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.

Historical preservation and revisionism, but with a worthy Community Garden attached.

The group seeking to start a community garden has been hard at work. As a prelude to the following, contributed by Michele Finn, it's helpful to know that the group's target site is adjacent to the former tavern building under renovation at 8th and Culbertson, as corroborated in this Daniel Suddeath newspaper piece.

New Albany’s first community garden space is in the works, as Indiana Landmarks recently donated the lot at 707 Culbertson Ave. for the project.

In addition to plots that can be rented by residents wishing to produce their own yield, the property will also house the former Emery’s Ice Cream Shop building, which will serve as an education center ...

... Greg Sekula, director of Indiana Landmarks Southern Regional office, said he’s hopeful the Emery’s building will be moved to the lot by the end of the month. The New Albany Board of Public Works and Safety has already approved the move of the building from its current location near the intersection of 13th and Main streets.

“We’re glad this seems to be a win-win for everybody,” Sekula said.

Here's the text of Michele's mailing.

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Hi Everyone,

Things have been coming together very quickly and we have a garden site! I can not confirm the location just yet, there are still a few little things we are working on.

One of the things we are needing at the moment is a name. There are a few ideas mentioned already and I would love to hear a few more. Please keep in mind that one of the purposes of the garden is to unite the community.

So far we have:

United Roots Community Gardens
Fusion Roots Community Gardens
Kaleidoscope's Community Gardens
Sycamore Center Community Gardens
Tutti Community Gardens (meaning all together in italian)

Some items we will be needing soon are:

Large amounts of top soil and compost (we are working on finding the exact amount)
Cedar for the raised beds and part of the fencing.
Compost bins~we will eventually build our own
Several rain barrels (we have one donated already)
Hog Wire Fencing (I will post an example)

If you have any connections for supplies or ideas for fund raising please share and we will do the best we can with what we have.

A couple of things we've been working on are:
Lease agreement
Possible education center
Non profit status
Considering maintenance and up keep once established

Faith Ingle and Smith have agreed to write up our lease and handle our non profit status application at no charge! We will be responsible for the minimal fees for applying but again no charge from the company! I met with them today and it's in the works. A big Thank You to them for supporting our garden!

http://www.faithinglesmith.com/

Chris from Rauch Inc is investigating our bumpy plot to see how much dirt we will need to grade it so that we can put in nice level plots! We are also considering hiring Rauch Inc, who's mission is "To support people with disabilities and their families while encouraging a community that acknowledges the value and contribution of all people" to help with upkeep and maintenance throughout the year. It would be an honor to hire a non profit from within our community!

http://www.rauchinc.org/landscaping_lawn_care.htm

We will hold another meeting once we get the paperwork filled out. It's really happening! We should be able to build the garden (fence and beds) through April and have a garden the first of May! We will need to have a "Build It" party and get the fences and raised beds put together. This will be a "tend your own plot" garden with a communal area that will be donated to a non profit organization. The fee for renting a plot will be decided depending on insurance costs, supply costs, and how successful our fundraising is!

Thank you all for your support and interest!
Please write back with any ideas or questions.

Thanks!
Michele Finn

Community gardening update.

I'm not going to kid you. I've no personal aptitude for gardening, and would rather ride my bike in summer, but Michele's efforts to enhance community gardening consciousness are much appreciated, and the idea itself is something to be rallied around even by those of us unlikely to come out of it with dirty hands. 

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Hi Everyone,

It seems as though we have the attention we need to prove support for NA Community Gardens. (applause :) We also have several possible sites... That leads us to the next step. We need a plan. Actually, a few!

1. Who is interested in a community garden that is totally for the people? Anyone can come pick at any time and the garden belongs to everyone! A wonderful philanthropic approach to a community garden and certainly a great way to
dissolve greed and promote sharing.

2. Who is interested in a community garden that will provide you with your own plot for a fee? This style will also have a community plot that will be tended to by all members and will be donated to a non profit of choice.

3. Who is interested in Parklettes? Parklettes are small parks that provide green space for the community. A couple of fruit trees, a bench and a path is all you really need and it is relatively inexpensive to start.

I'm going to ask everyone to introduce themselves and address these ideas to the Yahoo group. It is very time consuming for me to gather and redistribute information to each and every one. The sooner we start functioning as a whole the sooner I believe we will see results! There is a very good possibility we will be starting at least one garden this spring, more than likely two or three. Let's keep the momentum going and make our city cleaner and our property more profitable by using the resources that are available to us!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NAcommunitygardens/

In case you haven't heard the farmer's market is open every other weekend and I have started a Grateful Greens hydroponic produce pick up at Destinations Booksellers every other week. I'm putting orders in for Thursday and you can email me nagreens(at)gmail(dot)com if you would like more information.

Business Support Offered

1. Earthly Goods has offered seed donations
2. Prosser has said there are possibilities in growing seeds and making our
raised beds for a small fee.
3. Rauch Inc is interested in helping with the project & garden design.
4. Grateful Greens wants to help.
5. Keep New Albany Clean & Green, a local non profit is offering support.
6. Floyd Action Network FAN would like to support the gardens.

If there are any name that need to be added please feel free to reply with an update. I am amazed at the support that is quickly showing us the possibilities of a true community effort!

Thank you all for your interest in New Albany! Possibilities are every where!

Michele Finn
Grass Roots!
Keep New Albany Clean & Green

Community Gardening meeting is tonight at the Ritter House.

