Crystal’s Edible Courtyard Helps Combat High Food Prices
Food insecurity is on the rise. It’s one reason why the city of Crystal is offering a fresh, hands-on solution to some in need.
Tucked to the side of the Crystal Community Center is what the city calls its “edible courtyard.” Soon, it will sprout up with all kinds of fresh produce: fruits, herbs and vegetables.
Scott Berggren, Crystal’s recreation services manager, says it is open to anyone.
“The community can come and pick and harvest what they need,” Berggren said.
The courtyard came to fruition in 2018 after high demand for other community gardens. A Hennepin County public health grant helped the city get started.
Kids help tend to new crops they planted in the edible courtyard.
“I thought it would be really cool to do something like that in Crystal, because it seemed like there was a need for fresh produce for people to have access to,” Berggren said.
The edible courtyard doesn’t come alive with just Crystal staff. Volunteer planters come in to help sow, water and tend to the crops. Planting begins in the spring and work goes through the fall.
In mid-April, a group of homeschool students got in on the action. Finbar and Briggs were two of the lucky planters.
“It is really cool how things start out as a seed this big, and can grow all the way up,” Briggs said. “Some of the stuff has already grown pretty high, but when we harvest it’s going to be late summer.”
Growing Together
With the help of many Crystal neighbors, the courtyard harvested 180 pounds of produce just last year. Community members picked many of those pounds right of the stem. Staff harvested the rest.
“It’s amazing… when we set it out in the community center, by the end of the day the produce is gone,” Berggren said.
Briggs, one of the April volunteers, waters the plants he and his friends planted.
Everything in the garden goes back out into the community free of charge. Berggren said the community members are planting these crops to help each other grow.
“Being able to have this as an asset that folks have access to I think is really important,” Berggren said.
The edible courtyard is also a learning opportunity; one that the kids are soaking right up.
“It is kind of cool how people who might not have enough money to go to the grocery store can come and have a healthy meal,” Briggs said.
The edible courtyard’s next planting session is coming up in May. As the season goes on, seasonally-appropriate produce will start popping up.
You can learn more about the courtyard, volunteer opportunities and produce options on Crystal Parks and Recreation’s website.
