All Entries Tagged With: "community gardens"
The Spanish Lake Garden Tour blooms on June 11
If any part of North County has been unfairly maligned over the years, it’s definitely Spanish Lake. Many people look at the growing minority population and the modest retail base and assume that this historic river bank community is dying. But they don’t see what I see…
When I drive around Spanish Lake, I can’t help but marvel at the natural beauty. The huge lakes, the rolling farmland, the 5,000 acres of parks…including a front row seat at the Mississippi/Missouri Confluence.
I’m also enamored with the vintage architecture. The eclectic mix of mid-century ranches on sprawling lots (some dotted with alpacas & horses) and the 1930s Tudors just oozing fairy tale charm. Heck, one of the oldest house in all of St. Louis – the Chitwood-Prigge log cabin, circa 1798 – is in Spanish Lake. And don’t forget the mysterious old estates tucked along the river bluffs, including the magical Kuhs Estate and Farm with its original 1920s sunken gardens.
There’s an awful lot to see in this 19-square-mile corner of North County – an area chock full of creative, interesting, often delightfully quirky people, many of whom are very dedicated to their community. And that’s why I’m hugely excited to announce that Spanish Lake is rolling out the welcome mat and hosting a garden tour!
Scheduled for Saturday, June 11, the event is sponsored by the Spanish Lake Community Association and features eleven gardens, both public and private. As a volunteer on the planning committee (and the designer of the official poster up above), I’ve been able to view most of the gardens first-hand and I can tell you one thing: this will be an exceptional tour…
This adorable 1936 house is one of 11 stops on the Spanish Lake Garden Tour. It has a lush backyard with fruit trees, a "white garden" and a chicken coop.
All tour proceeds benefit the historic Twillman House, an 1870s Greek Revival building currently being remade into a community center. You can view the community garden there and pick up your tour booklet & map, then head out to 10 other gardens, including:
- a rustic wildlife habitat that hosts 82 species of birds, 51 species of butterflies and three different kinds of frogs, all on a half-acre suburban lot
- a one-acre organic garden that has been producing food since 1928 and today boasts an edible forest garden, a rain garden and shitake mushrooms
- the hidden nature retreat of artist Helen Bylinowski, who created the artwork for the garden tour poster
- a pastoral country garden awash in colorful native flowers and ornamental grasses
- a 1920s French-style cottage with a fabulous view of the Missouri River and 1.5 acres of landscaped property
Here’s what the French cottage looked like in early spring with its chimney draped in wisteria…
Now just imagine this private wonderland, nestled beyond the woods on one of Spanish Lake’s twisty rural roads, at the height of the growing season. With a sweeping view of Columbia Bottom. Because that’s what you’ll see on June 11… and much more.
To get your tickets for the Spanish Lake Garden Tour, head to Cigno Dental Care, 12000 Bellefontaine Road, or Miller’s Auto Repair, 12300 Bellefontaine Road. You can also mail a check, payable to the Spanish Lake Community Association, P.O. Box 372082, St. Louis, MO 63138, by June 9th. Until then, tickets are $10. After that, they’re $15 and available on June 11 at the Twillman House, 11840 Bellefontaine Road.
On the day of the tour, watch for signs and volunteers to guide you to the various gardens. Some are unmarked and quite rural. Most are wheelchair accessible but some have no access at all.
The Spanish Lake Garden Tour is slated for Saturday, June 11, 10am to 4pm. For more info, visit the Spanish Lake Community Association online.
Local Community Gardens enjoy a successful 2010 season
Normandy's Wayside Community Garden was recently named a "hub garden" by Gateway Greening. It's one of only two in St. Louis.
It has been a very productive summer for community gardens all across North County, but two gardens in particular have really shined. Here’s what 2010 brought to the Wayside and Old Ferguson West Community Gardens, as recalled by their respective directors Jane Reise and Heather Robinett.
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Wayside Community Garden – 415 Bermuda Road, Normandy
It’s been a very good year at Wayside Community Garden but it’s not over yet. We are just 2 years old and growing by leaps and bounds. We have doubled in size since the 2009 gardening season. This year we have over 40 families and organizations gardening about 80 vegetable beds. As you might expect, we harvest plenty of organically grown produce for our homes (over 2,000 pounds so far) but this year we have a group of dedicated gardeners who also work tirelessly to see that there is at least 1 delivery each week for the local food pantry at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. We grow everything from crowder peas, exotic cucumbers, and colorful peppers and eggplant to tomatoes, potatoes, okra, melon, greens and corn-and much more.
