There were plenty of thanks and well wishes to go around on Thursday morning as a special ‘unveiling’ of new features at the Escalon Community Garden was hosted.
Stepping up to take the microphone first at the Dec. 4 event was Aldah Johnson, who offered her thanks to Escalon Strong member Andy Hagan, who she said originally had the vision for the garden.
“Thank you all for coming, as chilly as it is,” Johnson said at the start of the 10 a.m. gathering under cloudy skies. “A project starts with a vision and about two and a half years ago when Andy approached me about a community garden, he had a vision. A vision, in order to become a reality, you have to have a plan. You have to draw up some kind of a plan.”
She also said you need property and workers, in addition to materials, to help bring the project to fruition.
“When Andy approached me, we had none of that,” she recalled, chuckling. “But we had Andy’s vision.”
And, slowly but surely, each of the pieces fell into place.
Escalon’s Seventh Day Adventist Church donated land behind their church on Jackson Avenue for the garden and a small army of volunteers helped with the labor, many local businesses and individuals stepped up with donations of materials. Johnson also offered thanks to the City of Escalon, with Public Works personnel Juston Collins and Jake Cook working to prepare the site for the garden planter boxes. Supervisor Robert Rickman earned recognition, providing some discretionary funds, authorized by the county Board of Supervisors, to help jumpstart the Community Garden project and she also highlighted the irrigation system design and installation, which was done by her son, Jon Johnson. Many others were on the list of thanks, for everything from putting down concrete to the installation of the gazebo, where educational classes are being planned for the future.
For his part, Hagan – who is also currently the Mayor of Escalon – added that it was a total team effort
“I’m just one person in a group of people who have put this thing together,” Hagan said. “There’s no ‘i’ in ‘team’ right … I do want to make sure you all know that it’s just not one person that has put this thing together.”
He highlighted several people, including Aldah Johnson and DeeAnn Blowers for “keeping the bus moving” and offered thanks for the many people who donate some of their produce to Escalon Strong for their food pantry, providing fresh vegetables to families in need.
Blowers, from the Escalon Farmington Community Garden Club, took the microphone and urged residents not already gardening to get involved.
“I’m the cheerleader,” she said. “If you’re interested in renting a box, reach out to me, I have boxes to rent.”
She said there are 50 planter boxes now on site and 23 are fully rented.
“Everything is provided, water, soil, the gravel, all you have to do is provide the plants,” she said. “In better times, we provide sunshine for you.”
The boxes rent for $50 per year. Blowers thanked Ken Flory for his countless hours donated to handle a number of jobs at the site and for being her “listening ear” and also highlighted the efforts of young Ryah Rice, an 11-year-old who has four boxes at the garden and plans to grow vegetables and flowers, donating some of the produce for the food pantry.
“Get your children involved; this is our future right here,” Blowers said in introducing Rice to the crowd.
She thanked those in attendance and said she hoped they enjoyed the dedication ceremony and will continue to utilize the garden.
“It has been a challenge and a joy, all in one, getting this put together,” Blowers said.
