Scholarship Garden doing well this year

The Scholarship Garden is much easier to tend now that it's in Cape Girardeau, its stewards say.

The garden, which is funding scholarships through the sale of its produce, started on a Whitewater farm in 2001 but did not quite take hold. Now it is in its second year in Cape Girardeau, at the back of a parking lot just past Mollie's Restaurant on Spanish Street.

That location has made the day-to-day tasks of tending and harvesting more convenient for garden stewards Bill Dunn and Chuck Ross, sales manager and owner of Rhea Optical.

"When the garden was in Whitewater, we sometimes got down there only once a week," said Ross.

Dunn said, "You need to look at a garden every day."

The 30-by-30-foot garden has improved since last year, when a lot of plants were lost due to the hot, dry weather. Asparagus is new to the garden this season but will not be ready to harvest until next year.

Tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, squash, bell peppers, basil, oregano, thyme and dill are marketed every Saturday from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Boardman Pavilion, located directly across from Hutson's Fine Furniture. The season began in mid-June and continues until October.

"Support comes from everywhere, especially people showing up to purchase the produce," said Dunn.

The garden has raised a little over $2,000 so far. When enough money has been raised, the scholarship committee will then decide what criteria must be met by scholarship recipients.

"There can never be enough scholarships," Dunn said.

Approximately 25 individuals and 26 local businesses pitched in with supplies, materials and labor as the garden was designed, built and planted. The garden has been continuously fed by donations of labor, supplies and equipment from the community. The Downtown Merchants Association, the Downtown Neighborhood Association and countless people have kept the project alive.

Cuttings from neighbor

Compost is also one of the keys to success for the organically grown garden of about 900 square feet.

"By layering leaves, vegetable and fruit cuttings and soil we now have beautiful black soil," said Dunn. Consistent contributions of vegetable and fruit cuttings from Rhea Optical's neighbor, California Juice Club, has helped the garden's compost pile considerably. The challenge of an organic garden was taken on primarily in support of allergy sufferers.

"Anytime you can do things naturally, why not do it," Dunn said.

Conveniently located a stone's throw from the garden, Debbie Naeter also known as the Plant Lady, plays "organic police" with her knowledge on the subject.

A retaining wall encompasses much of the garden, but even the wall's blocks are producing marigolds.

Each year improvements are made. For Dunn, it has been a learning experience. "This year the beans were planted too close," he said. "Getting in there to harvest them will be a real job."

Donations to the Scholarship Garden scholarship fund can be made by calling Thomas Higgins, Downtown Merchants Association treasurer, at 335-1456.

cpagano@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133