By Debra Willis
Troy Community Garden
There’s a magical place on the Northside where dreams come true. Some people drive by and see only plants and fences, but this is where the extraordinary happens. For a number of years, gardeners, farmers, children and educators have gathered here. They have roughed up the soil, dug in the dirt and planted seeds; and their passion and hard work have brought dreams to fruition. They have made Troy the amazing place it is today.
Located in the 500 block of Troy Drive, Troy Community Garden is the second largest community garden in Madison with 327 gardening plots where Northside gardeners converge to grow food for their families. Here also is Troy Kids’ Garden, where over 1,000 children come every year to learn the wonders of planting a seed and watching it grow into food. Magical things happen here: smiles and laughter, wonder and amazement, connection with nature and with the food that sustains us.
And here also is Troy Farm. Tucked behind the garden, beside the beautiful restored prairie, it is the first and only community supported farm in Madison where farmers are trained in the art of producing food for others. Once a week they offer their produce for sale to the community — organic, healthy food grown right here in our Northside neighborhood.
All this is under the umbrella of Community GroundWorks, a nonprofit organization that connects people to nature and local food. Through hands-on education, children and adults learn gardening, urban farming, healthful eating and caring for natural areas.
Garden plots are available in the spring for as low as $15. If interested in a plot or if you have questions about Troy Community Garden, email troy53704@gmail.com.
For more information about opportunities at Community GroundWorks or to learn more about the many activities in the Troy Kids’ Garden or Troy Farm, visit our website at communitygroundworks.org.
