Garden With Children, Families, Neighbors and Friends

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Sixty people came out on Saturday for the Community Gardening Education Event at Muskogee Public Library.
Participants represented churches, neighborhoods, communities, schools and civic groups. All are interested in knowing how they can pitch in. Whether growing food strictly for consumption or to involve children in the wonders of knowing where their food comes from, each is passionate about getting started.
Everyone indicated an interest in sharing part of what they grow.
Photo: Bruce Edwards
Keynote speaker, Bruce Edwards from Urban Harvest, Food Bank of Oklahoma City, has been instrumental in helping start as well as work with dozens of community gardens. His enthusiasm for growing gardens with groups is contagious.
The panel included: Rodney King - OSU Extension, Kim Walton - Walton Farms, Julie Gahn - Tahlequah community gardens, George Driever - OSU Extension
Gardeners had an opportunity to hear from each of these experienced gardeners and ask gardening questions. Their topics were soil health, weed control, irrigation, insect and plant disease control.
Photo: Dr. J. Baker
Dr. Baker is the medical advisor to the project as well as an enthusiastic cheerleader. His wife, Cindy is active on the Wellness Committee.
Photo: Doug Walton
Doug Walton, Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Muskogee Farmer's Market and Waltons Farm, was the right person to talk to members of the group who wanted to know more about selling what they grow.
Photo: Martha Alford
Alford, Health Educator for Muskogee County Health Department, is an enthusiastic and tireless worker for the Wellness Initiative.
Photo: Demalda Newsome
Edwards joined Newsome for the final presentation of the day. Newsome energized everyone in the room with her passion for gardening with families, children and neighborhoods.
Newsome Community Farms works with neighborhoods and families in North Tulsa. They now have a farmer's market in North Tulsa thanks to Newsome's group.

AND Thank you!
to these generous companies who contributed product samples to the goodie bags participants received.

All in all the day was a great success. I predict this will lead to several community gardens in the Muskogee area as well as more workshops to help gardeners learn to be more successful.

Comments

Sally said…
Sounds like it was a successful event! Sixty is a good turnout. You're on your way to fulfilling your community garden goals. Congratulations and good luck with your next steps.
February 24, 2009 at 3:36 PM
Molly Day said…
Hi Sally -
Everyone involved in the event left on a high from the speaker's uplifting energy and terrific information. It was amazing.

I'm afraid my blog has suffered some from my being so busy.

Plus, my laptop is at the repair place so I don't have as much time on the keyboard as ususal.

Thanks for stopping by the blog and your good wishes.
February 24, 2009 at 9:10 PM
Jen said…
This is great! I've rented a community garden plot for several years. I'd have it this year again if I knew I was staying in the area. (I got laid off in early December and still seek new employment.)

Community gardens have so many benefits: they're beautiful, you have plenty of neighbors who share your interest, it helps those of us without property to use for a garden, etc.
February 27, 2009 at 2:12 PM
Molly Day said…
Hi Jen -
You paid for using a community garden plot?

I suspect you live in a much larger community than Muskogee OK, a town of 40,000 or so.

Based on your experiences, what advice would you give someone who is considering growing in a community garden?

Hopefully, your lay off will lead to something better than ever.
February 27, 2009 at 5:43 PM
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