The Pot O'Gold Community Garden is located on the grounds of Washington Park North Cemetery. In 1998, in cooperation with Purdue University Extension and Covenant Community Church, one acre on the edge of the farmed area of the cemetery (there are 50 acres planted with crops) was set aside for the establishment of the Pot of Gold Community Garden.

The area is very secluded and quiet. The cicadas can be heard in all their glory without the background music of traffic.

The garden consists of seventy-eight 15' x 15' individual plots for use by persons who do not otherwise have access to land on which to grown their own produce. The cemetery has installed water, put up a covered building and brought in a portable toilet for the gardeners.

Amendments are added continually (manure, straw, mulch, dirt, etc.). All gardeners use organic practices and have been very successful in their gardening endeavors. After the cemetery tills the ground this fall, a green cover crop will be planted. The charge for the season is $15 and includes all water usage.

Individuals who have rented plots come for many reasons: lack of space, not wanting to dig up their yard, to garden with other people, the convenient location and more. Many friendships have developed over the season and alot of gardening ideas have been shared.

The plot rentals have tripled from last year and next year the garden will most likely be full. PAR rows and plots have been planted this year at the garden and quite a bit of produce will be donated.

Having grown up on a farm in LaGrange County, Indiana and maintained my own vegetable garden each year since leaving my parents' home, I have always known the pleasure of harvesting the fruits of my own labor. The community garden offers me the opportunity to share that pleasure with those who have never experienced the joy of gardening; watching plants grow and develop, and then harvesting ear of corn or a ripe tomato produced by the sweat of their brow. For those who might have known that joy in the past but now find themselves in circumstances where gardening is no longer available to them, Pot of Gold gives them a place to garden.

It is for those reasons that I agreed to accept chairmanship of the Garden Steering Committee. I have gained new friends through this experience and getting to know each person on the Steering Committee has proven to be an unexpected bonus. I even met the son-in-law of a gentleman I grew up with in LaGrange County.

My vision for the garden is to see every plot utilized. I especially hope to involve more young people because I believe that once a person plants, tends, and harvests their own garden, their life is forever changed.