In 2008, the Five Points Community Farm Market had to move out of their Five Points location and into their current location on the corner of 26^th Street and Church Street.

Though their location changed, their commitment to serving the Five Points community never did.

In 2009, a group of committed individuals from the Farm Market–where I’m a manager–and the Five Points neighborhood broke ground on a small community garden, comprised of three raised beds and 4 rain barrels. The ideal location was provided by the Norview United Methodist Church, who was generous enough to donate their green space to the endeavor.

One year later, the Five Points Community Garden is serving a total of 12 families and counting from the Norview area and surrounding neighborhoods. The garden continues to exemplify the Farm Market’s hope for the Five Points community in helping to provide local and sustainable food sources and encourage an urban culture that will appreciate and invest in the future of the community.

Backed by a grant from the Hampton Roads Foundation, what was originally 270 square feet of gardening area has over tripled in size.

With plans to expand the garden to a total of 3,000 square feet, this garden runs on volunteerism as much as it does sunlight and water. Volunteers like me (I’m an urban gardener) work on an honor system basis just a couple of hours a week in exchange for a family plot to grow whatever they choose. They communicate questions and garden concerns through an online forum and a daily log at the garden. The garden’s Facebook page is filled with post harvesting tips, recipe ideas, and photos proudly taken of produce grown. Volunteers work side by side, pulling weeds from radish beds, staking tomatoes and trellising peas. Most of the volunteers are first time gardeners and share their gardening experiences with one another to help grow the communal knowledge that is so essential to help the garden improve year after year.

The site plan. (Credit | Suzy Stelmaszek)

Radishes from the garden

There is lots of work to be done in a community garden. Just this year, volunteers have put together two 20’x20’ beds (in just under four hours!). The group also planted so many peas that the wood trellising nearly buckled under their weight. It really is a refreshing sight to see as you come off I-64.

Next time, take a second look, as you turn right onto Norview Avenue. There you will find corn, sweet potatoes, and beans in the middle of one of Norfolk’s busiest traffic interchanges.

Please join us for our summer cookout Wednesday, July 21^st at 5:30pm. We will be building a cold frame out of donated shipping pallets, weeding and planting some fall pumpkins!

The Five Points Community Garden is located on the corner of Norview Avenue and Hyde Circle. The garden is always looking for new volunteers. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please contact our volunteer coordinator, Amanda Kregiel at alkregiel@gmail.com.