All the papers have been signed, and the work has begun.
‘The garden is a go,? according to 52-2 District Judge Dana Fortinberry, announcing an agreement with Oakland County Parks and Recreation and Oakland County 4-H to relocate a ‘community garden? to Springfield Oaks County Park.
The program, in which nonviolent, misdemeanor convicts may serve their time in constructive labor, had a successful first season in Independence Township last year on the old McCord Farm, providing more than 12,500 pounds of produce to the Food Bank of Oakland County.
Protests from neighboring residents, however, caused Fortinberry and Judge Michael Batchik to withdraw the program from that site.
Township officials have since announced plans to run their own charity garden program at the McCord Farm, using only volunteer help. Fortinberry said there will be no attitude of competition with the other group.
‘The more food we produce, that’s more people we can help,? Fortinberry said.
On the other hand, organizers are excited about the potential of the Springfield Oaks location, which should provide a bigger-and-better scenario.
Linda Muiter-Carmean, director of community corrections and coordinator of the Weekend Alternatives for Misdemeanants, is a master gardener who coordinated labor at last year’s community garden. She said it was on a parcel about 400 feet by 260 feet, but there are about seven acres available for growing at the site just off Andersonville Road.
In addition to the standard vegetable garden, planners hope to also have landscape shrubs, seedling trees, native plants, flowers and creative landscape engineering.
‘It’s going to be a bigger project,? Muiter-Carmean said. ‘We’re not focusing on just one thing.?
Dan Stencil, administrator of operations for the county parks system, said the site could eventually provide landscape plantings for all the county parks.
The garden will also benefit from the expertise of 4-H members and advisors, including L.C. Scramlin, who serves as general manager for the Oakland County 4-H Association and coordinates most of the 4-H activities at Springfield Oaks.
As with last year’s garden, all involved said the project will be a win-win proposition with those under alternative sentences for crimes such as drunken driving, driving with a suspended license, shoplifting and minors in possession of alcohol.
‘All are misdemeanor, nonviolent offenders. This is an opportunity for them to work outside of jail,? Fortinberry said. ‘It’s important that we reserve the space for people who should be incarcerated.?
Although some may grumble concerning manual labor, Muiter-Carmean said most end up enjoying the work and seeing the fruit of their labor.
‘They see they can do something valuable,? she said. ‘They’re proud of the work they do. You give those guys a project to do and they put their whole heart into it. They’re not slackers.?
Between 60 and 80 workers came to the garden each weekend last summer, and WAM will rent a bus from the parks to bring out as many as possible to work the larger area.
Stencil said the county parks conducted an open house on revising the master plan to include the new garden, and letters were sent to nearby residents.
‘We didn’t receive any negative comments. The site is somewhat removed,? he said, noting plans for a buffer area around the garden proper. ‘People will hardly know we’re there.?
David Coleman, president of the 4-H association, said his group is happy to help provide a creative alternative to jail time for the offenders who qualify.
‘These are people like all of us,? Coleman said. ‘They just have community service to do. These are people who need a little help.?
Stencil said the WAM program is not unlike already-established programs using convicts.
‘Our parks system has used community service workers, trustys and the boot camp for years,? he said. ‘It’s a great way to expand upon the efforts of staff to get things done and ultimately save the taxpayer dollars.?
‘We couldn’t run the fair without them,? Coleman said. ‘We could never get enough volunteers.?