A Garden for our Guys

Over the past 3 1/2 years, we have been blown away by the level of support and donations the St. Louis community has shown Joe's Place. Meals, clothes, furniture... and most recently a vegetable garden!! The idea of a garden started with an amazing woman named Joan. We were first introduced to Joan by a Joe's Place board member (both of whom attend our church). Joan knows more about gardening than anyone I have ever met (she has volunteered at the MO Botanical Garden for years). Not only has she transformed our front yard... but she also hooked us up with an organzation called Gateway Greening that builds gardens in urban areas. Here's a little blurb about Gateway Greening that I snagged off their website:

Gateway Greening promotes urban neighborhood vitality and stability, healthy living and quality of life through community food projects, education and wellness programs, and civic greening. This mission is accomplished by forming alliances with non-profit organizations, faith based institutions, institutions of higher learning and neighborhood groups to provide resources for citizen-managed open spaces that encourage healthier, safer and more enriched lives.

How amazingly cool is that!? We are so excited for our guys to learn about gardening and healthy eating. Eating good food has been one of our biggest struggles here at the house. We really believe the garden is going to make a big difference!

Here's our good friend Audrey and Joan (in purple) putting the first beautiful touches on our front yard at the end of September. I'm pretty sure Joan is here about once a week working. Sometimes we'll come home and we'll notice new flowers have appeared!

Carter helped Dan plant the vegetables this morning. We can't wait to add the garden to the chore chart this Fall when the guys check back in.

Thank you Joan and Gateway Greening!!