Community Garden Updates & Meet Up on 12/16, Community Composting Convo on 12/13 and more

This newsletter shares updates about the community garden, a gardener meet up on 12/16, a community compost conversation this Saturday 12/13, and more!

WHO WE ARE: Green for the Greater Good is a group of neighbors working to transform the Rodney Reservoir into a beautiful nature-focused park for all to enjoy.

1. COMMUNITY GARDEN UPDATE

For many months, Green for the Greater Good has been asking the City of Wilmington to restore the 61 beds that were in the previous community garden–because there are so many people who want to garden, and because the new garden should have at least as many beds as it used to have! We have offered to help build the beds if needed (think Dirt Day 2026!!), have offered models for how the garden can be run, and have purchased  equipment like hoses and carts for the relaunch. We have not yet come to an agreement with the City, and at this point, we think it might require some advocacy to get there.

So, Green for the Greater Good is gearing up to organize with residents and gardeners to show community support for the garden, communicate its value to the neighborhood, and show the City just how gardeners and partners could work together to build out the beds.

If you are interested in gardening and have not done so already, please sign up here. Green for the Greater Good will share information about how to sign up for a plot as soon as the City sends it out. Also, if you are interested in helping to build out the garden beds, sign up here.

2. COMMUNITY GARDENERS MEET UP ON TUESDAY, 12/16

It’s a busy time of year, but if you are free, let’s meet up to strategize next steps to get the garden built out and launched in time for next season.  Gardeners past and future and friends of the garden are invited to meet up Tuesday, December 16th from  6-7 PM at St. Francis Hospital.  Entrance at 701 N. Clayton Street. Please RSVP here.

3. COMMUNITY COMPOSTING CONVERSATION WITH PLASTIC FREE DE THIS SATURDAY 12/13

Are you interested in the possibility of a community composting program at Rodney Reservoir Park? If the answer is yes, come out to this Saturday’s regular meeting to learn about the program that Plastic Free Delaware has developed and discuss possible next steps for bringing it to the neighborhood. Green for the Greater Good meets at 10 AM at the Church of The Holy City at 1118 N. Broom Street. All are welcome!

4. WEST SIDE TREE PLANNING WITH UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE STUDENTS

This week, Green for the Greater Good was at the University of Delaware to see Environmental Studies Capstone students present their work on community-based projects this semester. Two groups collaborated with Green for the Greater Good to help develop the West Side Tree Plan. One group focused on community engagement and the other on policy. There were also group presentations on a vision for the Diamond State Rail, mitigating Data Center impacts and establishing an Extreme Heat Awareness week in DE. The students did fantastic work! So many thanks to all the students, especially the tree teams, and their amazing TA Nora and Professor, Dr. Vaish! Looking forward to continuing the collaboration next semester! Are you interested in getting involved in the West Side Tree Plan & Community Forestry Project? Take the survey and sign up for more info here.

5. RODNEY RESERVOIR PARK COMMUNITY CELEBRATION

In October, neighbors, gardeners and partners gathered to celebrate the community's efforts and the amazing new community- and nature-based park at the Rodney Reservoir site. Thanks to everyone who came out to enjoy the day! Special thanks to InnerSource Wellness Center and Urban Regenerative Sustainability, Plastic Free Delaware, Date and Maple Cafe, UD Environmental Studies Capstone students, West Side Grows (Wilmington, DE) and many volunteers who took part. Thank you also to all the wonderful speakers and poets! Enjoy some photos from the event!

GET INVOLVED

Let’s keep working together on the future of the Rodney Reservoir Park! Here are some more ways you can get involved:

Follow Green for the Greater Good on Facebook and Instagram @GreenfortheGreaterGood

Share posts on your own social media.

Keep visiting this website for the latest news.

Join weekly Saturday meetings at 10 AM at the Church of The Holy City at 1118 N. Broom Street. Enter to the right of the main door and enter through the side door.