TCC: Sumner garden was killed off, too

Re: “How can we save TCC community garden?” (Matt Driscoll column, 9-27).

For many years I gardened at the Sumner community garden on vacant acreage next to the city cemetery. We had acres of beautifully productive gardens that benefited the gardeners’ families and contributed tons of fresh vegetables to area food banks.

About two years ago, and without notifying gardeners, the City of Sumner decided to shut down the garden, citing safety and liability issues. Gardeners banded together and worked hard to address the concerns of the city, remedying the perceived problems.

For a year our group faced one city obstacle after another; as soon as one demand was met, another was presented. City Council members must have spent many hours looking for ways to close the garden without losing face for eliminating a community asset.

Finally it came down to presenting the garden with a ridiculously high bill for using the city’s well water, which of course, couldn’t be paid, and so, the city killed the garden late this spring after plots had already been planted. It was heartbreaking to all.

So, theTCC garden’s plight is not new. I feel really sorry for them, for probably in the end their hearts will be broken, too.

This story was originally published September 29, 2015 at 12:23 PM with the headline "TCC: Sumner garden was killed off, too."