HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-26-10 Unity/Community Gardens celebrate a successful season
Office of the Mayor
NEWS RELEASE
Friday, February 26, 2010
4:00 pm
Contact:
Mikki Dobski, Director of Communications & Special Projects, 574-235-5855/
udith Rubleske, R.N., Nutritionist, St. Joseph County WIC,
876-1564 or J
Memorial Hospital, 647-2142
Unity/Community Gardens celebrate a successful season
South Bend, IN
: In celebration of a successful 2009 growing season, members of the
West Side Butternut Squash Unity Garden, Cindy Wieczorek and Judith Rubleske, joined with
Mayor Steve Luecke in presenting two squash - the largest of the bountiful harvest of last year’s
Unity Garden, to St. Margaret’s House. “We simply want to share with you the joy of our
garden and thank the staff in our city government for their assistance and cooperation in helping
make our neighborhood garden possible - especially Michael Divita of the Div. of Community &
Economic Dev., Ed Herman, SB Water Works, and Ann Merritt and John Ranschaert, Organic
Resources,” stated Judith Rubleske, lead gardener of Poland St. and Butternut Squash Unity
Gardens and board member for the Michiana Organic Grower’s Co-op.
“The city is proud to partner with the Unity and Community Gardens in the greater South Bend
area to promote healthy living and a strong and vibrant Green Community that preserves green
space and beautifies our neighborhoods,” said Mayor Luecke. “We truly admire and appreciate
their efforts to share this bounty with St. Margaret’s House and to demonstrate a proactive way
for all families to produce nutritious food while helping to lower everyday expenses, as well.”
The butternut squash, each weighing 8 lbs., were
harvested September 27 and have been kept cool
and dry. Their flavor actually improves and
sweetens after at least a month or two of storage.
In addition, the Michiana Organic Growers Co-op also
contributed a box of squash to St. Margaret’s House.
On one small vacant city lot, which is one-tenth of
an acre, The West Side Butternut Squash Community
Garden produced 4,000 pounds of a nutritious,
easy-to-store, versatile, easy-to-prepare winter vegetables.
This is equivalent to almost 800 squash!
-more-
Pg. 2
“St. Margaret’s House is honored to accept this generous donation and appreciate the opportunity
to share a part of the harvest of the West Side Unity Garden” said Kathy Schneider, Executive
Director of St. Margaret’s House. The mission of St. Margaret’s House is to support the
immediate needs of women and children in our community and to empower women to not only
help themselves, but to help others as well. What a wonderful example the members of the
Unity and Community Gardens have provided, along with the food that will provide a warm
meal for our guests.”
In sharing this gift of food, the members of the Unity/Community Gardens also encourage others
to step up and to create a neighborhood garden. This framework for collaborative gardening
helps to create awareness, availability, and accessibility to healthy, locally grown food and
advances public health. The West Side Butternut Squash Garden split its’ harvest into thirds:
one-third for the garden volunteers; one-third for the neighborhood food pantry; and one-third to
sell to help pay for the 2010 garden needs.
For more information on Unity and Community Gardens visit www.UnityGardensinc.org
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