marlingardener
Central Texas, zone 8
Posts: 2387
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| Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 12:47 pm Post subject: Such a nice surprise! |
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A bit of background: three friends and I started a container vegetable garden project at the local housing authority (subsidized housing for the elderly and poor) which was very successful last summer. The containers varied from 5 gal. buckets to big nursery containers that we scrounged, the soil mix was donated by a local hardware store, and we all kicked in seeds for tomatoes and peppers. Some folks had gardened before and were happy to get back to it, and some had never gardened. We charged $1 each person to eliminate the "if it's free, it's for me!" syndrome. The money went to offset the cost of the extra water used.
I got a call yesterday from the authority manager, asking if I could stop by when I was in town (he knew Thursdays was my town day since that was when I showed up for gardening hour). When I stopped by, he gave me an envelope with $12 in it, and asked that I use that to buy seeds for next year. The gardeners had taken up a collection among themselves to raise the sum! When you are on fixed income, food stamps and living in subsidized housing, any contribution is a major one.
Not only do the gardeners want to continue, they are taking responsibility for planning ahead! I'm so doggone proud of those folks! I called my other three friends to tell them the good news, and we were all touched and elated.
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Mother Nature's helper
at www.rgf-tx.com
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gfreiherr
Knoxville, Tennessee
Posts: 1218
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| Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 1:20 pm Post subject: |
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Kudos to you and your friends. What a great example of paying it forward. Those folks are reaping the rewards of fresh vegetable and pride in their efforts. 
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~ GAIL
"A garden is a delight to the eye and a solace for the soul" ~Sadi
Live, Love, Laugh...Garden
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S-H
Karachi, Pakistan
Posts: 508
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| Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 1:23 pm Post subject: |
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I say very well done! This really is one fine example of taking matters into your own hands - And coming up with great results!
Big corporations and political parties are always giving the impression that without them, the world will simply come to an end. Well who needs them when only a little effort by your own self can get you far better results then any outsider can give.
Seriously, I give this a 12 out of 10! 
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cherylad
 Regular Plants Contributor
S. Liberty County - Texas
Posts: 5278
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| Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 1:59 pm Post subject: |
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Wonderful story... and a great effort on everyone's part to keep these folks active and keeping the veggie garden going. I'd be proud too!
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eileen
Forum Moderator
Scotland
Posts: 18528
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| Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 2:02 pm Post subject: |
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It sounds as though your container vegetable garden project is going to go from strength to strength. What a brilliant idea and it's obvious that folks really enjoy growing their own. Twelve dollars should get you a fair few seeds. Do let us know what you get and keep us updated on the progress of the group.
Congratulations to you and your three friends!! 
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stratsmom
Southern Oregon
Posts: 2571
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| Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 3:55 pm Post subject: |
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How wonderful!!!! Your story gave me a warm fuzzy feeling 
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daisybeans
annapolis md
Posts: 3675
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| Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 4:55 pm Post subject: |
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That's a great story. You and your friends made a real impression on the gardeners. I'll bet you only know the half of what you did for them... Wonderful!!!
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Daisybeans/MaryAnn
"Once the relation between poetry and the soil is well established in the mind, all growing things are endowed with more than material beauty." -Elizabeth Lawrence
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dooley
Texas
Posts: 5369
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| Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 1:51 am Post subject: |
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I would be happy to contribute some seeds if you let me know what is needed. I don't live so far that I couldn't deliver them.
dooley
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marlingardener
Central Texas, zone 8
Posts: 2387
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| Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 1:09 pm Post subject: |
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Dooley, that is so kind! I've sent you a private message about your generous offer.
GardenStew people are the best!
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Mother Nature's helper
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Droopy
Regular Plants Contributor
Western Norway
Posts: 9336
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| Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2010 8:36 pm Post subject: |
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Oh, mg, that's wonderful news! You did good, and now they're wanting you to come back and do it again. I go all mushy at stories like this one.
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The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.
-Bertrand Russell
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Gardengirl
Hertfordshire,UK
Posts: 1021
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| Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 7:23 pm Post subject: |
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What a great story, you should be very proud
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Whenever I feel low I head for the garden.
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