"Might I," quavered Mary, "_____ might I have a bit of earth?"
In her eagerness she did not realize how queer the words would sound and that they were not the ones she had meant to say. Mr. Craven looked quite startled.
"Earth!" he repeated. "What do you mean?"
"To plant seeds in ____to make things grow _____ to see them come alive," Mary faltered.
He gazed at her a moment and then passed his hand quickly over his eyes.
"Do you ____care about gardens so much" he said slowly.
"I didn't know about them in India," said Mary. “I was always ill and tired and it was too hot. I sometimes made little beds in the sand and stuck flowers in them. But here it is different.
Mr. Craven got up and began to walk slowly across the room.
"A bit of earth," he said to himself, and Mary thought that somehow she must have reminded him of something. When he stopped and spoke to her his dark eyes looked almost soft and kind.
"You can have as much earth as you want," he said. “You remind me of some one else who loved the earth and things that grow. When you see a bit of earth you want." with something like a smile, "take it, child, and make it come alive."
I go this message from Sam Jones. She has established a community garden in Johnson City. Her note tells some of the ups and downs that her group has experienced. What we are trying to do is not unique. There is a hunger and thurst for
Re: Senior Center Garden for Chruch HillTuesday, March 9, 2010 7:11 AM
From: This sender is
Thanks for doing this for the folks in Church Hill. My project was started in spring of 2008 as a Master Gardener project. The land and tilling were also provided by the city, as well as the water. Does your site have water? I don't think we could operate at all without easy water access, although my research on line shows that some community gardens do get by with hauled or harvested water. The first 2 years were difficult, as the soil was pitifully thin and lacking in any organic matter, even though the city brought in some shredded leaves, it just wasn't enough. Anyway, to make a long story short, this winter the somewhat improved soil has been scooped up w/a front end loader and the garden's been moved across the park where it's located. The city felt they had to have the existing spot for a picnic shelter! And so I'm starting over, but the city does seem to have come to realize that CG's really are becoming more than a passing fancy in towns all over the US and that a showplace garden might actually be a nice addition to the park. There's also talk of duplicating it at other city parks, but now it's just talk.
Anyway, there's lots of good web resources to help you in your organization so I won't go into that in an email but I would advise you to get some help, a gardening board, if you will. I'd also advise a written agreement for each plot owner and a small annual fee as well. If you can get a local garden club to donate tools that would be great, IF you have a shed or some place to store them for the common good. Ongoing education on gardening subjects is vital if you're dealing w/inexperienced gardeners. This year I'm trying to find a mentor to pair up with each newbie but that's easier said than done.
The whole project has been a real challenge, but rewarding enough to keep me going so I'm still with it. Good soil is the key, as I'm sure you know, to garden success and of course, that's the thing that takes the most time, energy and resources to build! Lots of volunteers and planned workdays are really helpful too. Be adamant about weeds to your gardeners, otherwise I let them do their own thing. Compost bins are unsightly for sure and I can't recommend any easy, free solutions except maybe using those black plastic circular bins that have holes in the sides for air flow. I had gardeners pull up corn stalks and fill the bins with them, so education on composting is certainly necessary too. Don't assume they know how to compost. Turning piles is an even bigger challenge though haha
It sounds like you're on the right path Brian. Take before, during and after pictures for any future website or public announcements. You won't regret it.
I wish you much success in your new endeavor and would like to see it sometime. It should be easy to spot on Main St!
Blessings,
Sam Jones
There is no away- as in, "throw it away"
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