"Resist much, obey little" —Walt Whitman

The Boys at Campbell were as energetic and hectic as usual today. It is hard to get them to focus on anything for very long, but it is really great seeing that, if only by seconds, they are increasing their focus. These kids are wicked smart and not lacking in desire to learn, but it is a challenge to maintain even basic order with them. Any opening  to fool around is taken, any direction questioned. That said, amidst the chaos someone always can recite at least part of what we are trying to get across. There is a bit of a personal challenge in demanding their attention. I respect that they are resisting being molded into perfect pieces, but also there is a practical need for cohesion to get anything done. They do remind me of myself in many ways, as at their age I had a very difficult time focusing on things for very long and was quietly defiant of authority. In a way its a bit like the  itself garden, finding that balance between the wild and the civilized to produce life that is both beautiful and prosperous. 

—Noah M. Schlager

Irrigation!

How lucky are we?  A few weeks ago we had a Garden Volunteer Day and Rob Hoogeveen showed up and asked about our irrigation system (or lack thereof).

Four weeks later and several members of the Tampa Bay Chapter of the Florida Irrigation Society showed up with work crews and tools and all the necessary pipes and tubing to install irrigation in our Gardens.

We started bright and early, 8:00 a.m. 

By eleven, the main irrigation line was in the ground and tubing was being stretched through the beds.

Kristin Brett and David Brett did most of the sprinkler installation, poking holes in the tubing and attaching the spray ends.

Ken Bishop from Kenny's Landscape and Lawn Service here in St Pete, did the work at Campbell Park, and Kenny

We are always so grateful for the hard work and generous spirit found in our community.  Thank you volunteers!

Kip Curtis, Ph.D.

Founder and Executive Director

Ohhhh Saturday Workday...

Ohhhh Saturday workday ….

Saturday may not be a day meant for work, but we had so many wonderful volunteers give up their day of play today to work in the gardens.  

Some near, some far            

 Some by bus, some by car                                                                                                                                    

Joining together       

No matter the weather

To let the community know   

 We can all plant a seed and watch it grow 

     

Thank you to all of our dedicated volunteers today (Melanie McCarthy and the Franklin Templeton Group , Elizabeth Herder and the College of Marine Science Team, Orlando Acosta and the Rotary Club, Ron Peters and the group from Northside Baptist ), it is through you that the organization, gardens and kids grow.

If you did not get to join the rewarding work today, or if you want to come back for more, we will be out again October 12!                                                                                                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                           

One week in!

Well, we are officially one week into the re-opening phases of the Peace Patch Gardens!  There has been a lot of weed pulling and dirt moving in preparation for planting.  With the schools back in full bloom you can feel the excitement of the kids eagerly waiting to get their hands dirty in the garden.

This has been a really exciting week with volunteers reuniting and new ones joining the gardens.  We have already seen the community efforts coming together.  Today we almost completed the beds at Campbell Park elementary with the help of a local residents compost pile!

It is only a blank canvas now, but it is waiting to be painted with sprouting vegetables, smiling faces and stories of success! The Edible Peace Patch is growing!

- Alita Kane (Intern)

The Rotarians Strike Again! (St. Pete Sunset)

You might recognize some of these characters.  Many of them joined us late last spring and cut bamboo and helped us get some edging on parts of the garden.  This time we had them up at the break of day, 7:00 a.m.  It's time to de-solarize the beds for the school year, taking off the plastic that had cooked our soils and held back weed advance all summer.

We started at 7:00 a.m. sharp and before 9:00 a.m, these hard working community members (some of them with a bit of help from the magic tomato juice they sipped occasionally from the tailgate of one Rotarian's truck) helped us create this:

The work was tedious, we moved soil and pulled weeds and added a compost bin, but the hard work paid off and made this garden ready for the Campbell Park elementary students in the weeks ahead.

The whole gang, cheery and chipper, and smiling despite two solid hours of grinding garden work.  These guys and gals are AWESOME!

Volunteers make our organization hum.  Repeat volunteers are our favorite!  Thank you Rotarians!  Your service work really makes a difference in our community!

Kip Curtis, Ph.D.

Founder and Executive Director

The Edible Peace Patch Project

A Rotarian Work Day

Today we got started at 7:00 a.m. with a group of volunteers from the St. Petersburg Rotary Sunset Club, a lively and lovely group of early risers.  Board member Drew Chittick, and pineapple farmer Hank Broege also lent their hands this morning

Our task was to beautify the site.  As you can see, the spring drought and the general decomposition of our hugelkultur beds left them sunken and in need fo some TLC.

And so we cut and clipped and drilled and pounded and shoveled and forked and moved and after three hours of back-straining labor, we were left with a much improved landscape

You can see our new edging and the amended beds.  

We are always grateful for the hands of volunteers.  THANK YOU Rotarians!

Kip Curtis, Ph.D.
Founder and Executive Director
The Edible Peace Patch Project

Thank you Lucas Overby!

Two days ago I got an email from Cathy Dowling, Campaign manager for Lucas Overby, who is running for Congress.  "You guys need any help with anything?"

Lucas Overby and his daughter Raegan inspect the new garden edging.

We've just been harvesting bamboo for two weeks and have a pile ready to turn into bed edging.  And so for two hours, Sean Myers, Kofi Hunt, Michael Cargile, Cathy Dowling, Lucas Orverby, and his daughter Raegan, cut, clipped, drilled, and drove bamboo pieces.

The whole crew!

And when we were done, there were dozens of pieces of cut bamboo, six foot in length and completely cleared of their knuckles (the place where sprouting branches connect to culm).

New bed edges and a pile of material ready to assemble.

We are so grateful for the help of volunteers!

Thank you!

Kip Curtis

Founder and Executive Director