Behind several of these buildings in downtown Faribault, two gardens have been created.
WITHIN MY COMMUNITY, there’s a new sense of optimism rising, a positivity that shouts “community pride.”
Rather than whine and complain about what Faribault lacks, locals are taking action. They are finding solutions and digging in to make this city an even better place.
Several months ago, the Faribault Daily News began publishing good news snippets on the editorial page every Saturday, citing examples of local community pride. This came after editor Jaci Smith called Faribault residents out on their negative attitudes about our community. A group, Citizens in Action, has formed locally to assist with clean-up and other public and private projects in the Faribault area. And recently the Faribault Foundation awarded its first ever Community Pride grants of $500 each to four projects that reflect exactly that—community pride.
The Second Street Garden, started last year and still in development.
Businesswoman, crafter and all-around optimistic long-time Faribault resident Dee Bjork received one of those grants for the Second Street Garden, a mini garden she began developing last year on a once blighted space in the heart of downtown. It’s a work in progress and a spin-off of a garden she created six years ago behind her sister and brother-in-law’s flooring store next to The Crafty Maven, the business she and another sister run.
Dee is a go-getter, a woman who cares deeply for her community and those who live here. She is always smiling and helping and encouraging.
That is how this all started, when Dee noticed a mom sitting on a bath towel on a curb downtown watching her kids play. She remembered her own childhood. Her mom lounged in a lawn chair, sipping iced tea while watching Dee and her siblings play ball in their yard.
Dee and Michelle. Photo courtesy of Dee Bjork at The Crafty Maven.
Dee wanted the same for families living downtown. So she created Michelle’s Garden, named after a young girl she had begun mentoring. Michelle, now a teen, still lives downtown Faribault with her family and remains near and dear.
A street side view of the space now occupied by the Second Street Garden.
A lovely sign defines the garden.
Beautiful flowers and plants spill from containers at Dufour’s Cleaners next to the garden.
With the success of Michelle’s Garden, the focus shifted recently to another spot, a vacant area between a dry cleaner and a hair salon. Dee wanted, she said, “to create a beautiful space outside in a space that was neglected but had potential.”
Flowers spill from a raised bed in the Second Street Garden.
She wants the Second Street Garden to become a multi-purpose green space for those who live, work and shop downtown.
A side view of the Second Street Garden.
Already the lot, once filled with rock and debris and generally neglected, is shaping into an oasis of flowers and vegetables. Neighbors, gardeners, church members, youth and more—70 people, according to the list Dee’s kept—have worked together to create the two downtown gardens. There have been cash and plant donations, too, and a community planting day.
Plans call for latticework to eventually hide these utility boxes.
A splash of flowers pop color into the garden.
Tomatoes will eventually be planted in yet to be built raised beds rather than in pots.
And now Dee has that $500 Community Pride grant, and is seeking additional funding to continue with her vision for the Second Street Garden. A concrete pad will be poured for the dumpster and garbage containers that sit on a side of the lot, a necessity for those who occupy the adjoining building. The dumpster will also be fenced. She plans, too, to have a concrete pad installed for seating under a pergola. The city has promised a picnic table for seasonal placement. Latticework on the pergola will hide utility boxes. More raised beds are planned for the tomatoes that now grow in pots along a wall.
Gorgeous petunias add color to the garden.
A dog waits on stairs overlooking the garden.
Garden veggies.
Already the two gardens are lush with growing vegetables—tomatoes, squash, eggplant, peppers, brussel sprouts, kohlrabi, broccoli and zucchini—to be distributed among those downtown and also shared with customers at The Crafty Maven.
Encouraging words posted at the garden.
Dee saw a problem and solved it. And because of that, Faribault’s downtown is a better place.
FYI: Check back tomorrow to learn about another project that has been funded by the Faribault Foundation’s Community Pride Grant program.
If you wish to help Dee with the Second Street Garden, consider a cash, labor or materials donation. Contact her at The Crafty Maven.
© Copyright 2015 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
I love the good news snippet idea in the paper and after having the opportunity to meet Dee I can see how she was just the person to spearhead this project. What a lovely idea and a lovely way to transform an area into something more usable and definitely more appealing to the eyes. Thanks for sharing a positive thing today.
You are welcome. And, yes, I’m happy to see positive instead of always the negative. It didn’t take you long to determine how wonderful Dee is, did it?
