About Us

The Lake Royale Community Garden is a group of dedicated Lake Royale residents who plan and grow the community garden located in front of Scout Park near the Clubhouse. All lake residents are invited to participate in the community garden!

Mission Statement: 

The Lake Royale Community Garden creates a space where neighbors connect with one another in a hands-on, peaceful, and respectful environment around the activity of growing produce.  While tending to vegetables, fruits, and other plants that will be shared with the gardeners and the community, the Lake Royale Community Garden group educates residents about gardening and the nutritional value of fresh produce while strengthening bonds among community members through inclusive community activities.

The Lake Royale Community Garden Story

The history of the Lake Royale Community Garden contains an interesting story, one in which a community comes together to build something beautiful from negative occurrences.  In February of 2020, a severe windstorm came to our community, causing damage to many of the trees and some of the infrastructure at the Property Owner’s Association’s (LRPOA) Main Office.  From this, for future safety considerations, the once tree-filled lot began to be further cleared.  At this time, one community member thought to herself, “perhaps that would be a great location for a community garden!” and so the journey began…

This same community member began reaching out to office staff to plant the seed (pun intended) in their heads before landscaping had been completed.  Alas plans were already in place, but more importantly it was suggested that it also might not be the safest place to have one so close to a busy road.  As time went on, she began researching community gardens, getting input from staff, and working to find fellow residents who might also be interested.  As more time passed in the pandemic that changed all of our lives in 2020, she had more time to do this and progressed rapidly with research and connections.  One community member became two, and two soon became three, three becoming many, leading the charge on a way to make this happen.

These volunteers continued to gather information on how to start a community garden and wanted to gage the interest level in the community, so they self-organized an interest meeting in December 2020, held outdoors with social distancing during a trying time that people desperately wanted to connect with each other.  The meeting was a success, and the ladies were inspired to continue forward for a community that expressed an interest in establishment.

In April 2021, The LRPOA Board of Directors (BOD) appointed an Exploratory Community Garden Planning Committee upon advocacy and request.  Once created, the committee met several times to discuss the garden, researched community gardens, and toured three community gardens, before concluding that a community garden at Lake Royale was viable, needed, and would lend itself to helping create a healthy, positive community environment.  The proposal outlined our Mission, the importance and benefits of community gardens, a locations alternatives analysis, development plan, schedule, materials needed, budget estimate, potential funding sources, and documentation demonstrating community outreach and support.  The proposal was submitted to the BOD in September 2021 and approved shortly thereafter with the LRPOA generously providing $2,000 in start-up finds in addition to use of the site for three years.  In the Spring of 2022, to allow for independent fundraising, 501c(3) pursuit, and other reasons, the Committee officially dissolved with support from all stakeholders as a formal member of the LRPOA and instead became a “Club” able to independently operate within the designated garden area provided all activities are in accordance with our governance documents.  The BOD also generously decided to extend our allowance on the land from three years to five, considering the level of work and investment it takes to get the garden established.

Once the Lake Royale Community Garden became its own entity separate from the LRPOA, but allowed to conduct activities on LRPOA land, fundraising efforts went full speed ahead.  We have had many community members donate items to our cause, including materials, tools, signage and more – in addition to their time.  The garden --- as well as the events and planning that have gone into it --- has been a place where everyone can come together and work towards a common goal in a team environment.  We are especially proud of hosting the first community craft fair held at Lake Royale in years in November of 2022 and we intend to make this an annual event due to its success not only for our fundraising – but for a positive event for our neighbors. 

The garden officially began memberships at our meeting on February 18, 2023, which had a successful launch.  It proved to us that our little garden is our own “field of dreams” --- if you build it, they will come and they did!!!  We are excited for our inaugural growing season in 2023 and invite all Lake Royale Community Members to come grow with us.  We believe the garden has grown from a powerful sense of community within Lake Royale and without the many hands that went into its initiation, planning, and execution, none of it would be possible.  Communities are best when we all work together and that’s what our garden is all about!

We officially became a 501c3 Non-Profit Organization in April of 2023.  

We extend our appreciation and recognition to the following individuals, whose dedication and tireless efforts have been instrumental in shaping Lake Royale Community Garden into the thriving entity it is today: 

Lindsey Hesch, Dee Pickering, Christy Rain, Colleen Canale, Meg Brown, Terri Thomas, Denise Potter, Janice Ishikawa, Carole Zei 

2024 Officers:

Meg Brown Chair 

Lindsey Hesch Co-Chair 

Evelyn Hurba Treasurer

Michele Benewiat Secretary