EDITORIAL Garden in Mon City Cemetery will sew seeds of community involvement

Walking through the historic Monongahela Cemetery, one can’t help but feel a bit of serenity with the mature trees and neatly maintained flowers that dot the landscape.
The rolling hills make for a picturesque setting in a solemn place that dates back to the Civil War.
Now, there’s a new idea taking root that will breathe new life into the 160-acre cemetery that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Local resident Michelle Parnell wants to plant a community vegetable garden in a plot far from the tombstones. She brought up the idea with a couple of members of Monongahela City Council while discussing ways to get the community involved in local projects to improve the city.
Monongahela Cemetery officials then contacted her wanting to know more about her idea. The board loved the suggestion and didn’t think it would be disrespectful, approving the concept at a recent meeting.
It’s a wonderful idea that will bring people to the cemetery to do something other than mourn the dead. So as not to be disrespectful, the garden plot will be far enough away from the graves in an area known as “the park” that it won’t interfere with those who do go there to grieve.
Gardeners will pay a $20 plot fee each growing season, and the cemetery has promised to use its employees and equipment to till the soil before planting. All of this will be done under the supervision of two local master gardeners who have expressed interest in working with the cemetery.
Parnell has made sure to be respectful with her idea, which she hopes will eventually go beyond just a garden. She also envisions a row of fruit trees there.
“I’ve been getting a lot of good responses from the community,” she said.
All of this is not without precedent. There likely was a garden near the cemetery’s old superintendent’s house, which has been demolished. It makes sense for one to return to the cemetery.
At a time when many towns in our area are experiencing economic upheaval, we need more people like Parnell to get involved in their communities to propose ideas that unite us. A small garden in a cemetery is one way to sew those seeds of partnerships that will help to build up a community.