Thursday, May 10, 2012

From Asphalt to a Community Garden

This past weekend my co-workers and I meet up with a group of people in our industry (Commercial Real Estate) and worked on Phase II of a community garden.  That's me on the right.
Last summer a group of workers began the HARD work of picking and scraping and digging into a hard-baked Urban Parking Lot.  Someone had a LOT of vision  because out of that hard work, a garden was created and is thriving today for the neighbors.
Several neighbors have signed agreements with Volunteers of America and have their own little plot/pod to grow vegetables, herbs and flowers.  There are even picnic tables to sit down and have a cool drink or just admire all the pretty plants.
Power tools were brought to the work day and boards were cut to make vertical trellis, planter boxes and benches.
Bales of hales had holes dug out of them, for plants to grow straight out of the hay!
Above are some of the "pods" that have already been planted.  We saw okra, tomatoes, purple hull peas, wax beans, squash, and herbs already growing and ready for harvest.
As you can see from this picture, we are in the heart of a very urban area. For those of you that are familiar with Houston...it's on North Shepherd......near Yale in a neighborhood called Independence Heights.
A group of "Corporate Suits" showed up for a day of playing in the dirt!
Here is the beginning of the Mural.  A very interesting artist, David Flores, created this on paper and then put it on the wall facing the garden.  David outlined the colors and then we got to fill in the color.
I knew when I signed up for this workday and the flyer said there was going to be a mural painted....I wanted on THAT team.  :)  And lucky me....I got to paint!  I'd MUCH rather paint than do yard work...LOL!
David starting the detailing finishing touches to the mural.  I will drive by in a couple of days and take a picture of the finished project.  To check out more of his work, his website is:  Skeez 181
And for all our hard work.....a hamburger/hotdog lunch was donated...and it sure tasted good!
If you don't already, I highly recommend doing volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity, Volunteers of America, or just helping out people in need. It's a really rewarding experience!

10 comments:

  1. What a wonderful service to the community. Lots of hard work ~ but what a great cause!!
    I'm a new follower, Mary Alice

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  2. Hi Susan,
    I love your colourful blog and your animals. Thank you so much for finding me and introducing me to yours, I will be following you it looks as if we have lots in common. I loved your antique fair.I was involved for a number of years in doing volunteering in a wildlife garden, I love the way gardening seems to be bring people together and enchances life. Sarah x
    Sarah

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  3. Susan, what an awesome project. I used to do a lot of volunteering but here in France it's harder (or perhaps harder to understand!) to find the opportunities. But oh...to dig in the dirt again. Congrats to all the volunteers.

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  4. Absolutely fantastic! What a great project! There should be more like this all across the country. And every school should have a garden so that the kids can learn to grow and harvest their own food and then cook with it.

    I love to see large murals! They really brighten up an otherwise blah building or eyesore.

    I used to live in Pasadena TX and Spring TX -- many, many years ago. Have a great week! Tammy

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  5. PS I love Carson! I had a wire haired fox terrier named Scooter before coming to Kuwait. :)

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Tammy....interesting that we have the Texas connection! :)
      Isn't Carson just the cutest thing....and he is SO sweet. He is a schnauzer, believe it or not.
      Sounds like it's been awfully dusty and hot around your neck of the woods. We got up to 90 today and I'm afraid that's going to be the norm from now until October.

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  6. That looks like such a fun and fulfilling project-way to go! Thanks so much for stopping by and for following...looking forward to following you too!

    ~Trisha

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  7. It looks like you all had a lot of fun. We help out in our town. We have built a few playgrounds and it was so much fun.

    Dee

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  8. Hi Susan,this is a wonderful thing you and your friends have done. Many will benefit from all your hard work. Willing hands to work for others and those less fortunate is one of Christ teachings.I am sure you will be blessed for your kindness shown! I am glad you stopped by and commented on my blog....now I am following you so I will be back to visit and see what you have been up to :)
    Blessings

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  9. Oh wow, loving all the hard work*!!! So good to be visiting your blog again*!!!

    ((hugs))

    -Ashley

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Thank you so much for visiting my blog! I LOVE to read all your comments. They bring a smile to my face...so SPILL IT SISTER!!!