Submitted photo shows the Marion Community Garden in 2012.
For two years the Marion Community Garden became a source of food for people with limited garden space. It was also a source of fresh fruits and vegetables for people in need as some of the gardeners grew food and shared it with Marion’s homeless shelters and senior citizens. This year, however, the garden will be empty.
Garden organizer Terry Cline says that during the 2011 and 2012 growing seasons, Clifford and Judy Hall were kind enough to allow gardeners to transform the former Mark Street Elementary School property into Marion’s first successful community garden.
Even with challenging weather last summer, 2012 proved to be the garden’s best year participation-wise, with all 110 plots claimed. A lack of rain resulted in a lot of watering by hand. In fact, the first water bill showed that 27,004 gallons were used from mid-May to mid-July. Even so, the high water usage was not the reason for the garden’s end.
Cline says that while the water usage is always a concern that must be monitored, the group had sufficient funds to deal with that issue. Rather, the reason the garden will not return this year, according to Cline, was the inability to come to an agreement with the Hall’s to continue using the property.
“We are very appreciative of the property owners, Clifford and Judy Hall, for allowing their property to be used for a community garden the past two years,” said Cline. “It is unfortunate this year will see the garden empty. So many people made the garden a success.”
The Community Garden reflected numerous contributions from civic organizations, business and industry as well as private individuals. The DeWitt Companies, of Sikeston, Missouri, donated 10,000 square yards of landscape cloth and staples. The Morral Companies donated fertilizer and soil testing for both years. Cline says 2012 also saw more interest in the garden by people practicing self-sufficiency and sustainability. Steve Moore, a.k.a. “Opossum & Friends” held a benefit concert for the garden and the Elks Lodge #32, for the second year, provided grant money.
Many of the gardeners did not reclaim their deposits. Cline says their deposit money has been donated to the Tall Grass Trail, Marion County’s first multi-use recreational trail.
While Cline says he feels it is too late to host the garden at a new location this summer, he hopes that next year it will become part of the community again. He says the amount of work that was required to get the current location prepared makes it unfeasible to get another location ready in time.
Cline says that thanks for the success of the garden goes to the following:
C & J Auto Sales – Clifford & Judy Hall – property owners; Opossum & Friends – Steve Moore – fund raising concert; Elks Lodge No. 32 – Ray Haines – grant; DeWitt Companies, Sikeston, MO – 10,000 sq. ft. of landscape cloth; Walmart – Ron Wilson – gardening implements; Morral Companies – Daryl Gates – fertilizer; Livingston Seed Company, Columbus – seeds; Natives in Harmony – Gale Martin; Marion Municipal Court – Judge Ballenger & Jason Peterson; Marion Online; WDCM – Charlie Evers; WMRN – Mike Nolting & Jeff Ruth; TV 39 – David Aiken; The Marion Star; Sims Bros.- Gary Sims – recycling ; Schaber Lawn Services – Jason Schaber – ground preparation; Tractor Supply Company – Jeff Arthur; RAMCO Rental – Mary Cooper & Justin Robbins – ground preparation equipment; JD Equipment Inc. – Bret Sampson – ground preparation equipment; Hostetler Greenhouse, Larue – Harley Hostetler; Rural King – Rick Walker – garden supplies; West Coast Signs – Larry Hunt; The Lenape – Pat Nichols & Willis Thomas; Pat Neutzling – volunteer help the whole season; Shona & Jarod Newsome – lawn mowing; Dan Daum – Licensed Massage Therapist; Nathan Noblit – Marion Flower & Gift Center; Don Wolf – donated many plants; Bill Davis – donated many plants; Rodney Banks – sponsored a gardener; Kathy Sherman – acquired wood chips for pathways; Teri & Dave Birchfield – volunteer roto-tillers for gardens; Jody Demo-Hodgins – gardener sponsor; Kevin P. Collins, Attorney & Counselor at Law.
About Marion Online News
