Our Neighborhood Is NeighborGOOD!

From last weekend’s fun Duck Drop, to our awesome volunteers, who have steadily removed sunchokes (Jerusalem artichokes), faithfully watered all our plant babies, built a home for future mammoth sunflowers, and have pulled up more weeds than you can imagine, we’re convinced that our neighborhood is neighborGOOD!

More evidence was presented last week that our kick-off efforts were not in vain. Seedlings have been spotted in nearly all our beds. We’re patiently awaiting the following vegetables: peas, spinach, carrots, onions, peanuts, artichoke, and lettuce. The strawberries should become ripe around Memorial Day, and the garlic should follow behind it in early-mid June. Of course, we’ll let you know when it’s all ready! Until then, we’ll need to continue to do what we’ve been doing.

Amidon Bowen Greenhouse Project

Earlier this year, SW garden representatives, Farmers Coy and Pam, met with James Ewing, the lead STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) teacher at the local public elementary school, Amidon-Bowen. We spoke about ways the garden could support the gardening activities going on at the school, especially since some of our best young farmhands are students there. 

At the meeting, Mr. Ewing mentioned that they are trying to raise funds to build a new greenhouse. To help make this dream a reality, they are competing for a chance to win a grant for either $50,000 or $100,000. In order to win, they need our votes! You can vote as many times as you like until May 12th. Here’s a description of the project:

The Amidon-Bowen Elementary Greenhouse Project will bring STEM learning to life. This grant will help us bring a large working greenhouse to our starter garden, help us build on our existing garden, develop a working hydroponics grow garden for year-round learning and cultivation, and help us build our working, living terrariums. Our partnership with SW Community Gardens will help students understand the importance of sustainable gardening while also supporting healthy eating. Students will learn alongside family and community volunteers to explore environmental sciences and expand on the experience of building an urban community garden program. Our students will not only learn about the growth and production of plants but will use the harvest to support families and food banks in our community. This grant will help develop our next generation of community activists, scholars, and STEM leaders.

To vote, and view their 3-minute video, click here.

Garden Build Day With Dreaming Out Loud

This Wednesday, May 3rd, from 1-4pm, Dreaming Out Loud will be having a garden work day at their space behind Blind Whino. Volunteers will contribute to the revitalization of the garden by building raised beds and planting vegetables for the upcoming harvest season. Participants will receive a t-shirt, lunch and certificate of completion for service credit. To RSVP for the event, click here.