Wilkinson Farm Gets a New Green House

Submitted by Guest Blogger Mark Hoppen

Three Gig Harbor Rotary Clubs and the PHS and GHHS Interact Clubs are building a greenhouse as part of a community garden on the site of the City of Gig Harbor’s historic Helen Independence Wilkinson Farm Park.

According to Wayne Barrett of Portland, Australia, Rotary District 9780, Community Gardens are recognized as a great way to model sustainability, meet local needs, grow food, improve your health, meet people, and cultivate vibrant communities. Wayne Barrett, a community garden advocate, visited the Gig Harbor community garden site on a Rotary exchange.

The community garden program provides food to Gig Harbor’s Fish Food Bank. Barb Carr, the community garden coordinator, and community garden volunteers manage the site and grow produce on 4' x 25' plots. Participation in the garden is available to the public on a first come-first served basis. There is a waiting list.

The local Rotary clubs will build an 18’ x 24’ greenhouse at the garden site.  The greenhouse project, developed by Mark Hoppen and designed by Gig Harbor Mayor Chuck Hunter, is budgeted to cost approximately $17,000 in cash, in-kind contributions and labor.  

Gig Harbor Rotary and Gig Harbor Mid-Day Rotary are each providing $4,000 for the project.  The Peninsula High School and Gig Harbor High School Interact Clubs are each targeting a $500 donation.  The City of Gig Harbor paid the permit fee.

In-kind labor for this barn-raising type project will be provided by Gig Harbor Rotary Club, Gig Harbor Mid-Day Rotary Club, Gig Harbor North Rotary Club, local Rotary Interact Clubs, Wilkinson Community Garden volunteers, and the YMCA Friends and Servants Program, an at-risk youth program.  The construction project will be managed by Gig Harbor Rotarian Oliver Magnuson