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





Mother's Day at MadCAAP's Garden

Meet my talented son, Josh, who created our garden logo.



My silly sons, David & Josh from Birmingham, showing off their "Helping Hands".

Luckily Josh and David, as well as my daughter Jennifer, share my love of gardening so it wasn't to difficult to persuade the boys to go with me to check on the garden on Mother's Day. (Jennifer was at the Kentucky Derby, but I'm sure she'll take a turn in the garden when she visits from SC later in the summer).  We watered & watered & watered!  What a job!  I am thankful for the fun these two brought to a task that could otherwise have become very wearisome.  MadCAAP's Helping Hands Garden is really going to make a difference in the 80 boxes of food that we distribute each week.  I can't wait to get to that point!

           More help is NEEDED in the garden!  

How about adding your "helping hands" to this project?



  

Look how much the first bed of tomato plants has grown.  Soon these tomatoes will be ready to be picked and placed in one of the 80 boxes of food that MadCAAP distributes weekly.  MadCAAP's "Helping Hands" Garden is going to make a to make BIG a difference. 

                               

                                                              

blooms on our potato plants

baby squash on our first beds planted

 

These squash plants and pole beans were planted from seed in mid-April. 

They're going strong!

Contact me at 601-506-1267 or at  madcaapcenter@hotmail.com to find out about work days.

Day of Shine in the Garden



Master Gardeners & a MadCAAP client tending the raised beds.



Volunteers of all ages from Broadmoor Baptist Church

Broadmoor volunteers getting the rows just right for planting.

    Dorothy Chadwick, our Master Gardener partner is sharing her
           expertise about planting squash with a group of MadCAAP clients. 

      This how the garden looked at the end of the day on April 9, 2011 at 3:30 p.m.
After a full day of work, the shed is practically finished and the rows are ready for planting.

Throughout the day on Saturday, April 9 about 50 volunteers worked in the Helping Hands Garden from 8:30 til 3:30.  The workers consisted of youth from Highlands Presbyterian church, a large group of  families with small children from Broadmoor Baptist, several Master Gardeners, MadCAAP clients and others who have a passion for gardening and a love of MadCAAP.  The majority of the group did gardening chores; but there was a group of amazing carpenters from Broadmoor who built a shed to house our gardening tools.  It was a great day of fellowship, learning and fun!  I echo the comment that one of our MadCAAP clients made, " I have really learned some things about gardening today!"

OUr next workday is Saturday, April 16 from 9:00 til NOON or until everything is planted, whichever comes first.  Come join the work and learn something along the way!