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"I grew up on a farm and
I was used to having birds and wildlife around me.
With all the growth now, there's few places
left to play, few places for fun, and few places
for the birds we used to see."
In 1947, James and Mildred
Green bought property on a gentle slope of what
today is known as Dane County's Nine Springs
E-way Corridor-a 3600 acre wetland. What started
as a family vegetable garden became much more. James
and Mildred met people in the community in need
of temporary housing. They transformed a shed on
the property into low-cost shelter for single people
and families. Many boarders were gardeners and appreciated
the opportunity to work side by side with the Greens,
sharing methods, seeds, and the land.
Gardening is a tradition for
the Greens that started nearly 50 years ago -one
that Mildred is determined to continue. Instead
of selling her property for residential development,
she elected to sell 3 acres of established community
garden to the Urban Open Space Foundation, at 50%
fair market value. The James and Mildred Green Gardens
will be dedicated to community gardening in perpetuity,
thereby meeting the food needs of families for generations
to come.
Mildred Green passed away
early in 2002. Her spirit and enthusiasm will
be missed. Her contributions to the Dane
County community live on through Green Gardens.
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