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Reimagining a Community Hub: Transforming a Cleared Gymnasium Site into a Sustainable Garden for Portland Borough

Portland, Pennsylvania

Featured image for the project, Reimagining a Community Hub: Transforming a Cleared Gymnasium Site into a Sustainable Garden for Portland Borough

This project addresses Portland Borough’s challenges of limited access to healthy food and the lack of community gathering spaces. By converting a vacant site where a now demolished gymnasium once stood into a sustainable community garden, the project aims to provide local families with fresh, affordable produce while fostering a space for social engagement, education, and wellness.  

The garden will support food security and strengthen the borough communities’ sense of unity and resilience. Through collaboration between local residents and volunteers, the project will create a thriving garden that benefits all generations in the community. 

Description

About the Community

Portland Borough is a small, rural community in Northeastern Pennsylvania, with a population of over 500 residents. Nestled along the Delaware River in the Pocono Mountains, the borough boasts natural beauty, outdoor recreation opportunities, and a close-knit sense of community. However, the area faces food insecurity and lacks central spaces for community interaction. The proposed community garden will address these challenges, transforming a cleared gymnasium site into a vibrant, sustainable hub for food production and education. This effort will mobilize community members, local businesses, and volunteers to bring this vision to life. 

Although the town doesn’t qualify for routine funding for this project, this work aligns with the community’s priority of improving access to healthy food and creating sustainable, low-cost resources.  The objective of working with the Thriving Earth Exchange is to help bring this vision to life through expert guidance and support. The idea has been discussed and considered by the community previously, but a lack of resources prevented progress. Now, with the guidance and support of Thriving Earth Exchange, this collaboration could help advance the project. 

About the Project

The community would like to transform a vacant gymnasium site into a vibrant community garden and engage Portland Borough residents, including families, seniors, and youth, so that they can learn sustainable gardening practices, grow their own food, and build stronger social connections, which will result in improved food security, community resilience, and environmental stewardship. 

To achieve this, the project will begin by clearing and preparing the site through soil testing and amendment to ensure optimal growing conditions. Community members will collaborate on the design of the garden layout, establishment of plots, and selection of crops. Workshops at the beginning of each season will teach skills such as sustainable gardening practices, soil health management, eco-friendly pest control, and water conservation techniques. Volunteers will actively participate in planting, maintaining, and harvesting crops, fostering shared ownership of the garden’s success. 

Portland Borough residents, including enthusiastic families, seniors, and youth, will play a central role in the project. Local businesses and organizations will provide support through donations, sponsorships, and event participation, ensuring broad community investment in the garden’s development. 

The project will deliver a fully functional community garden that supplies fresh, nutritious produce to participating families. Residents will gain practical knowledge through workshops and educational materials, while the progress of the garden will be documented to highlight its impact on local food security and community cohesion. The garden will serve as a hub for learning, collaboration, and community events. 

As a result, the community garden will enhance access to nutritious, affordable food, particularly benefiting lower-income families. It will create an inclusive space for social interaction and collaboration, strengthening community bonds. Additionally, the project will promote sustainable practices, equipping residents with skills to sustain the garden and inspire future initiatives. The garden’s success will demonstrate how local collaboration can drive transformative change and serve as a model for other rural communities. 

Timeline and Milestones 

  • Month 1: Project Preparation / Scientist Recruitment & Onboarding 
  • Month 3: Project kickoff and community input sessions. 
  • Month 6: Site preparation completed, and initial planting begins early to mid-May. A workshop providing volunteers with tips and knowledge will be conducted this month. The garden will start with transplanting vegetables to ensure harvest can occur within a 30–90-day timeline. 
  • Month 9: First harvest and community celebration. 
  • Month 12: Community survey and feedback collection. 
  • Month 18: Final evaluation and sustainability planning. 

Project Team

Community Leaders  

Mayor Heather Fischer has been a resident of Portland since 2006, when she purchased a house on a quiet street with her husband and her then 6-month-old son. She has since expanded her family to 3 children and has always tried to teach them by example. This has included volunteering countless hours on the events committee, her role as Mayor, overseeing the police department, revamping the borough website, and using her advanced technical skills to bring the inner workings of borough and its social media presence into this century. Her sincere goal has always been to leave the borough better than she found it, along with a legacy of helping families to have access to the resources they need. This project is one more step towards focusing on the advantages that a small community provides. 

Community Science Fellow 

Monika Giri is a graduate research assistant and Ph.D. student in the Integrative Conservation and Anthropology program at the University of Georgia. Her research combines her passion for climate change adaptation and disaster risk management with anthropological insights. She holds an M.S. in Environment Management and a B.S. in Forestry Science. Professionally, Monika has served as a researcher in several interdisciplinary research projects on climate resilience, environmental justice, and resource governance. Her academic and professional journey is marked by a commitment to addressing complex environmental challenges through a blend of scientific research, community engagement, and policy advocacy. 

Scientist Wanted

Scientist Role 

We seek a scientist or gardening expert with expertise in horticulture, agriculture, or soil science to: 

  • Conduct soil testing and provide recommendations on produce according to the local climate. 
  • Design the garden layout, including sustainable features like a reusable drip irrigation system. 
  • Develop educational materials on sustainable gardening practices. 

Desired Skills and Qualifications: 

  • Expertise in horticulture, soil science, and irrigation systems. 
  • Knowledge of sustainable gardening and eco-friendly pest control. 
  • Experience with community engagement and project management. 
  • Commitment to environmental sustainability. 
  • Ability to connect science with local concerns in a collaborative, approachable manner. 
  • A willingness to lead workshops and provide mentorship to students or volunteers. 
  • Local or regional availability for site visits. 
  • The community is open to students engaging in the project. 

 

Thriving Earth Exchange asks all scientific partners to work with the community to help define a project with concrete local impact to which they can contribute as pro-bono volunteers and collaborators. This work can also position the scientists and communities to seek additional funding, together, for the next stage. 

Interested in volunteering as a scientist? Apply now! 

Collaborating Organization(s)

Borough of Portland 

Portland is a hidden gem along the Delaware River, where small-town charm thrives in a close-knit community. Though often overlooked, this quaint borough offers a welcoming atmosphere, locally owned businesses, and a deep sense of pride among residents. Its scenic riverside setting offers peaceful escapes for fishing, kayaking, and picnicking, making it a haven for nature lovers. In a world that moves fast, Portland’s quiet beauty and strong community spirit remind us of the joys of simple living and the warmth of a town where everyone feels at home. 

The dedication of the volunteer elected officials and residents, along with their strong sense of community, is what will drive this project to success. They are eager to roll up their sleeves and help with the planning, planting, and upkeep of a community garden that will be a valuable resource for everyone in the area.