Go Green, Meridian!

Spring 2020 - Love and Peas Community Garden

2020
When the going gets tough, the tough go gardening. While that may sound like a catchy t-shirt slogan, it also happens to be the truth. During times of upheaval and uncertainty, people turn to the things they can count on for security including safe and affordable home-grown veggies.
If you look back at some of the most disruptive social and financial crises of the past hundred years each of them coincided with a spike in vegetable gardening. World World 1 and the global flu pandemic of 1918 gave rise to what were known as "War Gardens." The Great Depression of the 1930s and World War II motivated millions of people to plant "Victory Gardens." More recently, seed companies saw a spike in demand in 2008-2010 during the "Great Recession."
It comes as no surprise, therefore, that the current COVID-19 pandemic and collapse of the global economy is propagating a new victory garden movement (source: Associated Press). While home gardeners are able to work their land without any safety concerns, community gardeners and others gardening in public spaces are having to adopt new practices because of the pandemic (source: The New York Times).
It's unclear how long the current social distancing policies will remain in place and it's even less known how long it will take for us to have a COVID-19 vaccine that is safe, effective and available to all. Given all this uncertainty, it is our job as gardeners to grow as much as we can for as many as we can this year.
I'm taking the pledge to grow my most productive garden ever this year.

We are grateful for the people who have come to the garden and we will be thankful for the new group that comes. They always show up unannounced, a little shy but are always made welcome no matter their background. If you have ideas that can excite our little community garden, please reach out to us and “we hope to see you in the garden”

Annual Chunky River Float, please join us Spring 2020 for a “flora and fauna tour” of the Chunky River. The event will be guided by Gail Barton, one of the leading experts of plant life in the Southeastern US. It’s a fun day of relaxed swimming, wading, sitting in your canoe and learning about the diverse bio system of our region. Date and details to follow.

Children's Programming: Growing Up Green!

To ensure a sustainable future, it is essential that our children are exposed to sustainable living. We are excited to announce a new initiative "Growing Up Green!"

If your church, school or homeschool would like to schedule a tour of the garden, please contact gogreenmeridian@gmail.com or call 917-664-7255.

This is a free event, its held at the Love and Peas Community Garden, based on the time of year, the children can pick, plant or eat such variety of plants as fresh strawberries, carrots, sugar pod peas and blueberries.

The benefits of community – based gardening projects likely extend beyond food security, as gardens provide fresh vegetables, and the process of gardening involves physical exercise. Family and social relationships can also be strengthened through community gardening; since community members provide advice and support to help overcome challenges and all receive the benefits the garden offers. We offer a safe and diverse environment for families and their children to come and explore the world of growing your own food. You will make friends, eat well and learn something new. “Hope to see you in the garden”; Spring Hours start May 1, 2020. We are in the garden as a group every Wednesday for “Weeding Wednesday” 4:00pm to 5:00pm and every Saturday Morning from 8:30am – 10:00am

raising awareness | connecting community | living well