The launch of Deep Roots Garden at Max Rhodes Park is set for April 17. The project will create a community garden, and it was brought to fruition through a partnership between the Owensboro Black Expo, the Northwest Neighborhood Alliance and the Master Gardener’s Program.
The launch event will begin at 1 p.m. at 714 West 7th St.
Inspired by a desire to bring the community together, Northwest Alliance board member David Curry said the Deep Roots Garden will consist of at least five raised garden beds containing an assortment of vegetables.
At the launch event, the community is invited to come together to help fill the beds with compost and paint birdhouses.
“One of our long-term goals was to get a community garden going,” Curry said. “We’re hoping this will pioneer other communities and neighborhood alliances to start community gardens of their own.”
Paul Puckett, president of Western Kentucky Botanical Gardens and chairman of the Master Garden’s Program, joined Curry and his team to get the project started. With a knowledge of gardening under his belt, Puckett recommended they used raised beds, as they were easier to maintain.
Nearly all of the raised bed boxes have been built, Curry said. Members at the Botanical Gardens began planting the seeds indoors in late March, and those sprouts will be transplanted to the garden at the April 17 kickoff event.
Curry said those who organized the community garden don’t plan to sell the vegetables they grow. The group has come up with a lot of different ideas for dispersing the vegetables, including donating them to homeless shelters and community centers across the city.
“We know there’s a bunch of kids that need fresh vegetables,” Curry added. “We’re hoping to start different programs to get people and kids gardening. I think gardening has become kind of a lost art.”
Curry commended City Commissioner Mark Castlen for his help in getting the Deep Roots Garden up and running, saying Castlen was involved every step of the way.
“He was very instrumental in securing the location and was on every conference call with us,” Curry said. “He’s been there from step A to Z.”
Curry also gave thanks to Owensboro Grain, Atmos Energy, Southern Star and Western Kentucky Botanical Gardens for contributing to the Deep Roots Garden project.
“We need people to help care for it once everything is planted,” Curry said. “This is truly a community effort.”
