The Garden: Year's End 2011

Whenever I pause to think about the Helping Hands Garden, the first words that come to mind are from the nursery rhyme, 

"Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary,

     How does your garden grow?"

...and I must confess, I have many times considered rewriting this childhood rhyme to reflect the harvest of our garden; but today will not be the day that I successfully complete that rhyming task.

I must say that MadCAAP's premier gardening project has exceeded my wildest dreams even though I have to confess being overwhelmed during the early months as our small group of gardeners planned and built beds, ordered and hauled dirt, gin trash and Black Cow manure; filled our first round of raised bed; planted seeds and seedlings, tried to stay ahead of the voracious weeds and began the process of watering and harvesting.  The success of our Helping Hands Garden is the result of many dirty, blistered hands, sweat-drenched brows and aching muscles.

There were many individuals and groups whose brains and brawn helped to make this garden dream a reality. 

Broadmoor Baptist, Wisconsin Volunteers, St. Matthew's UMC, St. Joseph Catholic Youth,

Youth Group from Louisiana, Wal-Mart Regional and HR Managers, MadCAAP Clients

Carole & Cliff Mains, Daniel Logan, Dorothy Chadwick, Sheila Crowder, Vicky Edwards, Vicky Farlow, Rebecca Coody-Cobb, Johnny Miller, John Robison, Gary Anderson, Kermit Harness.

Josh Miller created our garden logo.  First United Methodist Church in Canton shared the land for the garden and the majority of our expenses were funded through a grant from MS Foodnetwork by way of BCBS Foundation.

Southern Homes and Garden Supply of Canton, DeViney Rental, Gardenworks, Black Kow,
Madison County Co-Op, Rivers Plant Farm, Barnett-Phillips, USDA and Wal-Mart provided donations of materials, plants and machinery.


Then there is one fellow who just knows how to "grow stuff" and without whom this project would not have been such an amazing success...my dear messy friend, Harold Waldrop.  I learned lots from you in 2011 and I'm looking forward to being a more productive gardener in the new year with you as my green thumb mentor.  THANK YOU, SIR!!!


So,  in answer to the question posed by the Mother Goose rhyme...

The Helping Hands Garden has grown, harvested and distributed over 12,000 pounds of produce at this point...

...And as of 4:15 today, we are still growing a variety of greens and onions as December 2011 draws to a close!

LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EACH OF YOU, AGAIN, IN THE NEW YEAR!

Greens, Greens and More Greens!

Greens, Greens and More Greens!

Over 1,000 pounds of greens harvested during the month of October.  Mustard greens, collard greens and turnip greens have been enjoyed by around 200 families so far this month.  We've been pleased to have the help of a number of client volunteers in the garden to assist Harold with the planting and picking of our fall crops.  In addition to the greens, you will also find carrots, onions and cabbage growing in our Helping Hands garden.  Thanks to Harold for keeping the garden growing and producing and to Cliff Mains for keeping the grass under control with regular mowing.  Great folks doing great work for the poor in our community.

Greens from the Garden

11 Bunches of Turnip Greens Harvested on Wednesday

11 Families Thrilled to Take Turnip Greens Home for Supper



August Arrives

The recent abundance of rain has encouraged our weedy friends to multiply; so if you have any time to spare in the early morning hours, drop by and remove a few weeds. The peas and tomatoes will be most appreciative.  The heat and humidity have not dampened the spirits of our dedicated gardeners.  There are 12 or so new raised beds where the pole beans once stood.  These beds have been planted with turnip & mustard greens, bush beans and winter squash.  Most of the yellow squash has succumbed to the summer's heat and those beds are being prepared to welcome some fall crops.  Our sweet potates are being harvested and there is a new crop of peas overflowing the beds that once housed the new potatoes.  Oh yes, there are bee hives, too and a wide variety of graceful sunflowers standing guard on the garden's east boundary. 

Come out and give us a hand! 



OUR LATEST PRIDE AND JOY

"Helping Hands" first watermelon

weighing in at 38 pounds!

When Harold and I talked "garden" on Monday, he said it would be another week before the watermelons would be ready.  When he came into MadCAAP around noon on Wednesday, with this humongous watermelon, I was flabergasted and demanded a picture.  Several other melons were unloaded, but none compared to this one.  The youth group from Louisiana who'd been working with Harold in the garden, quickly added, ...and they are delicious!"  HMMM...I wondered, just how to do they know?  It seems that one watermelon in the field was split so these compassionate youth, not wanting to see any of our produce go to waste...volunteered to give the watermelon from our patch, a taste test... the less than perfect melon was pronounced, "THE BEST!"

We are also harvesting cantaloupe --- 44 at one time last week, along with squash, tomatoes, okra, cucumbers and a few peas.  The pole beans at the north end of the garden have been replaced with a whole row of raised beds...getting prepped for turnip and mustard greens, winter squash and who knows what else. 

