TyRay Community Garden Kickoff

Board Chair for Habitat for Humanity of Utah County, Brad Simons’ words rang true last week at the TyRay Community Garden Kickoff, “Habitat doesn’t survive without the hundreds of volunteers and incredible staff.” Simons conducted the kickoff ceremony and Provo Mayor John Curtis concluded with some remarks and by helping to plant a few plants with kids in attendance.

Mayor Curtis talked about his fondness for gardening and says that community gardens could solve all our problems if we came out and gardened together and then worked out all our differences.

The TyRay Community Garden at 1063 North 950 West, named in memory and honor of long time Habitat supporters, Ray and Tye Noorda, is a partnership between Community Action Services and Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity of Utah County, and Provo Parks and Recreation. It is just the first of three community gardens to be organized in Provo City Parks and Community Action. The other two will be at 100 South 1050 West and 700 South 300 West. Anyone in the community can rent a garden plot for $15 per season. The community gardens help local families become self-sustainable by growing their own food.

At the kickoff, Sara Siddoway of Community Actions Services and Food Bank, Celeste Kennard of Habitat for Humanity of Utah County and Doug Robins of Provo Parks and Recreation all shared their experiences and gratitude in working with the project.

The garden project was made possible by the LaBranche Family, who donated the property, the Corporation for National and Community Service, and various organizations and individuals including Merry Bird who designed the layout and the young men from the Bonneville 6th LDS Ward who helped spread the mulch.

With supervision from the Community Action staff, the garden will be turned over to its neighbors to care for it, but additional developments are to continue. Eric Taylor is building a shed in the corner to store tools and seed, and tree rounds will be donated for children to play with.

We’re so thankful for Habitat AmeriCorps member, Celeste Kennard, and all the volunteers and organizations that made the garden project a reality and for all those that attended the kickoff last week!