We've planted!

A lot has happened at the Growing Places Indy Slow Food Garden at White River State Park in the last month! On March 14th our first group of volunteers, courtesy Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, came out and worked in fairly chilly and overcast conditions to dig and turn under the grass, weeds, and wild flowers begin to sprout in the garden beds. They also built a lovely compost bin that has already been receiving matter from the garden. Later that same week Matthew, Matt Hostetler and Tyler Henderson came back out to complete the work of tilling the soil.

On March 21st our second group of volunteers, again just under 20 folks, came out on another chilly day with heavy rain clouds threatening to dump on us at any moment. This hard working bunch was either undeterred, or motivated to work faster by the uncertain weather, and managed to spread 20 cubic yards of aged manure to top dress the soil (soil tests came back at safe levels for growing edibles but the pH needs some adjusting) and 6 tons of crushed limestone for walking paths to enable visitors to walk through the garden beds, not just around them. We really did not expect all of this work would get done in one work day! Please enjoy photos of the day's work, courtesy of Angie Hermann.

We must also offer hearty thanks to some friends who joined us on a Tuesday evening to rake out secondary paths in the garden beds and spread clover seed in these pathways. Our hope is to have a combination of limestone paths and "living" pathways that are planted in clover.

All of this work was exciting, and certainly made the project finally feel genuinely real. Of course, it's getting seeds and starts in the ground that makes it all start to come together.

This past Sunday, April 11th, another fantastic group of about 15 volunteers gathered for another successful day of work. They helped us with what threatens to be relentless weeding and planted the first starts and tubers. Tuber planting included seven varieties of potatoes and jerusalem artichokes (sunchokes). We have been starting seeds under grow lights and in a green house over the past couple of months. Our volunteer group transplanted three varieties of cabbage, several varieties of onions, leeks and scallions, parsley and tarragon this week. Thanks to Elizabeth Basile, you can view photos from our first planting day as well!

You can join us on Sunday, April 18th from 1-4 p.m. as we continue planting!

Information about more upcoming events will be posted soon.

Upcoming Events and Volunteer Opportunities

Join us as we transform 6,000 sq ft of land in the White River State Park into a demonstration urban vegetable farm. Keep Indianapolis Beautiful is providing design assistance, materials and with the help of volunteers, will plant vegetables and build garden structures.

Visit http://www.kibi.org/volunteer_project_calendar to sign-up for schedule workdays. If you are interesting in volunteering in other ways, please email Laura Henderson, urbanearthindy@gmail.com.

Please bring a reusable water bottle with you! All tools and materials are provided, along with water and snacks. If you would like to contribute a snack, please email Laura Henderson at urbanearthindy@gmail.com.

March 14, 2010: Sunday 1-4 p.m. at the garden in White River State Park.

Goal: Turn and weed perimeters of each of 5 garden beds. Construct compost bin.

Result: 15 fabulous hard-working volunteers turned out, despite gray-skies and cool weather. We completed our goals, plus turned and weeded an even greater section of the beds. Great work!

March 21, 2010: Sunday 1-4 p.m. at the garden in White River State Park.

Goal: Spread aged manure/compost across all five beds to prepare for planting. Lay recycled crushed cement walking paths.

April 11, 2010: Sunday 1-4 p.m. at the garden in White River State Park.

Goal: Begin planting and construction of garden trellises.

April 18, 2010: Sunday 1-4 p.m. at the garden in White River State Park.

Goal: Continue planting and construction of garden trellises.

May 9, 2010: Sunday 1-4 p.m. at the garden in White River State Park.

Mother’s Day in the Garden!

Goal: Continue planting and construction of garden trellises. Make your own starting pot from newspaper and plant your favorite vegetable to take home!

More to come soon – workdays, workshops and events!

Introducing Growing Places Indy

Growing Places Indy is committed to developing the “Culture” of agriculture and food in the urban setting of Indianapolis. We are working to cultivate models for urban gardening, to engage community in our local food systems, to nurture the growth of neighborhood farmers markets, to seed entrepreneurship related to local food systems, and to grow leaders in the local food community.

Our vision is for healthier communities, a sustainable future for urban and farm land ecology, a burgeoning local food economy, and a vibrant and diverse food culture in Indianapolis.

Our Initial Project:

The Growing Places Indy Slow Food Garden at White River State Park

To introduce Growing Places Indy and the concept of developing the Culture of food and urban agriculture in the city of Indianapolis, our initial project is the Growing Places Indy Slow Food Garden at White River State Park. This 6,000 sq. ft. garden, located at the intersection of Washington St. and Old National Road at the foot of the State Museum Lawn, offers the visiting public the opportunity to see, read about and get hands-on experience in a working urban vegetable farm.

What’s growing in the garden?

This initial garden location will be planted with: 1) heirloom , rare and endangered crop varieties that preserve agricultural and socio-cultural heritage, as well as crop biodiversity 2) specialty crops that are underrepresented in the marketplace to stimulate consumer demand and subsequently grower supply.

How will the food be used?

The produce grown this year will be sold at City Market Farmers Market and to downtown area restaurants. Additional produce will be donated to feed homeless children in Indianapolis through School on Wheels.

Who will work the garden?

In the first year, this vegetable farm will be managed by Laura Henderson and Matthew Jose, interns from Butler University, IUPUI and Herron High School. YOU can join as a volunteer on workdays or by appointment.

Visit http://www.kibi.org/volunteer_project_calendar to sign-up for scheduled workdays, or email urbanearthindy@gmail.com for other volunteer possibilities.

Why a working vegetable farm rather than an allotment based community garden?

Urban AgriCULTURAL development requires more urban gardens/farms, more consumer access to farmers markets and farm stands, more product to supply cafes, restaurants, grocers, hospitals, schools, and other food service operations. Our goal is to enable individuals to engage in Urban AgriCultural development as a consumer, a grower raising food in the city, a producer creating products and meals from the produce we grow, as well as a teacher or leader helping to do more of the above. The sale of produce enables us to develop a self-sustaining organization operating in service to the community in the development of Urban AgriCulture.

Our sincere gratitude:

We’d like to thank those who are providing the funding necessary to make the Growing Places Indy Slow Food Garden at White River State Park possible:

Indiana State Department of Agriculture
Efroymson Family Fund
Keep Indianapolis Beautiful
Central Indiana Community Foundation
Butler University, Center for Urban Ecology
IUPUI – the Solution Center
Indiana Humanities Council
Slow Food Indy

If you are interested in making a financial contribution, in-kind donation, or other contribution through official partnership to this project, please email Laura Henderson at urbanearthindy@gmail.com.