Our gardeners include rookies from St. Vincent Children Home/St. Jane Center and UMSL to seasoned gardeners of all ages. We share some vegetable plots and look to the future with peach trees and asparagus. Our gardeners do so much more than plant, weed, harvest and eat. This garden is a shared effort with volunteers building compost bins, planning and maintaining an herb garden, painting, designing signs, planning events, writing grants and of course mowing each Thursday.
Although we officially opened in March, planning and work began much earlier. On Martin Luther King Day, a large group of community volunteers spent the cold afternoon filling a large dumpster. Later, garden members successfully applied for a grant from Gateway Greening to become one of 2 Hub Gardens. We are proud to say we are the North County Hub Garden and will provide resources and support for other community and school gardens in the area. Other school, church and community groups have spent a fair amount of time helping us as they were able.
In addition to Gateway Greening, CAN (Wayside’s parent group-Citizens for the Advancement of Normandy) has developed partnerships with UMSL students and staff, Operation Food Search, University of Missouri’s Agricultural Extension and the River Des Peres Watershed Coalition, which designed and helped install our bigger and better rain barrel watering system this season. We are about to enter into partnership with Beyond Housing and Missouri Department of Conservation.
In order to fulfill our commitment to offer educational opportunities to gardeners and community members we have hosted groups from across the state, offered workshops, an Operation Food Search cooking demonstration, with more to come. Look for our Scarecrow Fest to be bigger and better this Oct. 3 rd from noon to 4:00. This year we will have music, OFS cooking again, and of course the Scarecrow Fest, which brings out the creativity in everyone. Bring your own interpretation of scarecrow couture and dress a scarecrow to leave on site for all to admire.
Unlike most other community gardens in this area, Wayside is located on about 3 acres with a historic home on the property. We are actively pursuing plans for the rehabilitation of the Hardy family home in order to offer a community gathering space, a site for workshops, demonstrations, and classes. We hope to do this in the most conscientious and green manner.
Of course, we keep gardening, sharing tips and learning from one another, all the while building a stronger community. Stop by and see us before we close for the season! You can also learn more about our events by visiting Wayside’s Facebook page.
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Old Ferguson West Community Garden – corner of Suburban & Mueller, Ferguson
The Old Ferguson West Community Garden has brought new life to a rundown corner of Ferguson, right across the border from Kinloch.
As summer begins to wind down, this is an excellent opportunity to look back on our first growing season at Old Ferguson West Community Garden. Gardeners of all ages have contributed to the success of our “little garden that could.”
Several key events shaped the garden this year beginning with the installation of 21 raised beds for individuals and sponsors. Although our soil needed more organic matter, many of us had success with peppers, small tomatoes, onions, okra, broccoli, leeks and various leaf lettuces and greens. Community crops that fared well were eggplant, sweet corn, cucumbers and strawberries. We hope to do a little better next year with radishes, beets, cabbage and brussels sprouts. The heat was a worthy opponent this summer.
The Community Garden Mural Contest, won by Heidi Lung, introduced art in the heart of this garden with the help of neighborhood children. Ann Fink provided whimsy with a mosaic chair in the orchard, and Heidi painted Carole Vitale’s donated picnic table to add another element of fun. These little touches create a light-hearted atmosphere, perfect for garden work days the last Saturday of each month.
We held a Children’s Fun Day in May, and plan to hold a Fall Social in October. These events are free and are made possible by our fundraisers. Thank you to everyone who purchased food from us after the 5K at Plaza 501, and concerts at the plaza. Thank you also to all those who purchased tickets to the Beer Dinner at Hill Brewhouse on September 2nd!
We are still looking forward to other plans in the fall such as constructing our tool shed, building our brick paver driveway, and planting our fall crops of kale, other greens, lettuce and spinach. Our greatest lessons learned were the following: Compost needs to be shredded for best results, we need a semi-shaded plot for community lettuce next year, weeds grow quickly and without ANY assistance, and last but not least, neighbors and friends can tackle a long to-do list quickly while making it fun.
