St. Louis (April 29, 2016) –Eve’s Paradise Community Garden in the Walnut Park West Neighborhood is in the process of being expanded as a result of an award from Gateway Greening. Six raised beds will be installed and filled with soil. Wooden Benches, a picnic table, wheelbarrow, and assorted handtools were also awarded.
Eve’s Paradise is supported by ICMA (The International Community of Music and Arts) and has 10 gardeners from the community. As a group, the garden will be able to grow 576lbs of produce annually, on average. This garden is part of the Feeding St. Louis project, transforming vacant lots into community gardens that sell healthy produce back into the community at minimal costs.
“I am Desiree Jackson the President of the International Community of Music and Arts, and to me the Community Garden is an embodiment of our mission. At ICMA, we educate and engage the community through diversity of culture, music, and the arts. Many of our volunteers have never worked in a garden before or built anything with their hands, Eve’s Paradise gives them an opportunity to be engaged and educated as a community to the benefits of gardening and healthy living. Seeing the children working with their hands and together inspires me to believe in our future garden and community leaders. I want to thank Gateway Greening in supporting our dreams and in turn offering a new dream to our community.” – Desiree Jackson, Garden Leader and President of ICMA
For 30 years, Gateway Greening has educated and empowered individuals to strengthen their communities through gardening and urban agriculture. Gateway Greening’s Garden Program receives many requests to start or expand community gardens in St. Louis. Projects are selected based on a number of factors including: need, the quality of the garden space, the level of community support, and the thoroughness of the plan for using the garden space. Awarded sites are typically supported with seeds/plants, garden tools, materials (hardscape and landscape), and guidance.
The Eve’s Paradise Community Garden is located at 6071 Garesche Ave, St. Louis, MO 63136
About Gateway Greening
Gateway Greening is a nonprofit organization that educates and empowers people to strengthen their communities through gardening and urban agriculture. Gateway Greening has been working to provide creative, grassroots solutions to urban problems since 1984. Programs include supporting more than 200 community and youth-focused gardens across the St. Louis area through educational opportunities, garden supplies and technical assistance; and Gateway Greening’s Urban Farm, a 2.5-acre farm in downtown St. Louis that provides therapeutic horticulture and a jobs training program. Visit Gateway Greening at www.gatewaygreening.org. @gatewaygreening.
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