Michele Finn reminds you that the Community Gardens meeting is tonight.

Hello!


This is a quick reminder of the Community Gardens meeting tonight at 7:00 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Cardinal Ritter House, located at 1218 E. Oak Street in New Albany. This meeting has several purposes.


1. A basic meet and greet for people interested in providing support to the community gardens effort.


2. Sharing the results of the Community Gardens Survey.


3. Providing a place to share ideas/ concerns with having a community garden.


4. Discussing garden design ideas.


5. Discussing garden location possibilities.


Master Gardener Joe Renwick will be present, and has agreed to give us information on how to take soil samples and why they are important.


Just so you all know, I have no desire to start monthly meetings. I think we can work together through emails and phone calls with the occasional meeting. If someone feels differently, please feel free to host a meeting at any time.


Thank you and I'm very happy to have so much support for this not for profit community project. I have asked Wick's, and they have agreed to donate a couple of pizzas for the meeting. If you don't have time for dinner, just get there on the early side and we'll try to make sure you don't go hungry. I understand traffic is making dinner time later for most people. If anyone would like to bring drinks, cups or anything else let me know. I could also use a volunteer for taking notes.


Thanks and hope to see you tonight.

Community Gardening meeting at the Ritter House on Tuesday, January 24

(From Michele Finn ... rescheduled from late 2011 ... video link provided by Michele)

Hello All!

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and are on your way to a prosperous New Year! There are so many possibilities all through out New Albany to beautify add function into otherwise unsightly or unused spaces. New Albany is great and we can make it our dream city with some focus, direction and re-invention of our unused spaces.

I know many of you have great ideas that we haven't been able to discuss yet and I would love to hear them. A meeting will be held at The Cardinal Ritter House Tuesday, January 24th at 7pm. The address for the Cardinal Ritter House is 1218 E Oak Street. If you are familiar with the S Ellen Jones Elementary School, it is facing the playground and the entrance is in the back. Ideas and concerns are welcomed.

Invite your neighbors, invite your friends, any one you can think of that would benefit from a greener New Albany! If you would like to bring drinks, snacks or desserts to share please respond to this email and let me know what you are bringing. I would love to make this an evening of community discussion and camaraderie that enables us to focus on the future and possibilities coming up this spring. It's amazing what people can create and what a few plants can do for our neighborhoods.

Please do not feel like you can not participate if you can not or do not wish to attend this meeting. Stay in touch through the phone, email or you can even send me snail mail if you wish and I will be happy to share your ideas and give you credit.

To add a little fun please bring your current seed catalogs. I would love to see what you are planning and where you get your seeds.

I'm looking forward to hearing from you all!

Michele Finn
Grass Roots Organizer and Keep New Albany Clean & Green

Community gardening meeting on Tuesday, December 13 at the Cardinal Ritter House.

(submitted)

We have finished our community garden survey and have many exciting responses. We are hosting a meeting on Tuesday December 13 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cardinal Ritter House, located at 1218 E. Oak Street in New Albany.

All are invited to review our possibilities and the ideas shared through the Community Garden Survey. Thank you all for taking the time to help to get this possibility off the ground. Winter is a great time to plan for spring so please come gather and discuss the wonderful opportunities we have in New Albany. This is a grass roots effort with support from various organizations including Keep New Albany Clean And Green, Earthly Goods, Floyd Action Network (FAN) and Trash Force.

If we can all work together for this project we could really end up with something great! Looking forward to see you all! Bring your thinking caps!

Michele Finn

Take the New Albany Community Garden Survey Fall 2011.

NAC received the following survey link from Michele Finn, who notes that the community garden movement is a "grass roots effort at this point, with future support of Keep New Albany Clean and Green," and that Trash Force is in the loop, too. The survey will be up until November 15, so please take it.

online-survey.php?surveyID=NBONFM_b19efc99">New Albany Community Garden Survey Fall 2011

News from Midtown: Community gardening and a Fall Party.

(Submitted ... thanks, Ted!)

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News from Midtown, New Albany:

1. Click here to participate in an important survey about community gardening. It doesn't matter if you are a gardner or not, your feedback is still needed for this grassroots effort that is gaining momentum here in New Albany! Please help.

2. Save the Date: Fall Party at Ritter Park, Monday, October 24, 6.00pm to 8.00pm. Family friendly activities at the park. Free stuff. Pumpkin carving. It will be a ghoulishly good time. Click here for more information. There'll be more details coming on this event, so stay tuned.

Ted
www.MidtownNA.org

Interested in community gardening?

From Ted Fulmore and Midtown New Albany comes this:

Area resident Michele Finn working to get a Community Gardening effort underway in New Albany. Interested? http://t.co/a3e2v1O

"We have all this green space that we’re not using. People have to eat."

This is the second time in a week that I've heard about the development of a community garden downtown. It's an encouraging trend that makes good use of or reclaims green space and builds community. Kudos to St. Marks for responding to the city in such a positive way.

St. Marks garden to help feed needy, by Chris Morris (The Tribune).

Lisa Graves said the idea is a simple one. But the benefits are endless.

Graves said it was divine intervention that moved her to start a garden in the rear of St. Marks United Church of Christ at 222 E. Spring St. The garden will face Market Street, and it began to take shape Thursday afternoon.

Learn more about community gardening from the American Community Gardening Association.