AURORA | Murphy Creek resident James Shaffer used to turn dirt and plant seeds in the confines of his own backyard, mostly keeping to himself.
This summer, though, he decided to get his hands dirty just a few blocks away from his house. He helped build a community garden for the residents of the Murphy Creek neighborhood, which opened in late July.
Now, while cultivating leeks, sugar peas, tomatoes, spaghetti squash, watermelon, peppers and okra in his community garden plot, Shaffer also cultivates friendships.
“It has really brought the community together, both for the people who have plots in the garden and also people in the neighborhood who come by and talk to the neighbors that are gardening,” he said. “It’s a really great way to get to know your neighbors.”
Shaffer and a handful of other residents were at the forefront of the garden project.
The garden boasts a robust medley of vegetables, flowers and herbs, and it encompasses 27 plots surrounded by a white picket fence.
It cost about $12,200 to develop, and it was paid for by the Murphy Creek Metropolitan District, a governmental entity created to finance public improvement projects in the neighborhood.
Each of the 27 gardeners paid about $100 per plot for the garden, and there is a wait list of about 10 people, Shaffer said.
The garden is unique because it’s within the confines of a neighborhood and only available for use by the residents of Murphy Creek. Margee Cannon, a neighborhood liaison for the city, said she doesn’t know of any other neighborhood with a garden like it, although the city does have several community gardens available for public use.
Shaffer suspects the garden has already contributed to increased property values. He said a house adjacent to the garden recently sold for 5 percent more than the asking price.
Shaffer’s next door neighbor, Lionel Foster, said their efforts produced more than just a place to grow vegetables.
“I think it’s been very positive in bringing neighbors out and getting them to talk,” he said. “A lot of times you live next door to somebody and you don’t even know who they are.”
Foster, a novice gardener who is growing sugar peas, leeks, tomatoes, spaghetti squash, watermelon and peppers in his plot, said the final product exceeded his expectations.
“This is just amazing,” he said.
The garden was a combined effort between the Murphy Creek Metropolitan District, developer Michael Sheldon, and the residents of Murphy Creek.
A year ago, Sheldon’s planned self storage and RV storage facility at the edge of the neighborhood drew ire from about 80 Murphy Creek residents.
Sheldon, who is also a member of the metropolitan district, said the garden project helped foster a good relationship between him and the Murphy Creek neighborhood, which has about 3,000 residents.
“This is an attempt to be able to give some of the neighbors the things they’re interested in,” he said.
Reach reporter Sara Castellanos at 720-449-9036 or sara@aurorasentinel.com.