Old Town Community Garden Celebrates With End of Season Party
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by Alva Logsdon Cranford
The inaugural year of the Old Town Community Garden (OTCG) came to a close recently as the Gardeners and volunteers met to celebrate new friendships, a successful year, and to prepare for 2008.
Teen volunteer Bobby Darnell, designed and built a much-needed compost bin to achieve his rank of Eagle Scout in the spring. Throughout the season, gardeners met weekly at the bins to recycle leaves, grass clippings, and vegetable refuse into a valuable resource. The hard work throughout the summer resulted in a rich compost material which the gardeners tilled into the garden plots in preparation for the 2008 planting season. The morning was a flurry of labor, laughter, and fun.
Greeted by a refreshingly cool, fall morning, Gardeners' also enjoyed a potluck brunch and reminiscing about the year's success and discoveries. Amanda Jekel, Barbara Kelly, Beverly Michelsen, and Jeff Jekel, agreed and echoed the sentiment shared by all gardeners: the best part of the 2007 season was the chance to meet and work alongside people from such diverse backgrounds as well as to impact the community in a positive and unique manner. In spite of highly unusual rains and first-year challenges, the gardeners collectively donated more than 290 lbs of produce to the Christian Community Action (CCA) Food Pantry, which serves Southern Denton County.
Gardeners rent plots for $10 a season from CCA which provide the land for the garden. Gardeners are responsible for investing in the plants they will grow, the fertilization, and labor to care for the garden. The harvest is theirs to keep, but many also donate to the CCA food pantry.
"The most rewarding part of the garden experience was the enthusiasm shown by all of the gardeners and eagerness in learning more about the entire process," says Al Kirchoff, OTCG Garden Soil Co-Coordinator. "Some were quite surprised at the complexity and various factors influencing the production. Very rewarding personally to be able to help others to gain an appreciation of the hobby of gardening."
"For me the fact that 30 out of 32 gardeners are returning for the garden season of 2008 is fantastic," says Gary Janke, who shares equal duty with Kirchoff in expertise and garden direction. "The gardeners started the community garden and made it happen. The rewards of their dedication will make 2008 an even more fantastic year for OTCG."
Gardeners and volunteers have two more project work dates set for this fall as they build the structures for raising the beds and spreading additional soil among 32 newly raised plots. In less than a year, strangers created a unique community of fellowship and service while transforming an old rugged parking lot into a landmark of natural beauty.
The garden is located at 200 Kealy Street in Lewisville. Questions about the garden may be directed to CCA liaison Peggy Swann at 972/219-4324 or visit our blog at www.oldtowncommunitygarden.blogspot.com
The inaugural year of the Old Town Community Garden (OTCG) came to a close recently as the Gardeners and volunteers met to celebrate new friendships, a successful year, and to prepare for 2008.
Teen volunteer Bobby Darnell, designed and built a much-needed compost bin to achieve his rank of Eagle Scout in the spring. Throughout the season, gardeners met weekly at the bins to recycle leaves, grass clippings, and vegetable refuse into a valuable resource. The hard work throughout the summer resulted in a rich compost material which the gardeners tilled into the garden plots in preparation for the 2008 planting season. The morning was a flurry of labor, laughter, and fun.
Greeted by a refreshingly cool, fall morning, Gardeners' also enjoyed a potluck brunch and reminiscing about the year's success and discoveries. Amanda Jekel, Barbara Kelly, Beverly Michelsen, and Jeff Jekel, agreed and echoed the sentiment shared by all gardeners: the best part of the 2007 season was the chance to meet and work alongside people from such diverse backgrounds as well as to impact the community in a positive and unique manner. In spite of highly unusual rains and first-year challenges, the gardeners collectively donated more than 290 lbs of produce to the Christian Community Action (CCA) Food Pantry, which serves Southern Denton County.
Gardeners rent plots for $10 a season from CCA which provide the land for the garden. Gardeners are responsible for investing in the plants they will grow, the fertilization, and labor to care for the garden. The harvest is theirs to keep, but many also donate to the CCA food pantry.
"The most rewarding part of the garden experience was the enthusiasm shown by all of the gardeners and eagerness in learning more about the entire process," says Al Kirchoff, OTCG Garden Soil Co-Coordinator. "Some were quite surprised at the complexity and various factors influencing the production. Very rewarding personally to be able to help others to gain an appreciation of the hobby of gardening."
"For me the fact that 30 out of 32 gardeners are returning for the garden season of 2008 is fantastic," says Gary Janke, who shares equal duty with Kirchoff in expertise and garden direction. "The gardeners started the community garden and made it happen. The rewards of their dedication will make 2008 an even more fantastic year for OTCG."
Gardeners and volunteers have two more project work dates set for this fall as they build the structures for raising the beds and spreading additional soil among 32 newly raised plots. In less than a year, strangers created a unique community of fellowship and service while transforming an old rugged parking lot into a landmark of natural beauty.
The garden is located at 200 Kealy Street in Lewisville. Questions about the garden may be directed to CCA liaison Peggy Swann at 972/219-4324 or visit our blog at www.oldtowncommunitygarden.blogspot.com
