Garden Report |
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Our work on our garden program is ongoing. The youth garden oriented work is part of a much larger and more comprehensive effort to create model programs that any neighborhood can follow to move toward sustainability. Troostwood Garden |
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All Species works cooperatively with the Troostwood Youth program headed up by Erika Wright who lives in the house on the north side of the garden. Erica knows the kids and is an excellent disciplinarian and has been most cooperative. Erica has a disability that doesnt seem to slow her down any. As a matter of fact it works to her advantage in demonstrating an example to the kids. Erikas mother (Granny to the kids) also helps drive the kids on field trips, regular watering, weeding and in many other ways. The Wrights and the cooperation of the Troostwood neighborhood are invaluable in making this program a success. |
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Troostwood kids spread compost over Troostwood Garden | ||||||||||
We took the kids on a field trip to John Kaiahuas gardens in south east Kansas City. John has a subscription vegetable service, where people subscribe to receive the produce he grows on a weekly basis through the growing season. John showed us around and told us about gardening and his business. He has become an occasional advisor, visiting and loaning us cages and stakes for tomatoes. |
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Erica and I decided to focus our efforts on the main garden plot for efficiency of time and because some of the kids who could use the program were not ready to have gardens in their yards. We plan to site one or more other small gardens in other parts of Troostwood. One opportunity has opened to site a garden in a neighbors yard next to a home with kids who we believe could benefit. Our hope is that the neighbor can give some stability and regularity to our effort beyond our visits. I am most gratified by the organic way this program seems to be growing with community members accepting responsibility that most people wouldnt bother with. |
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Here the Troostwood kids weed the garden. Rockhurst residences can be seen in the background. | ||||||||||
The extremely hot weather coupled with our soil not being up to speed yet limited out put for the commercial aspect of the program. The kids did get to sell tomatoes at a Troostwood festival in early September. We are investigating the propagating native plants in hopes of finding a profitable crop that would have a great ecological learning aspect to it. The Missouri Conservation Department is doing some efforts with native plant propagation and ecological restoration of prairies, savannas, woodlands and glades. They can support us in our efforts with information and occasional visits. |
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In a project related to the gardening program, in addition to the kids selling tomatoes at the Troostwood festival, we also created cement stones. Thirty five stepping stones were made by that many residents in a community building effort. The stones will be placed in a mandala like design at Troostwood Commons park as a monument to their community. The kids helped with the activity. |
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At left, Mrs. Wright places the kids early harvest on a hay bale. | ||||||||||
The garden is dormant as of this writing. The garden is to be enlarged so we will need to get more compost and fertilizer for the new areas and fertilizer for the rest. We are going to invest in soaker hoses and tools for the kids. I have been attending other Troostwood Youth events as I can to help, so I can understand the community better, and get better acquainted with the kids. At right, Marty dishes up crookneck squash for snack and the kids ask for seconds. They grew them, after all. |
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Tracy Gardens The activity at Tracy Gardens is less organized. I go over and work and some kids usually show up and we talk about the garden, they help me plant, water, carry compost or what ever, then they go away. Three kids helped me build 4 X 4 raised bed frames made from used cedar fencing. They planted fall gardens in their own individual frame. There wasnt too much follow through even though I went to their house and invited them to come and weed or even harvest. Since they had helped with other aspects of the garden including plantings they did get to share cantaloupe, some beans, sweet potatoes and strawberries. The fall crop of broccoli was good and they went door to door on the block selling it. In the spring a group of volunteers from Country Club Christian Church helped pour a new sidewalk out front. Strawberries were planted along the edge of the sidewalk and passers by can pick one or two as they go by. We planted four more fruit trees and asparagus around them. A martin house was made from gourds grown two years earlier. No tenets this year. In April we had a small Earth Day focused on planting a native plant shade garden. Seven or eight attended. We now have the beginnings of a demonstration shade garden that neighbors can use to beautify areas of their yards that are under trees. |
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At left, Tracy Gardens gardners having fun showing off their fall green bean harvest. At right, Volunteers from Country Club Christian Church pour the front sidewalk at Trach Gardens whike kids watch. | ||||||||||
The Tracy Gardens Block - Added Perspective These are my impressions based on some interactions. Despite the difficulties, this is a block I would consider living on. I feel more accepted on the block judging by the conversations and greetings I have now. It seems to be growing as people realize Im here to stay. This block has had its difficulties. The house immediately to the north of the garden is owned by the man accused of the road rage killing at Prospect and Brush Creek Blvd. After he was arrested and the family moved out our in garden litter problem fell to almost zero. He had allowed me to use water from time to time, so I know him. I always felt cautious around him but grateful for the water. There was a lot of activity at his house. |
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