We have a small group of awesome gardeners who are persevering in the midst of the summer HEAT!  I pretty sure that Harold, Kermit, Carole, Carolyn, Shirley, Daniel and Sheila would welcome some new muscles and sweat-pertise to the crew.

Where to Begin???

It seems like I haven't posted an update in forever and there's so much garden-related news to share.  MFN has hosted two nutrition classes at MadCAAP in the past two weeks.  The first week about 15 clients enjoyed a cooking demonstration featuring vegetable burritos and chocolate chip zucchini muffins.  Both recipes incorporated vegetables grown in our garden and showed ways to prepare nutritious meals for a family.    Everyone enjoyed getting to taste the foods and received recipes to use at home.  The second week's class shared information about canning and safe practices in that process.  Our clients asked to have more classes on similar topics.  Thanks, Cassandra and Millicent for get this organized for us.

Learning about safe canning practices

Millicent sharing info about good nutrition.

Cassandra sauteeing onions and yellow squash
for vegetable burritos.

                                                                  

Sauteed squash and onions, chopped tomatoes and shredded cheese on a flour tortilla.

Eager to learn.

Yum! Yum!  These two ladies give a "thumbs up" to vegetable burritos.

Tuesday's Gardening Tasks

HAROLD'S TUESDAY "TO-DO" LIST

roofing

painting

mulching

harvesting & weighing veggies

tying up tomatoes

digging the last potatoes

tilling the empty bed 

starting to build a compost area.

A group of students and chaperones from Wisconsin are in town to work with MadCAAP this week.  Their primary task is to help begin construction on a Krista Cottage for the Bennett Family; but today we were blessed to have 6 girls and David come to work in the garden.  David finished roofing our shed, painted the trim and helped the girls nail up the trim boards. 

These energetic teenagers from Wisconsin completed every task on Harold's "to-do" and they loved our accents.

 



      

On days like this, I have the opportunity to once again tell the garden's story to another group of interested folks and I am reminded of what a collaborative effort this whole gardening experience is.  The BCBS Foundation provided the original funds for the grant to MS Food Network.  MadCAAP applied for and received the grant to establish a garden on the grounds of St. John's United Methodist Church in Canton.  That's where Canton First United Methodist Church came into the mix...they provided the land.  You certainly can't have a garden without some DIRT for planting,  Then the planning began with much help, encouragement and guidance from Master Gardeners and MFN as well as, MadCAAP's own gardening guru, Harold Waldrop. 

"This is amazing!"  is the comment heard from almost every first time visitor/worker to the the garden.  I must agree that our "Helping Hands Garden" is amazing  as I stop to reflect on the accomplishments of the past 5 months! There are many who have played a role in enabling this garden to become a reality and we are very thankful for BCBS Foundation and MFN for providing the funds to get this project started and to all those who have contributed materials, time, expertise, sweat and their love of gardening to make a difference the lives of those living in poverty in Madison County.  And so we offer our heartfelt...

Helping Hands Harvest



 All of this produce was picked from MadCAAP's Helping Hands Garden from June 2 - 5.

We were able to provide fresh vegetables for 73 families this morning!

Carolyn has been one of the most faithful and hardworking client gardeners.

Not matter how hot or how weary she may be, Carolyn has a huge smile to share.

She is our Sunshine!

   

Many of those receiving food on Mondays are handicapped or elderly.  Some have small children.  Here are some of those who picked up food today and will have the chance to eat fresh squash, tomatoes, okra, cucumbers or zucchini for supper tonight.  What a joy for me to see our plans and hopes becoming a reality!

                        YIPPEE!

What an amazing day of sharing made possible through the dedication and hard work of some very special volunteers and clients.  Thank you to Harold, Dorothy, Vicky F., Daniel, Sheila, Carole, Shirley, Carolyn, Kermit, John, Karen, Olivia for being my "go-to gardeners" each and every week.  We have also been blessed by the help of many other individuals & groups whose earlier work has been shown on the blog.  There's still plenty to do that does not require a green thumb...like harvesting and watering, mowing and weed-eating.  There's a spot for all!   When you see what was picked in just a 4 day time frame last week...there's no doubt that on-going help is definitely needed. 

Sure it's hot...but when we share the work...it's all good!

Quick Update



Wal-Mart volunteers mowing & weed-eating

   

  MadCAAP client watering the garden                                  



                      



Volunteer from St. Joseph Catholic Church and MadCAAP client planting another round of tomato plants.

                                          

St. Joseph Catholic Church volunteering again.

our first tomato





         

baby cucumbers

  


Great group of volunteers
Regional managers & HR managers from Wal-Mart.
They painted, mowed, ran the weed-eater & built 3 new raised beds!

Our shed with a coat of green paint