The first major project of the Adopt-a-Garden program has been very exciting, with Carol Murrell, a Master Gardener with UF/IFAS Leon County Extension, “adopting” the new homeless shelter at the Kearney Center. She has lead the way in the organization and construction of eight raised bed vegetable gardens located on site directly behind The Shelter facility. Carol was awarded a community garden mini-grant from Leon County, which helped to cover garden supplies.
With the help of UF/IFAS Extension Agents, Extension Master Gardeners, Florida State’s College of Social Work, United Church in Tallahassee, Good Shepherd Catholic Church’s Mercy and Justice Core Community, , Robert Murrell, DMD, Covenant Community Church.Carol was instrumental in gathering supplies and donations, recruiting volunteers, communicating with The Shelter staff, building and filling the raised beds, and planting the garden. This project will allow shelter residents to get hands-on experience working in a vegetable garden, learn about different vegetable varieties, and taste their harvest, as vegetables that are grown in the garden will go directly to The Shelter kitchen for meal preparation.
Extension Agents, Family Nutrition Program Coordinators and Assistants, and the Office of Resource Stewardship are currently planning resident garden trainings to ensure the garden is maintained and successful going forward, nutrition education classes, and food safety trainings.
Leon County held a garden dedication in 2015, which was reported by local television station ABC 27 Wtxl. The story, The Kearney Center Dedicates Garden, and video clip can be seen here.
The gardening materials were generously supplied at no coast or at discounted costs by Lowe’s Home Improvement (Capital Circle NE), Britt’s Dump Truck Services, Tallahassee Nurseries, Native Nurseries, Asplundh, and the FSU College of Social Work.
