HOUSTON — Prior to the April 3 Good Friday planting of the Spring Crop in the 5th Ward Community Garden, AAPDEP members worked diligently to ensure the entire planting process would go smoothly as planned.
Those plans included bringing in twelve yards of high grade soil and integrating it with the old dirt to have the highest quality growing soil we could get.
In the process of acquiring the dirt from a local dirt yard we presented the Garden’s portfolio of community work to the Yard owners and were afforded half off the original cost.
Our total cost, including delivery came out to be $205.00, thus saving us more than 200.00 dollars.
AAPDEP members Joe Holley and Mack Robinson donated the bulk of the money to buy the dirt, thereby leaving our treasury untouched.
In preparing the soil, we tilled all day and used the wheel barrow to spread the new dirt over the entire garden.
AAPDEP’s Acting Chair, Ashira Adwoa rolled up her sleeves, grabbed a shovel and tossed dirt while members Jesse, Treasurer Aja Zola, Chase Walker, Larry Carter and others worked diligently as the Garden begin to shape up.
We pulled grass from the raised beds, and filled them all with the new dirt also.
Then we rowed up the entire garden and were ready to plant. We cut grass and used the weed eater to really make the garden a grade A presentation that the community could be proud of.
On April 3rd, AAPDEP members met up and the planting began. Neighbor and member, Karen B. donated nearly 100 plants plus seeds for the initial planting.
Other members also bought plants and seeds, thereby costing our treasurer only $30.00.
An assortment of beans, squash, okra’s, tomatoes, watermelon, cantaloupe, kale, collards, eggplant, cucumbers and an assortment of other greens were planted and it seems that this will be one of the best crops yet!
By the time the YES Prep students come back on June 8, and the Juneteenth “Not Yet Uhuru” Music and Freedom Festival occurs in the Garden, there should be plenty of fresh vegetables that should be ripe for picking.
After all was planted, (which Bo Walter, Joe Holley and Joe Burnett played crucial roles) the rainwater harvesting irrigation system with its 3000 gallon water tank was turned on and the fresh seeds and plants got an initial soaking of good rainwater preserved in the tank.
Hopefully we are coming closer to our goal of implementing the One Africa! One Nation! Marketplace which we want the AAPDEP 5th Ward Community Garden to be its flagship.
Our goal is to make our community self -sufficient in growing its own food and making the African Marketplace an economic development project for the movement and community.
Build the One Africa! One Nation! Marketplace!
We plant and meet each Saturday so come out and bring your family.
Contact Kefing ~ 214-707-7309 or email ~ blackstarline2015@gmail.com
AAPDEP’s 5th Ward Community Garden is planted for 6th consecutive year
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