The Locke Demonstration Garden
Previous resident Connie King grew a few Chinese vegetables along with an assortment of other vegetables and an array of flowers. Her plot showed the remnant works of its previous gardener, her late husband Tom King. Tourists would often find her in the plot and she was delighted to give them a tour and the opportunity to teach them about the history of Locke.
Since Connie passed away, volunteers for the Locke Foundation have turned her old plot across from her former home on Key Street into a Chinese vegetable demonstration garden. Each year several residents have cultivated a variety of traditional Chinese vegetables!
At the entrance to the garden plot we have displayed Connie King’s Toilet Garden. Donated by her family and recreated by artist and Locke Foundation board member, Brock Alexander. This whimsical display holds cacti and succulents that can withstand the heat of the summer. The demonstration garden is included in the Locke Foundation tours and has relied solely on donations from the public and volunteers. Some visitors to Locke who admired Connie’s toilet garden have donated cacti and seeds.
It's been over a decade since the first few precious seeds were planted in Locke's infant Chinese demonstration garden. In the passing years the space expanded, more authentic Chinese plants were cultivated and the garden flourished.
The demonstration garden was created by the Locke Foundation to display the vegetables, fruits and herbs grown by the original Chinese residents of Locke whose daily lives revolved around tending the gardens which fed their families and neighbors. The gardens were also a hub of social interaction and a means of community unification.
The demonstration garden has been a popular stop for visitors who venture off busy Main Street and stroll the quiet back streets of Locke. Enter the garden gate and walk along the pathways to view the numerous signs describing the Chinese vegetables being grown - Fu Gwa (Bitter Melon), Don Gwa (Winter Melon), Dow Gok (Long Beans), Hong Jo (Chinese Red Dates), Hulu Gwa (Chinese Gourd), Cee Gwa (Luffa), and more.
Visiting the garden can be quite a meaningful and nostalgic experience for those raised on such traditional Chinese vegetables. A visit can also be an interesting and educational experience for those unfamiliar with heritage vegetables and unique growing practices.
The Locke Foundation is grateful to the volunteers who have stepped forward to initiate this worthy task. This project is a prime example of collaborative community involvement and utilization of available resources.
The Locke Foundation invites you to visit our community. And while you are here, take a walk to the back of town and see how the new and improved Chinese demonstration garden is progressing.