Introductory Post

Welcome Friends of the Linus Pauling Community Garden!

Linus Pauling was the 2-time Nobel Prize winner for chemistry is a belated alumnus of Washington High School. The section of Washington High School that sits along Morrison Street, between 12th and 14th Avenues, currently owned by Portland Public Schools (PPS), is the proposed future site for a new community garden within Southeast Portland. But, to create this new garden, we need YOUR help!

We are currently considering two possibilities for the proposed community garden: (1) The fenced area, currently an underused parking lot, would need to be de-asphalted with new soil brought in and would require an outside grant. (2) The open area between the parking lot and Morrison. It would need to be fenced, but is closer to the water source. Both areas are approximately 100x130 feet, which would accommodate more than 50 garden plots, each 10x20 feet.

It should be noted that, because PPS currently owns this parcel of land, any new garden on a site would be considered “interim” until the site finds a use. It may be possible, at that future date, to incorporate the garden and make it permanent. Regardless, we think the interim status will be for at least 5–6 years.

We currently have a small group of wonderful volunteers who are working to do the following: render drawings of the proposed area; create a Web presence for our group; contact public officials for their support and help; contact local businesses for their support, as well as pledges of donations in money and materials; create public awareness of our groups needs in local publication; and, most importantly, reach out to our community to teach and inform local residents about the benefits of having a community garden in the neighborhood!

With all that we are doing, there’s still more work to be done! On the agenda: testing soil samples to determine that the site is lead-free and safe to use for gardening; getting approval from PPS to use the site; raising money in the form of donations and grants to get the land ready to use; and the list goes on!

We’re off to a great start and are always looking for more volunteers. Look for our booth at the Buckman Community Association Picnic on Sunday, August 8th from 4:00–8:00pm at Colonel Summers Park at SE 17th and Taylor. We will have another booth at the SE Sunday Parkways event on August 16th. Chat with our friendly volunteers, learn about our efforts, and… come grow with us!