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A new idea to teach children where their food comes from - by growing it themselves - is popular enough that it attracted 300 children this past school year.
Called Discovery Garden, it was established on a one-acre tract in Godfrey's La Vista Park at 2421 W. Delmar. A couple of years ago, a local non-profit organization, the Community Cultivators, initiated the idea and,
with much community support, this children's organic community garden has become a reality. Christine Favilla is the board president of the Cultivators and Father Maurice Lange of the Oblate Fathers is a board
member.
"I went around and talked to community groups about it," Lange said. That resulted in grants, contributions and collaboration from such organizations as the Godfrey Parks and Recreation
Department, the Illinois Department of Agriculture, St. Louis 2004, Exchange Club of Alton, the Knights of Columbus of Alton, Bethalto and Granite City, Godfrey Woman's Club, Alton Area Optimists, Illinois American
Water and Judge Nicholas Byron.
The result is an organic garden for children from kindergarten through l2th grade. It was dedicated April 22 along with La Vista Park by the city of Godfrey, which strongly
endorsed and approved the project.
"They were very good to work with," Lange said of the Godfrey administration.
The garden is enclosed by a fence to keep out the wildlife such as deer, which
are common in the area. A structure made of hedge posts (osage orange trunks) has been planted with climbing vines that will provide shade for the young gardeners next year. It was put up by Alton High School's
Field Ecology Class and Principia College's boys baseball team. Eight raised beds also were built by volunteers where the younger children can plant their selections; older children plant directly in the ground
nearby.
The crop this year is beans, tomatoes, squash, pumpkins, peppers, radishes, peas, spinach, herbs and okra, plus colorful flowers, including huge sunflowers.
"The main purpose is to teach
kids the source of their food and give them hands-on learning experience," Lange said. "There have been a variety of groups that have volunteered to work here."
He said the first Saturday of
each month is set aside for the volunteers to get together and pitch in to help the children's garden. They meet from 8 to 11a.m. and anybody is welcome.
Participation in the garden is open to any school or
youth group, including churches, Lange said. He said the Exchange Club was the first to help establish the garden with a big project: purchasing and installing the pipes and three faucets for water supply.
When the garden's produce is depleted this fall, a cover crop of vetch and winter rye will be planted and the space will be ready for next spring's crop. The garden is always open during park hours, from sunrise to
sunset.
"I think this will grow," Lange said of the Discovery Garden. "People are looking for a place to get out and enjoy creation, but it wouldn't have been possible without the community
organizations that pitched in to help."
Lange also has worked to begin the Oblate Ecological Initiative at the nearby Oblate Novitiate. This is an umbrella ministry for a Community Supported Garden
(currently feeding 66 families) and an Episcopal Learning Center. The
Community Supported Garden was designed by a professional farmer and consists of two to three acres planted with a large variety of
vegetables. In the winter, the families (known as shareholders) make a pre-purchased and then, beginning in the spring, they take home their weekly share of vegetables, as well as herbs and flowers.
This
project helps families learn the source of their food and stocks their tables with fresh organic produce, Lange said. It also has gotten off the ground with the assistance of various groups such as the Alton Rotary
Club, Pathways to Wellness, Loretto Sisters, Alton Community Service League and St. Louis 2004.
The religious order of Oblate priests and brothers are stationed in 63 countries and caring for nature is a
worldwide priority, Lange said. "We have a name for it: The Integrity Coalition."
To volunteer or join the Discovery Children's Garden, contact Favilla at 465-1725 for Lange at 466-5004.
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