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COMMONWEALTH Gardens


Gardening for the Health of the Community

COMMONWEALTH Gardens (CG) is the community garden hosted by the Howard Foundation and is a special, unique aspect of this building project’s green” commitment. CG’s mission is to be a model of sustainable gardening that will provide organic food and a place for rejuvenation, while promoting educational outreach and community health awareness within a hospital setting. The five-acre food production garden is located in an area designated as open space on the land donated to the new medical campus. The hospital community garden project is a collaboration dedicated to community, agriculture, and education with the purpose of restoring the connection between our health and the food we eat. The goals for CG are:

  1. To provide a venue in which the relationship between the growth and consumption of food and overall wellness can be properly viewed (demonstration garden).
  2. To provide locally grown produce for consumption by patients and staff of the Frank R. Howard Memorial Hospital.
  3. To supply established feeding programs in the community of Willits whenever possible (Willits Food Bank, Senior Center, Our Daily Bread) with produce for use in their kitchens.
  4. To engage the community, with specific attention to the school system, through workshops and living classroom experiences.

Infrastructure accomplished to date:

  1. 8-foot deer fence around the 5-acre garden site,
  2. Well developed and supplying water via solar panels and pump to a 6,000 gallon water holding tank,
  3. Christopher’s Healing Knoll (orchard) planted in over 50 fruit and nut trees and 3 varieties of over 40 grape plants,
  4. Pump house built and housing solar system, pressure tank, tools, etc.,
  5. 8-station irrigation system installed to Christopher’s Healing Knoll (in part due to a Community Foundation of Mendocino County grant),
  6. Gazebo installed and sitting atop Christopher’s Healing Knoll,
  7. The start of pathways (thank you Pete Meihelic and Northern Aggregates),
  8. Cover crop planting in vegetable growing area past three years,
  9. And, this season, installation of 30×96 ft. greenhouse donated by Sparetime Supply (as well as a Community Foundation of Mendocino County grant).

Christopher’s Healing Knoll and its development, approximately 2.5 acres of the 5-acre garden site, became possible through a donation from William and Judith Bailey in memory of their son Christopher Bailey. It is with a deep sense of gratitude that this garden moves forward as a way of thanking the Bailey’s by manifesting their wish to provide a place of rest, rejuvenation, and reflection for all those who serve or find themselves in a hospital setting. And, many thanks for the physical labor provided by countless volunteers and for the countless donations so often given that are necessary to support a project of this size. Howard Foundation and the COMMONWEALTH Garden volunteers are deeply grateful for your support and generosity.