Germantown now has a new community garden! Its at the neighborhood center on Kentucky Street next to St. Therese.
More photos available online:
http://www.gpnalouisville.org
Planting seeds of interest
Courier-Journal, The (Louisville, KY) - June 11, 2008
Author: Martha Elson
melson@courier-journal.com The Courier-Journal
By Martha Elson,
melson@courier-journal.com
A vacant area between the German-Paristown Neighborhood Center and St. Therese Catholic Church that's sometimes used for pickup football games could soon be fielding watermelons, too.
Part of the field has been converted to a community garden by volunteers from the neighborhood association and Sojourn Community Church.
They're using a $1,500 NatureScape Grant from the city's Brightside program.
The demonstration project offers a chance for city dwellers to "become familiar with the whole process of how food is grown," said Tandee Ogburn, a neighborhood association board member. It's also meant to inspire residents to try gardening in their own yards.
Ogburn was out on a recent Saturday with a volunteer crew that was putting in the garden at 1094 E. Kentucky St. It includes raised beds, which are designed to be more accessible to the elderly and disabled. Among the fruit and vegetables that have been planted are tomatoes, squash and watermelons.
Organic soil was donated by EarthFirst, a business that sells landscaping materials at 5400 Outer Loop.
"Everybody's working together and getting out and meeting one another," said Olivia Bourke , who has lived in the neighborhood for 22 years. She's helping in connection with a research project on urban gardening for a master's degree at the University of Louisville's Kent School of Social Work.
Zoe Mullins, who will be 2 in August, was there with her parents, Stacey and Justin Mullins of Jeffersontown, who go to Sojourn. "She lives to play in the dirt," Stacey Mullins said. Justin Mullins said he jumped at the chance to help. "I'm a little obsessed about gardening," he said. "Home gardening is the wave of the future."
Zoe was helping Leslie Hoback, a volunteer with Sojourn, till the raised plot. Hoback said she was there partly to learn about gardening and to help Sojourn.
The NatureScape grants were created to assist local groups with beautification projects. They're awarded twice a year, in the spring and fall. The Germantown association was among 10 spring grant recipients.
A total of $12,500 was awarded. The Germantown grant has been spent in part on wood panels for the raised beds, a 100-foot-long hose and plants. A decorative bench might be added.
Association board member Steve Magre said parishioners of St. Therese will be encouraged to get involved, and some produce from the garden might be used in cooking demonstrations at the neighborhood center.
The association also is talking with Metro Councilman David Tandy about acquiring property near the railroad tracks across from Sojourn, 930 Mary St., for individual garden plots.
Magre said the garden site next to the neighborhood center will help call attention to the center and what's going on there.
"That's a big plus for us," he said.
Reporter Martha Elson can be reached at (502) 582-7061.
Brightside Grants
What: Brightside Fall NatureScape Grants for beautification.
Deadline to apply: Aug. 27.
Amount: Up to $1,500.
Who may apply: Nonprofit groups, including neighborhood organizations, schools and places of worship.
Information: 574-2613 or www.brightsideinc.org.
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