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| From 2011-Garden Work Day May |
The McKinley Peace Garden - located on Ann Ave behind the McKinley Jr. Academy at 2156 Russell Blvd - was started in the Spring of 2010. Pastor Kathleen and Principal Williams met and decided a garden could be a win-win for both the school and LPUMC. Members of the church prepared an agreement between the two groups and other members provided the garden with 10 4x4 beds and one round bed for planting. A berm and a shade garden was also added; and the area along the east (alley) fence was planted with trees, shrubs, etc. A softer look to the environment for the students and crops to share with our community is the result.
The three top reasons for the garden were: 1) enhance health through a better diet by providing vegetables and fruits in the food desert of the local community; as well, enhance the selection of fresh vegetables for use in the school; 2) provide an educational and community service opportunity to the McKinley students and faculty with the planning, planting and growing of crops; and 3) offer a chance to interact with people of the surrounding community.
In the spring of 2011 the garden received a grant from Gateway Greening to increase the size of the planting area and was awarded materials for these beds, a shed to store our tools, etc. a picnic table, tools and hoses. Two eagle scouts completed projects on the site.
One is the installation of additional beds, three benches, and three trees. The other is the preparation and installation of an outdoor classroom for the use of students and shelter for the gardeners, which includes five picnic benches. The gardeners have used this for our evening supper meeting!
Mustard greens were distributed by Fred and Sharon Domke to the McKinley neighbors. Comments ranged from "What's a mustard Green?" to "Boy, is Grandma gonna be HAPPY!!!." Jim Wilder distributed the first crop of kale to Cornerstone Preschool. The families and staff were delighted with the kale. Bev O'Neal harvested and delivered 14 pounds of cabbage to Cornerstone and again they were thrilled. Caroline Ban and Fred Domke attended the McKinley Heights Neighborhood meeting in June and have recruited several more interested gardeners. Contact has also been made with Sigel School for some distribution to be made to the student's families.
Bulbs, plants and volunteers are always welcome as we plant, weed (we are fighting Bermuda Grass) and harvest. All crops are weighed and reported to Gateway Greening at the end of the season. We also are responsible to pay back to Gateway Greening the sum of 30 work hours on our choice of project or projects.
If you wish to be a part of this contact either of the garden leaders - Bev O'Neal at Fred Domke.
See you in the Garden!
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