June 4, 2012

By David Nguyen

Over the weekend, Nick was honored to speak the opening of the City’s 43rd and 44th Community Gardens.  These are the latest gardens to open as part of our 1,000 Gardens initiative.

The opening of Grant Community Garden on Saturday was due to the work of a group of Grant High School students who spent two years looking for ways to increase sustainability on the campus in inner Northeast Portland. After they came up with the idea, they wrote a grant asking State Farm to support their effort. The insurance company awarded the project $50,000 and the garden was built just in time for the students to celebrate before their high school graduation.  Nick was pleased to attend the celebration and congratulate these extraordinary young leaders.

On Sunday, the Friends of the Portland Memory Garden celebrated their 10th Anniversary by opening the new Ed Benedict Community Garden adjacent to the Portland Memory Garden.  Attendees had a chance to ask questions about the project and enjoy refreshments, live music, and garden tours.

We also expect to open new gardens in the Kenton neighborhood, Thomas Cully Park, and at Helensview School later this year. 

It’s not too late to garden this season - Portlanders are encouraged to Sign up for a plot at one of our new Community Gardens.