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!
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!
