Gardeners are reclaiming vacant lots in north Minneapolis and turning them into bountiful gardens for the community.
City policies are encouraging the trend.
By Sheila Mulrooney Eldred
Sahan Journal
June 1, 2022
Excerpt:
The lot sat vacant for 15 years until Frye, an accountant, and Michael Kuykindall, a hair stylist, turned it into R. Roots Garden in 2019. The couple saw an opportunity to give back to the neighborhood Frye grew up in by creating a direct link to healthy food and a space for community to gather. They also wanted to carry on the gardening legacy of their mothers and grandmothers.
On a recent day in late May, rows of bright green seedlings were taking shape, forming rows of mustard greens, cucumbers, zucchini, kale, and bell and hot peppers. Frye pointed out a patch of corn, a plot for nearby high schoolers to garden, and a section for new experiments–eggplant, artichokes, and celery. A rain barrel collects water and a compost system collects yard waste. Also, there are plenty of collard greens.
“Those are what the people like,” said Kuykindall. “They’re always like, hey, you got some more collards?”
