Big plans for Pingree Grove's community garden

It's easy to overlook Pingree Grove's community garden if you just drive by.

But resident Ryan Hallgren has big plans for the garden at the southwest corner of Reinking Road and Wester Boulevard — think gardening training center, and even a food co-op one day. And he's determined to generate more community interest in the initiative he single-handedly started last summer.

“We are trying to be known as a green town, a sustainable village, and this is a way to do that and provide the chance for people to meet each other,” he said.

The garden contains 18 plots measuring 5 by 16 feet where residents can plant anything from flowers to vegetables for a $25 yearly fee. Right now, there is only one plot open, but that's because several residents are gardening two plots each, Hallgren said.

The land belongs to the village, which earlier this month established a new community garden advisory committee and appointed Hallgren its chairman. Other members are residents Timothy Stoub, Arlene Eckert and Robert Clark.

Hallgren hopes the committee's first order of business will be to install a new fence and sign, which he plans to pay for.

“Hopefully that will attract more attention to the garden so people know it's here,” he said.

The Hallgrens and their sons, Gavin, 5, and Lincoln, 4, moved to Pingree Grove two years ago from Chicago. A stay-at-home dad, Hallgren is an advocate of square foot gardening, which allows for small but densely planted gardens.

“People are afraid of gardening but it's really easy. All you have to do is put something in the ground, water it, and watch it grow,” said Hallgren, who has planted cucumbers, zucchini, cantaloupe and watermelon in his own community garden plot.

The community garden provides the chance to meet others and socialize while gardening, as well as learn from one another, Hallgren said. There is also a special plot where children can plant, pull weeds or even just play with dirt while their parents garden.

The only rules — besides ‘don't pick thy neighbor's vegetables' — are to use natural, organic fertilizer, and stay away from pesticides and chemicals.

To learn more about Pingree Grove's community garden, email pingreegrovecg@gmail.com or call village hall at (847) 464-5533.