Garden-Lou Spotlights the Belleville Heart Garden

The Belleville Heart Garden doesn’t like the word “NO.” Instead of posting a list of rules in the .4-acre community demonstration garden, the stewards encourage community involvement and sharing. This approach to community gardening differs from most neighborhood community gardens, where individual caretakers maintain only their assigned gardening plot or raised bed, meaning all the plot results, be it food or flowers, belong to that caretaker.

*Jenny Reiman* *waits for visitors during the St. Clair County’s Gardens in Bloom Garden Tour.*

According to Lori Powell, one of the founding stewards, the most challenging part of this type of community gardening is letting go. “We had a little boy who asked if he could pick a ripe watermelon. He then promptly smashed it but had a wide smile on his face. And when one of the peach trees gave fruit for the first time, a non-volunteer went away with an armful.”

*Alan Elfrink helps two local boys at the garden’s bike station*

Seeing the community and neighbors enjoying the garden and its fruits is still the best part for Lori, who lives behind the garden and can keep an eye on things. It was Lori who had the first vision for the empty lot on South High Street in 2018. She approached Alan Elfrink about the idea, and he was on board immediately. After getting approved by the City’s Zoning Committee with full support from the mayor, things moved forward. “Alan and I had a lot of fun,” Lori recalls. “First, we grew sunflowers like I had seen in St. Louis. They didn’t last long and didn’t give a lot of bang for your buck, though. We then planted natives with seeds donated by friends and family. Next, we tried growing food for the community during COVID-19. It was a mess with vines everywhere.”

One day, a 4×4 square was mysteriously weeded, followed a few days later by a yellow and orange marigold checkerboard. That’s how a third steward, Jenny Reiman, an alumnus of 4-H and FFA, joined the garden. She’s also a current University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener. “Jenny had all the knowledge and a strong point of view,” says Lori. Jenny drew up a master plan and worked with Lori to mark out everything in the garden. “I wanted joy and abundance! Jenny made the garden approachable, and she had perfect lettuce!”

With the melding of the three spirits, the garden took off, showcasing native plants and sustainable gardening techniques. Alan started with Seed St. Louis, getting plants donated. In 2021 the orchard was added with a generous grant from Illinois American Water to help safeguard the local watershed. “The City of Belleville partnered, managed funds, and supported them. The orchard went in during one day with lots of volunteers. The city brought a giant auger to plant the trees and helped make it happen.” The City of Belleville also installed a much-needed water spigot.

Lori Powell speaks to visitors during the St. Clair County’s Gardens in Bloom Garden Tour.

Volunteers keep things going in the garden, and the stewards keep workdays consistent every Wednesday and Saturday after the time change in spring. (After Labor Day, the winter hours take effect.) According to Lori, “All abilities are welcome. We have tools, so they don’t need them. New volunteers are told how we value learning over knowing and that the best gardeners we know have killed the most plants.”

The heart-shaped swing centered in the garden initially graced the group’s Belleville St. Patrick’s Day parade float. The unique birdhouse tree also gets a lot of attention. “Alan had a Great Uncle with all these birdhouses,” says Lori. “Local school kids in a character education program painted them. Each color signifies a character trait. The organization paid to have the structure built. The wrens don’t like them, and robins make nests on top of the houses-not in them!” Despite the avian rejection, the tree is a happy addition to the garden and the community. “Community for us isn’t just people-it includes bugs, birds, and bees.” And that’s the biggest “Yes!” sign any community could ask for.