The Urban Fusion Community Garden needs your support.

Following is a statement of progress currently being made toward realizing a community garden on Culbertson Avenue, as submitted by chief organizer Michele Finn, who also notes Urban Fusion's fund-raising needs to get its opening phase under way. NABC will be donating $200 toward this effort; I'll get it to the bank this week, and I've adjusted Michele's numbers to reflect this donation. 

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The Urban Fusion Community Garden has been pricing raised beds. The best price we have found is from Youth Build in Louisville at $170 each for cedar. That is special pricing for a non-profit organization. The turn around time is two weeks. Our planting season starts in three!

"Our mission is to capitalize on the positive energy of young adults by helping them rebuild their communities and their own lives with a commitment to work, education, responsibility, and family.

YouthBuild aides unemployed and undereducated young people, ages 16 to 24, build affordable housing for homeless and low-income families in their own communities.

They split their time between the construction site and the classroom, where they earn their GED or high school diploma, learn to be community leaders, prepare for jobs or college."

We have had $575 donated thus far with a goal of $1,700 for raised beds which leaves us needing $1,125 for this project, which would estimate to about 60 people donating $20 each. All donations are tax deductible and can be made to Keep New Albany Clean and Green. They can be mailed to me (Michele Finn) at 2405 Beeler Street, New Albany 47150, or taken to Your Community Bank.

Here are reasons for a community garden, as given by the American Community Garden Association. I'll admit that I probably could come up with some better sounding ones, but I had a family wedding last night, cooking for Easter today, and I have to play Easter Bunny tonight. It's a busy weekend. But these are good reasons and it is a legit organization, even if it is a little bland. The garden itself will not be bland.

Preserves Green Space
Reduces Crime
Social Interaction
Encourages Self-Reliance
Beautifies Neighborhoods
Produces Nutritious Food
Reduces Family Food Budgets
Conserves Resources

I will add that the average vegetable from the grocery travels 1.500 miles. That's a lot a petro.