Community Gardens Greenhouse - Lowell, MA
Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association
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Barbara Glass of the Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association is working with elderly residents on a three year gardening
project. Barbara has offered to buy soil and lumber for this project. This is a new project for 2007.
The vegetable garden will be a 25' X 25' raised garden bed. It is located at the Community Garden Greenhouse. This
location will be used as a community garden training site in 2008.
Seeds were provided by the Community Gardens Greenhouse and the North Franklin Street Garden (Franklin Court)
initiative and were grown in the greenhouse.
project. Barbara has offered to buy soil and lumber for this project. This is a new project for 2007.
The vegetable garden will be a 25' X 25' raised garden bed. It is located at the Community Garden Greenhouse. This
location will be used as a community garden training site in 2008.
Seeds were provided by the Community Gardens Greenhouse and the North Franklin Street Garden (Franklin Court)
initiative and were grown in the greenhouse.
Located 220 Aiken Street, Lowell
Sponsor: Office of Refugee Resettlement and the Parker Foundation
Parking is available at this site.
Schedule of operation varies from week to week. This project is supervised by the Cambodian
Mutual Assistance Association.
Sponsor: Office of Refugee Resettlement and the Parker Foundation
Parking is available at this site.
Schedule of operation varies from week to week. This project is supervised by the Cambodian
Mutual Assistance Association.
| Growing communities from the ground up! |
This group is predominately elders who are 50, 60 and 70 years young. Their native language is Khmer. They come
equipped with 3-4 translators who help during our time together. Many stories about Cambodia and their experiences in
the country concerning farming and growing crops come into conversation. Some of the more serious conversations relate
back to their experiences during the Khmer Rouge regime as they remember and frankly talk about their refugee camp
days. It's wonderful for us to hear them laugh and sing as they enjoy this garden and are free to express themselves.
equipped with 3-4 translators who help during our time together. Many stories about Cambodia and their experiences in
the country concerning farming and growing crops come into conversation. Some of the more serious conversations relate
back to their experiences during the Khmer Rouge regime as they remember and frankly talk about their refugee camp
days. It's wonderful for us to hear them laugh and sing as they enjoy this garden and are free to express themselves.
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In early spring the team arrived at the greenhouse. Janice Pokorski showed
them around the grounds explaining where the raised beds would be located.
They then toured the inside of the greenhouse to see the
current seedlings in process of growing.
After introductions and orientation, the planning sessions
began.
The Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association's health initiative group met
every Wednesday since April. They spent time learning about and planning a
vegetable garden. The pictures below give you a peek into the different
planning sessions attended by greenhouse personnel and CMAA members.
them around the grounds explaining where the raised beds would be located.
They then toured the inside of the greenhouse to see the
current seedlings in process of growing.
After introductions and orientation, the planning sessions
began.
The Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association's health initiative group met
every Wednesday since April. They spent time learning about and planning a
vegetable garden. The pictures below give you a peek into the different
planning sessions attended by greenhouse personnel and CMAA members.
| One interesting area they have been developing is called a Berm. A pile of dirt that they have sculpted into a garden with a path through the middle. It is evolving into an interesting, growing landscape that has everyone wondering what it will turn into. |
| Members of the Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association |
Six raised beds were constructed from lumber. The bottom of each bed was lined with newspapers and watered down. This kills the grass, blocks the weeds, and quickly disintegrates. Afterwards, each bed was filled with soil, compost, and manure to prepare for planting the seedlings. |
The above pictures show seeds being gathered from dried plants. The seeds are planted in plug trays. As the sprouts
emerge they will be transplanted to six pack containers and eventually will be large enough to transplant into the garden.
This community garden includes a variety of Cambodian vegetables and some American vegetable as well. The pictures
below show the beds planted and being cared for by their respective owners. The entire group worked diligently moving
mulch, weeding, pruning trees.
emerge they will be transplanted to six pack containers and eventually will be large enough to transplant into the garden.
This community garden includes a variety of Cambodian vegetables and some American vegetable as well. The pictures
below show the beds planted and being cared for by their respective owners. The entire group worked diligently moving
mulch, weeding, pruning trees.
At the end of each day together we share food. Lots of it -- from egg rolls to
fruit to noodles to tapioca pudding. A feast is provide by these people as
they share every meal together and offer so many goodies to us all. Every
time the day comes to an end we share food. What a wonderful family
experience.
fruit to noodles to tapioca pudding. A feast is provide by these people as
they share every meal together and offer so many goodies to us all. Every
time the day comes to an end we share food. What a wonderful family
experience.
The team is on a roll! Here they start developing a shade garden. Instead of digging or tilling the
earth, cardboard is placed defining the garden bed. The cardboard is then watered down and
covered with dirt, ammendments, and mulch. The cardboard provides a weedblock. The grass
beneath will be deteriorate.
The plants are predominatley hosta which thrive in the shade, as well as other shade perennials.
earth, cardboard is placed defining the garden bed. The cardboard is then watered down and
covered with dirt, ammendments, and mulch. The cardboard provides a weedblock. The grass
beneath will be deteriorate.
The plants are predominatley hosta which thrive in the shade, as well as other shade perennials.
Thank you for visiting our garden.
This group of farmers have never experienced this type of
free expression and at times has difficulty understanding
it's meaning.
free expression and at times has difficulty understanding
it's meaning.
