Edible Peace Patch Blogs

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Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Welcome to Your Garden!

The edible peace patch garden at Campbell Elementary School saw it's first ever class today! Mrs. Moraniec's 3rd-5th grade class came out for a tour of the brand new garden and helped plant some sunflower seeds. 

(Mrs. Moraniec's class gathered around the sunflower bed)


Alix and I started our shift at Campbell today expecting to just do maintenance around the beds and prep them to be "class worthy" for lessons next week. After yesterday's rain, we knew the soil would be ready to receive seeds and seedlings today. After planting several seedlings and watering the already started beds, we were pleasantly surprised when Mrs. Moraniec offered the volunteer work of her class! We were eager to have help since this young garden still has a long way to go. It was great to have the kids come out and see the garden in it's early stage so that when they come out throughout the semester the development within the garden will be more noticeable to them. 


(Alix Brett planting seedlings)

As we were touring the beds, I asked the group if they could identify one of the plants that was already growing in one of the beds. Seeing them struggle, I offered a hint "It starts with a 'B." I chuckled to myself when I got several "It's Butter!" responses. I finally told them it was broccoli and that got several approvals from the kids. Moments like that in the garden are the best!

The beds are looking great and the soil was thankful for the rains yesterday and especially after today's first visiting class, this garden is officially "up and running."

Andrea Martin



Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Still Digging!



     The biggest hill in Saint Petersburg could be found, for a short time, at Campbell Park Elementary. However, im proud to report that the crew today demolished it, and we are slowly returning to the flatness we all so love. The garden is progressing nicely, the garden beds are mostly complete. A lot of maintenance still needs to be done in constructing the path ways in between the gardens. The garden beds are arranged in the shape of a baseball lace, which should be really unique and apparent once everything is smoothed out and settled. Today our volunteer shift spent the day leveling the walkways. This is important for the day-to-day upkeep of the garden. It will also help to ensure that no one falls into the bed accidentally. We are excited for Campbell Park to see their finished garden, and to begin getting students out to enjoy it as soon as possible.

Derek Kelly
(Danielle hard at work)

Monday, February 18, 2013

What a Start!

Thanks to the generosity of Campbell Park Elementary Principal, Mr. Godfrey Watson, and the efforts of more than a hundred volunteers over the course of the whole day... 


...including Rays Pitchers Brandon Gomes and Alex Cobb as well as more than a dozen Rays staff members from Tropicana Field.  






Even the St. Pete Times showed up.
click image to read.


The day before the dig


Getting underway on Saturday.



Those Rays volunteers (in yellow) kicked some butt out there.



All the kids were super helpful.






As at our other gardens, we have installed a modified huegelculture garden bed technique at Campbell Park and it took many hands many hours to get it completed.


Peace Patch Founders, Andrew Chittick, Kip Curtis, and Joe Esposito





During a second Saturday, volunteers stuck around into the late afternoon to make sure the installation was complete.



We are grateful for our volunteers and for the generous donation of coffee from Kahwa Coffee and Brew D Licious (at the Hollander Hotel).



Most of all, we want to thank the Rays Baseball Foundation, whose generous grant made this garden possible.




In the weeks ahead, please follow the work of Eckerd College student taking the "Applied Ethics: Food Systems" course as they cultivate this garden and act as academic mentors for the amazing and remarkable kids who attend Campbell Park Elementary School.

Kip Curtis
Founder and Executive Director of the Edible Peace Patch Project