Ithaca Community Gardens grow hope in the face of uncertainty

Nestled between the Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Plant, NY State Route 13, and a petroleum sales facility are the Ithaca Community Gardens—the only community gardens in the Ithaca city limits.

They’re not in the most idyllic location, but in the over 20 years they’ve leased that land from the city, the gardens have come to appreciate their home.

Well, last year, the gardens’ lease was set to expire—and the discussion about whether to allow the gardens to stay on that land got contentious and complicated.

Producer Samuel Whitehead tells the story of how the Ithaca Community Gardens fight for a new lease turned into a fight about much larger things.

This story originally aired on the May 27th, 2014 edition of WRFI Community Radio News.

Music by Poddington Bear.