October 18, 2017
Bringing in the harvest
Around Town Registration is open for the next Give Kids A Smile free dental care clinic for kids. P.4 Hazelwood’s Halloween Happening provides safe place to celebrate. P.3
Community Voices By Halbert Sullivan. P.2
Special Section
The Golden Years. P.5
Food The Florissant Community Garden is beginning to prepare for winter.
Photos by Sara Hardin
Florissant Community Garden celebrates another successful year and begins preparations for winter months and the coming spring Pumpkin-perfect autumn recipes. P.9
By Sara Hardin As the air slowly begins to chill, winter preparations are going into effect for community members who help to maintain the Florissant Community Garden. The garden was initiated in 2012, and has since seen its own sort of community cultivate between the garden members. “I became involved in the beginning after seeing a young lady digging a hole in the field by the bike path. I asked her what she was doing and found she was starting a community garden,” said Lisa Scherer, Florissant Community Garden Leader and Co-Founder. “I asked if I could help, and that was the beginning of my involvement in the community garden and the beginning of a great friendship. The community garden is many things to many people. I like the sense of community. I have made many great friends through the garden.” Fall crops, such as kale, beets and other winter vegetables were planted in early September by the garden members. In addition to harvesting throughout the fall, preparations and maintenance must be kept in mind for the upcoming season. “For the most part, we end our garden growing season at the end of October,” said Scherer. “We turn the compost, remove all
plants from the garden beds, and generally clean up the areas. In some years we have turned the soil over in preparation for spring, and in some years we have planted a winter crop such as rye in order to enrich the soil for the coming season. Some of our gardeners like to keep their plants producing as much as possible through the winter months. This year we are also installing a ‘rabbit barrier’ aka chicken wire along our fence.” The garden is a part of the Gateway Greening network of community gardens and urban greening projects, which opens it up to many opportunities for expansion and improvement. One such expansion will be coming to the garden’s orchard, increasing its tree and shrub variety. “[Gateway Greening] has a new program for orchards for trees and shrubs. Since we already have some fruit trees, we’re going to be in their pilot program for this fall,” explained Megan Moncure, Florissant Community Garden Leader. “They have a list of fruit trees and shrubs that do really well in Missouri and in St. Louis that are either native or like our climate. We chose different trees on that list based on what we already have and what we want our orchard to be. We have a few different types of cherry
shrubs going in. We’re also getting a pear tree. This will be expanding our existing orchard, so we’re really excited.” The garden asks no monetary fee of its members for utilizing the garden’s space. In return, members are asked to attend four community work days each year to uphold the garden’s maintenance. Members are also encouraged to contribute part of the produce they grow to Florissant’s TEAM food pantry. The rest of the harvested produce is free to be distributed amongst friends, family and neighbors. Participation in the garden is additionally worthwhile for the lessons and community involvement that it provides its members. “We’re teaching people how to grow their own food and how to be selfsufficient. That’s why we don’t have a fee,” said Moncure. “It brings the community together. I’m more involved now in my community than I ever have been. It’s a great way to meet people and to learn about things happening in the neighborhood.” Since its inception, the Florissant Community Garden has had support through its collaboration with the local community and other organizations in See ‘HARVEST’ page 2
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Movie
‘Monster Squad,’‘It’ show how technology has changed us. P.16
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