Every town has these forgotten spaces but not every town has a Dee!!!! Houston has several ppl who have the vision to turn these special areas into gardens. Perhaps larger towns struggle more with the idea of personal investment/responsibility than does one like ours. Lovely post!!!!!
I think your comment, “Perhaps larger towns struggle more with the idea of personal investment/responsibility than does one like ours” rings a lot of truth.
I agree. Along with the “get to know your neighbor” programs that larger towns seem to need (for neighborhood safety, etc). In a small town, these relationships are a more natural thing.
You’re right.
What a great story and concept. I like the quit complaining about things aspect as well – do something! She did. Good for her; good for Faribault.
I agree with you 100 percent, Dan.
I have seen a lot of little nooks like this in odd areas of larger cities. I think they’re just lovely. It’s such a relaxing atmosphere, especially if there are little benches or tables to have lunch or just sit and visit.
Since I shot these photos, I noticed the addition of a bench. The Second Street Garden remains a work in progress.
Building benches, tables, planters, bird boxes, etc. can be a great Boy Scout or Girl Scout project for Awards (Eagle, Silver).
Great suggestion.
There is nothing better than green spaces and local gardens to bring a community together! In this recent move I looked for that sense of community and those green spaces because it is important part of feeling a sense of belonging. Beautiful Captures – Happy Day – Enjoy 🙂
I agree and am so happy to see this green space in downtown Faribault.
The other thing I have noticed is murals as well as painting utility boxes or making them a little prettier.
Right. We have a number of murals in downtown Faribault and you’ll see one in tomorrow’s post. I mentioned painting the utility boxes to Dee, but she plans instead to hide these with latticework. I’ve seen painted utility boxes in other communities and really like that artsy concept.
I know the town I recently lived in painted them due to needing access to the boxes and not having anything around or near it due to weather-related issues and possibly fire.
Ah, never thought of that…
Great post. I love the addition of edible landscaping!!! There are always people who can use fresh food.
Yes, I think it’s a great idea to include vegetables.
As a guy who spends a lot of time seating on benches while my wife shops, I appreciate a good place to sit. It is a wonderful place to meet people.
I appreciate your input. I, too, agree that benches provide a purpose other than simply as a place to sit. I hope that downtown Faribault will add benches. I’ve seen them in other downtowns and it helps create a sense of community.
Thank you Audrey for such a wonderful story and photographs of the downtown gardens. The work done here involves lots of wonderful people contributing daily including my sisters Ann and Beth and our adopted friend Lynda. Be the change!
Thank you Dee, Ann, Beth, Lynda and all others who are making a difference in downtown Faribault. You are an inspiration.
I am so glad Audrey shared this with her readers today. Thanks for all you do Dee in inspiring and motivating as well as making a difference and bringing a community together 🙂
Sorry – one more thing, which I shared above. Dee – see if you can work with the local Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts to help with building benches, tables, planters, bird boxes, etc. for their projects to earn Awards (Eagle, Silver). My brother and I did this.
Good for her, and good for the town. It’s great to see people get involved and make their town better. Even little things help. My husband and I pick up trash every day when we go for our walk. It isn’t much, but it makes the area a little more pleasant.
Thank you for picking up trash in your community. Every little thing anyone does makes a difference, no matter how seemingly small.
I love that the editor got people moving and thinking! I think you have a beautiful city – and that downtown theater makes me drool it’s so lovely!
It’s great to hear your perspective, Gretchen. Sometimes it’s difficult for those who live in a place to appreciate it like they should.
And, yes, I agree that what Jaci Smith wrote to get people moving and thinking was a good thing for Faribault. There is power in words.
Yes there is!
Creating what you call an oasis of gardens and vegetables in open spaces truly contributes to community pride.Here’s hoping others will tag on and the beautification will continue. Perhaps as you note more efforts in this direction by others you could highlight them in Friday Faces 🙂
That’s the thing about projects like this. One can inspire another.
What a good Idea and a great example for the community to create beauty instead of negativity! I have a thought about the utility boxes. Rochester has area artists paint murals on some of the downtown boxes, it’s a beautiful way to “hide” the utility boxes.
Several of us are thinking the same way. I mentioned this to Dee. And that idea came from what I saw in Rochester. Thank you for your suggestion, Jackie.
This is so awesome!!!!!
It is, isn’t it?