Martin Shaw Landscape Design : Off the Clock

We just submitted our "Off the Clock" project to a trade publication in the hopes it will be featured, drawing additional interest to what we feel is an important effort. If you follow our blog you know that we are strong proponants and participants in Community Gardening and so we are proud to share our latest volunteer venture with you! Please feel free to contact us if you want to get involved - in either our garden, or your own. We are always happy to share resources that can help the idea speread to other communities. Additional information can be found on the News & Press or Resources section of our website. You can also follow the progress of our project: The Sandy Ridge Community Garden on facebook.

Food pantries are a valuable resource for families struggling to provide needed nutrition. Because they rely on an inexpensive, shelf stable and simple to prepare source of food though, pantries are filled with processed products. These foods are high in salt, calories and preservatives. Fresh produce is so needed and appreciated by these organizations and their clients. Fresh vegetables can be grown almost anywhere with only a few resources and a minimum investment, and its availability can have a positive impact on the health of the recipients.

I was inspired by the idea that an unused piece of land can be transformed by the efforts of a community to provide, beauty, education and food. As a landscape designer and company owner I saw the creation of a community garden as a way to use my knowledge, tools and resources to help others. Several years ago I was fortunate to become involved with the creation of an urban garden in the area. It provided me with the experience, training, contacts and support I needed to begin a similar project in my own community. After exploring several potential sites, I approached the pastor of the Doylestown Mennonite Church about a section of land on their property. He, the trustees and congregation welcomed the idea and allowed me the use of their grounds, facilities, and provided support in any way they could.

The garden began with an announcement in the local paper gathering interested community members for a meeting to discuss the idea. 17 people attended and I outlined my plan, asking for input, assistance and supplies. We agreed to raise a communal-style garden, donating at least 50% of the produce to local food pantries. With-in several weeks my company, Martin Shaw LLC Landscape Design & Construction, had tilled the ground, I had secured supplies, seed and seedling donations from local businesses while volunteers amended, fenced and planted the garden. Our progress was covered by several local publications bringing more volunteers and donations.

Thanks to the generosity of donors and volunteers we filled the 35’ X 145’ space with tomatoes, potatoes, onions, greens, beans, squash, melons and herbs. Our work days were held three times a week and attracted between 6 to 8 volunteers each time. I managed tasks, coordinated events and maintained communication with weekly e-mails to a list of 45 addresses and shared information, photos and ideas on a Facebook with a page that has garnered over 65 fans so far. Several potlucks and occasional meetings brought even more volunteers together socially, spawning friendships and activities beyond the garden.

Volunteers with a variety of backgrounds and opinions – Penn State Master Gardeners, Italian immigrants and Mennonite farmers - came together, worked through their differing opinions on care, watered, weeded and harvested. Together we donated nearly 90% of the harvest raised to local food pantries, for a total of near 900 pounds! I was also able to co-ordinate with a local girl-scout completing her service project to create a cookbook for pantry recipients that would help them make healthy meals and elementary students learning about business by fundraising. The idea is now spreading in our community; I have already consulted with several groups interested in creating their own community gardens.

I am inspired to continue now not only by the idea – but by the reality - of what we achieved: friendship, cooperation, compromise, training, interest and a bounty for community members in all walks of life.