way through collaboration among city officials, Heart for the City, residents, and local businesses. Each partner contributed time and resources to establish it.

“We’re all about supporting the community, supporting neighborhoods,” Fenderson-Gonzales said. “It brings the community together, gives them a space to gather. They get an education on how to garden. They also receive some nutrition education on the benefits of growing your own food.”

Over the last year, the garden expanded its offerings from 23 to 34 fruit trees. Gardeners cultivate various produce including okra, eggplant, chiles, squash, tomatoes, carrots, watermelon, Swiss chard among others in 4-by-8-foot beds. Anyone can rent a bed for $25 annually; however this fee is waived for those unable to afford it.

The program attracts diverse community members. Local schoolchildren visit for classes on planting and growing produce taught by Fenderson-Gonzales with assistance from Heart for the City staff and participating gardeners who answer questions about gardening. Girl Scout and Eagle Scout troops along with students from local schools have built boxes and shelves for the garden while local businesses and farmers have donated seeds. Children from Boys & Girls Club branches also volunteer at the garden. The pathways are ADA-accessible allowing people with disabilities from local organizations to experience it.

“We have so many different folks from different parts of the world that have gardens here,” said Joe Enriquez founder/CEO/president of Heart for the City. “Every person grows $500 worth of produce per year from the garden. We provide seeds water soil. The city’s been a very good partner.”

Gardeners hailing from China Mexico Peru Guatemala Hungary share recipes gardening tips food with each other bringing relatives to join in activities.

Anyone interested in volunteering at Community Garden can visit Community Volunteer - City of Glendale (civiclive.com) or email [email protected].