INDIANAPOLIS — A small urban garden, with a small group of volunteers hit a big milestone at the end of September. After weighing their weekly harvest and adding it to their total, they discovered they had grown and donated over 2,000 pounds of vegetables in just two growing seasons.
Haven Garden is located at 2603 N. College, on land donated by Cats Haven, Indiana’s oldest no-kill cat shelter. The neighborhood is a food desert, but the soil has provided an abundance of fresh vegetables.
Master Gardener Kay Niedenthal turned the grassy lot into a mini-farm in the spring of 2012. The first year’s harvest, 1,214 pounds, was donated to The Julian Center, which houses and feeds 110 women and children in their emergency shelter. This year’s harvest, 876 pounds and counting, has been donated to The Julian Center, Marion County Purdue Extension’s Family Nutrition Program, and community residents.
“We started with a little land and some seeds, hoping our vegetables and display gardens might help some folks who don’t have access to local, nutritious foods,” said Niedenthal. “We didn’t know how much we would harvest, and we’re thrilled that we’ve grown more than a ton of really tasty vegetables.”
submitted photo
Some of the vegetables harvested from the Haven Garden.
Last year’s drought presented some challenges, but proved to be great growing weather for tomatoes and squash. More rain and cooler temperatures this year brought bumper crops of pole beans and Swiss chard, along with plenty of tomatoes.
Haven Garden received some help along the way, with grants for garden supplies from the Marion County Farm Bureau, the Mayor’s Front Porch Alliance, Kitchen Gardeners International, Gardens Alive! and private donors.
“The Mayor’s Office of the Front Porch Alliance is proud to support programs like Haven Garden with our Grow-N-Indy Funding. We look forward to finding ways to help Haven Garden continue their great work,” commented Douglas Hairston, Director of the Front Porch Alliance.
To volunteer or donate to Haven Garden, contact Kay Niedenthal at havengardenindy@yahoo.com.