Thank you to everyone who has made this year so successful, and we look forward to all the possibilities that will grow next season as well! To learn more about us, please visit the OFW Garden blog.
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So…what happened at YOUR community garden this year? Email NOCO and share your story.
Two fun food events coming up in Ferguson
Enjoy a four-course meal at Hill Brewing's "Beer Dinner" on September 2, with proceeds benefiting Ferguson's community gardens
Good food for a great cause – that’s what you’ll get at Hill Brewing Company on September 2, when the brewpub opens up its Sky Room for a benefit Beer Dinner. For $30, you’ll get a four-course meal and four accompanying beers. And wow, the menu sounds awesome!
Appetizers will be made fresh by guest chef Freddie Holland, my dear friend and neighbor who also happens to be the recipe guru behind Match Meats. Freddie is always whipping up tasty vegetarian delights, and this time he’s using fresh ingredients from the local community garden, so I’m sure his appetizers will be fab!
Up next is salad – fresh spring greens tossed with candied pecans, diced pineapple, fresh strawberries, bacon and blue cheese. Then you’ll get blackened Mahi Mahi with rice and steamed veggies. And finally, dessert is fresh strawberry cheesecake. Mmm!
All proceeds from this dinner benefit Ferguson’s two community gardens – Old Ferguson West and Robert/Superior – and a limited number of tickets are available. To get yours, call Craig at (314) 522-3151 or Heather at (314) 522-3225. You can also find them at Hill Brewing, Cork Wine Bar and Vincenzo’s.
The Beer Dinner is scheduled for Thursday, September 2, from 6:30-9pm. 418 S. Florissant, 63135
Just a few days prior, on August 29, it’s Cork that’s hosting a special event. From 5-6pm, you can taste four great wines (and get a mini wine lesson) for just $5! Immediately afterward, take 20% off any bottle of wine, 1/2 off one glass of wine, or $2.00 off any Hot or Cold Plate from the menu. What a deal!
Cork is located at 423 S. Florissant, 63135. For more info about the upcoming tasting, call (314) 521-WINE.
It’s Children’s Fun Day @ the OFW Community Garden!
A creative collaboration of many local residents, the Old Ferguson West Community Garden will host a Children's Fun Day on Saturday, May 8.
In 2004, when Larry and Heather Robinett bought a long-neglected, seriously rundown house up the street from me in Old Ferguson West, I never imagined they could top the spectacular feat of its extensive renovation. They spent several years completely gutting the old Victorian and bringing it back to life, all the while working full-time jobs and adding two new children to their sizable brood.
Fast forward to 2009. That’s when the Robinetts, who were already involved with the neighborhood association and several other volunteer endeavors, decided that OFW needed a community garden. The city had a vacant lot available right at the border of Kinloch and Ferguson, and Larry and Heather just knew that a vibrant garden would transform and re-energize this troubled little corner of the community.
They worked for much of 2009 preparing the site and raising funds. They also recruited local plumber Dan Flynn, who installed a water line on the property for free! Many long Saturday work days and lots of volunteers later, the garden was officially on its way. Then in March 2010, following the installation of 20 raised beds courtesy of Gateway Greening, the OFW Community Garden opened for “business.”
More than 20 residents are currently gardening there, and the Robinetts keep adding more and more plants and amenities. As if that isn’t enough, they’re now jazzing up the garden with art!
This Saturday, May 8, Ferguson artist Heidi Lung (my dear and very talented friend) will be painting a mural with the help of local children, creating a colorful backdrop for the garden. On this special Children’s Fun Day, kids will also be able to plant seeds, paint a Mother’s Day pot, plant seedlings for a local food pantry, hula hoop, jump rope and more! And lunch for them is free!
All are welcome at this lively community event, even those who don’t live in Ferguson. So why not come by and meet the Robinetts, visit the lovely OFW Garden, and see what an active, creative, hard-working group of neighbors can achieve! You’ll be glad you did!
The Old Ferguson West Community Garden is located at the corner of Mueller and Suburban, 63135. For more info about Children’s Fun Day, which goes from 9am – 2pm, visit the garden’s blog.
