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HUNTINGTON -- Huntington's Community Gardens project is teaming up with the Weed and Seed program to help reduce crime and start programs aimed at building a sense of unity and ownership in the city.

The two organizations also see establishment of community gardens as a way to provide food to people in need and help transform eyesore spaces that may now be sites of dilapidated buildings into more attractive, productive areas.

The city applied for and received a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice's Weed and Seed initiative last fall. The program's goals include reducing violent, drug and juvenile crime.

The money will be applied to an area between 8th and 28th streets from 2nd Avenue to as far south as 13th Avenue and Roby Road.

"I see community gardens as a phenomenal way to increase the community's relationships," said Tim White, coordinator of the Weed and Seed Program.

White said community gardens also are crucial from the law standpoint.

"Our goal is to get more people outside; working on these gardens and being in the community. With more people outside, it's going to be harder for people to sell drugs and commit crimes," White said. "The more eyes and ears watching what's going on, the better."

Jenn Williams, a volunteer leader for the Community Gardens project, said the project intends to start all sorts of gardens throughout the area to make Huntington a more beautiful place, bring the community together and help reduce crime.

"During these hard economic times, it is more important than ever that each of us give of ourselves in order to pull together for the common good," Williams said.

Community Gardens is a group of volunteers and organizations interested in helping create community gardens all over Huntington.

Williams said the group currently has nine possible lots ready for use, the first of which is at the headquarters of Huntington's Weed and Seed program at 1524 10th Ave.

"We plan to grow a vegetable garden there, hold classes on composting, recycling and other sustainable ways of making our community more beautiful and safe," she said.

The project, Williams said, will serve many purposes.

"Progressive and community-based grass roots projects show that we are proud and take good care of our community, which is alluring to progressive companies looking for a place to grow their business," she said.

The project plans to put all sorts of gardens throughout the community, such as butterfly gardens, sensory gardens, relaxing green spaces, dog parks, art gardens and gardens specifically designed for seniors and people with disabilities, to name a few.

Eve Marcum-Atkinson of the Community Gardens Project said each of the gardens would work in different ways.

"A variety of gardens will be created, some with an emphasis on producing fruits and vegetables to feed both our volunteers and the needy, others focusing on planting methods and collections, such as a desert and rock garden, an herb knot garden, a kid-friendly maze, an art garden and a challenged, wheelchair and senior-friendly garden with lots of raised beds for easy access," Marcum-Atkinson said.

Williams said there are more than 50 dilapidated homes set for demolition in the Weed and Seed area alone.

"Once the city is able to clear these out, we would like to get organizations to sponsor us going in and creating beauty there," Williams said. "This will bring the community members out of their homes, therefore watching for and reducing crime in those areas."

Marcum-Atkinson said the group will work directly with the Weed and Seed program so as dilapidated, abandoned homes are torn down, the empty lots will be maintained until they are either sold or become new garden spaces.

"Our Community Gardens Initiative is different from others in our area in that this is part of a specific effort to transform vacant lots from a hazard to a help," Marcum-Atkinson said. "Vacant lots can often become overgrown havens for rubbish, varmints and criminals -- a dangerous combination that encourages people to stay indoors and keep to themselves."

Marcum-Atkinson said by turning these lots into gardens and working within neighborhood communities to build a local volunteer base, safe spaces will be created for neighbors to work together and communicate.

Community Gardens also intends to invite youths in the area to help with the effort as a means to channel their energies into something productive.

Williams said she also would like to see the vegetable gardens reap produce that could go to local food banks and the surrounding neighborhoods, offering locally grown produce to those who need nutritious foods the most but cannot afford it.

Marcum-Atkinson said volunteers are also encouraged to share and trade with each other and to market their produce if they choose. Johnnie's Fresh Meat Market in Central City is one of the first to agree to sell some of the volunteers' produce.

"Volunteers can select as many 4-by-4 beds as they would like to manage," Marcum-Atkinson said. "We want volunteers to utilize the square foot gardening method, as it offers a higher yield per square foot than traditional row gardening."

Marcum-Atkinson said each bed will be marked with a letter-number combination to organize who is managing which beds.

"Each volunteer will sign a document outlining the rules of the garden, which can basically be summed up by saying, 'be nice,' 'be considerate,' 'plant something,' 'manager your bed,' and 'share your produce,'" Marcum-Atkinson said.

Marcum-Atkinson said organizers will encourage participant to share one-fourth of their produce with local residents who are in need and one-fourth with area food banks or missions.

"We will also be doing some canning and preserving in late summer and fall," she said. "Volunteers can include some of their preserved produce in their donations."

AP Video

Jenn Williams speaks during a Community Gardens Project meeting Sunday, March 15, 2009, in Huntington.

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Lori Wolfe/The Herald-Dispatch

Tim White speaks during a Community Gardens Project meeting Sunday, March 15, 2009, in Huntington.

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