Robert McGowan is almost embarrassed by the honor of being Clarkston’s Citizen of the Year.
Aside from naming other worthy people who deserve the title, he just enjoys doing the things for which he was honored.
‘What we give back to the community are often things we like to do anyway,? he said. ‘I’m kind of humbled by this thing.?
McGowan was chosen for the annual award by the Clarkston Area Chamber of Commerce for his work with the Food Bank of Oakland County and for his help with new ‘community garden? in Independence Township.
McGowan and his wife, Dr. Barbara Hamilton, moved to Independence Township from Birmingham more than 10 years ago. Having purchased a dairy farm once operated by members of Clarkston’s founding family, they wanted to restore some of the original function.
They heard about a new local garden club, and became involved in a joint garden project. For two years, they met every Saturday to work the garden, then they donated the produce to area soup kitchens and other charity groups.
Over time, the membership waned, so there was a new challenge. McGowan was motivated to take master gardener classes, and learned that volunteer service was a requirement for that certification. He invited other master gardeners to join the effort, then established the partnership with the Food Bank of Oakland County.
That helped make both labor and distribution easier, and the 2,800-square-foot garden has been praised by the food bank for producing more than 10,000 pounds of fresh, organic vegetables over about 10 years.
A marketing-advertising executive during the day, McGowan has also helped the food bank develop their logo, brochures and stationery.
The idea for the community garden came after Independence Township came into possession of the old McCord farm. As ideas for its use were considered, McGowan said Trustee Dan Travis approached him about the idea of a garden.
County Commissioner Tom Middleton then approached him with the idea of an alternative-sentencing project with the 52nd District Court. A community garden in Novi was a success, so would McGowan help form one in Independence?
McGowan laughed when reflecting on how it all came together.
‘I’m a non-joiner,? he insisted, ‘but this garden has just grown? in more ways than one.
The project allows non-violent offenders to avoid jail time by paying a fee and doing manual labor in the community garden. The produce, again, will be donated to the food bank.
Again emphasizing that many people have contributed to the success of the project. McGowan said the district judges and the township board came on board quickly.
‘It went through the township board without a dissenting voice, let alone a dissenting vote,? he said. ‘It was really inspiring to see that kind of support in the community.?
The community garden is a ‘win, win, win? proposition, McGowan said, because it saves the county money in jail expenses, the garden produces food for the food bank, and there is the benefit gained by the participants when they work with their hands.
That’s something McGowan appreciates himself. After working in the office, he enjoys coming home and getting his hands dirty.
‘If you sit behind a desk all the time, when you get home you want to be out,? he said. ‘You want to be involved. You want to do something that’s ‘opposite.? You can’t get more real than getting your hands in the dirt.?
In addition to everything else, McGowan is in his first year as a member of the Independence Township Planning Commission. He admits that he still has lots to learn about some of the technicalities of zoning, setbacks and variances, but he has a better appreciation of those who deal with local planning issues.
‘I’m in awe of my fellow planning commissioners,? he said. ‘You have to know so much about so many things. The only part I have some knowledge about going in is aesthetics, building materials and appropriateness of structures. The rest I’m learning as I go.?
He’s a busy man, but McGowan tries to look at his activities in balance. Hands-on gardening, especially, seems to be good therapy.
‘When I can actually get out in the garden and do things, and not manage, that is recreation,? he said.
In addition, he has come to appreciate his daily 45- to 60-minute commute to work, having discovered the joy of books on tape.
‘I’ve been able to do some ‘reading? that I never ever would be able to do,? he said. In addition to traditional books, he sometimes listens to college courses on tape.
‘There are times that I can’t wait to get into the car to commute,? he said. ‘It’s a way of telescoping time, because reading is important to me and I have to commute.?