Congratulations, Bethel Community Garden Wins Award of Excellence
The Bethel Community Garden’s inaugural year was a huge success. This success was evidenced not only by the abundance of fresh produce brought home by our local gardeners, but also by formal recognition, winning the 2009 Community Award of Excellence in the Public Involvement category from the Alaska Municipal League.
Announcement of the award was made at the organization’s 14th Annual Community Awards Banquet in Anchorage on November 19, 2009. The banquet is held annually as part of the Alaska Municipal League Government Conference.
Six municipalities were in competition for the award in the "Community Involvement" category and Bethel was the only winner. According to garden spokesman John Sargent, “Our community garden involved Tim Myers with Myers Farm, Michael Callahan at YKHC, multiple city departments, a grant from YKHC Diabetes Prevention, UAF potato research, Cooperative Extension, and citizen involvement.
Bethel has experimented with community gardens in the past. None of the previous attempts have met with much success or longevity. Let’s hope that this bit of recognition will spark enough interest in the project to keep it viable for another season. From planning to harvest this was truly a community garden, going above and beyond the 25+ people who invested their time shaping one or more raised beds, fertilizing, liming, planting, transplanting, weeding, hilling, and harvesting. Virtually all of my personal harvest went was donated to the hospital for patient meals.
John Sargent and I spent a significant amount of time building mulch piles. One of the stacks of mulched vegetation will be ready for the 2010 growing season. We also have a nice start on soil amendments for 2011. John collected grass clippings and yard waste vegetation from around the community, and with the help of my kitchen staff, we saved multiple barrels of produce scraps. All of this effort not only benefits the community garden, but sets an example for the community for reducing landfill impact. John and I invite the community to share their kitchen produce scraps, and yard clippings with the garden and help the City of Bethel reduce landfill impact.
Bethel residents who wish to participate in the upcoming (2010) growing season should contact Mr. Leif Albertson with the UAF Cooperative Extension.
Leif Albertson, Extension Faculty
Cooperative Extension Service
907-543-4553
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My personal thanks go to all of you who made the Bethel Community Garden possible; special thanks to John Sargent, and Leif Albertson, without whom I feel this project would not have been nearly as bountiful.
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