‘Grow Palmer’ flourishes in second year

PALMER — Perhaps the biggest hurdle facing the fledgling organization “Grow Palmer” last summer was the public’s hesitancy to take the food from the gardens.

Organizer Jan Newman said placing “Please harvest me!” signs helped ease the public’s reluctance to sample lettuce or other vegetables and herbs from the community gardens that sprang up around downtown Palmer last summer in an assortment of beds and containers.

“We are not taught to venture into public gardens,” Newman said.

Grow Palmer has big plans for its return this summer.

Planning for the 2014 program began in earnest again in February. A huge boost came via the Salvation Army and Captain Mark Davey who donated a 5,000 square foot plot on the corner of Bailey and Dahlia in downtown Palmer. The nonprofit group guaranteed the use of land for five years and the water to nourish it.

Newman said she also plans additional water collection system that gathers the water from rain gutters on the building.

The plan is to transform the fenced lawn into an Edible Park complete with several raised-bed planters, pathways, a pergola, tables, benches, fruit trees, strawberries, and other seasonal treats. Susitna Design Group has offered to design the space to be completed in two phases. And the Alaska Job Corps Center volunteered carpentry assistance.

During a March meeting, Newman established five basic teams — gardeners, builders, letter writers, artists and organizers. But so far, teams lack organizers to help plan the season, including timelines, agendas, budget, purchasing, and to provide direction on workdays.

Newman said she plans to invite local businesses to participate again this year and said she hopes to see participation increase. Already, two businesses signed on to be responsible for a public space, establishing the Adopt-a-Plot program.

In the program’s first year, volunteers donated 720 hours and gave $2,800 worth of in-kind, or monetary, donations.

Newman said she plans to begin work on the Salvation area as soon as possible and needs volunteers to help dismantle the fence, till the soil, and remove rocks.

Local gardeners have already begun to provide Grow Palmer with seedlings. For the rest of Palmer, Newman anticipates a June 8 or 9 planting date, delaying slightly to allow for Colony Days and the bustle of crowds that might disrupt planters. Girl Scouts attending the June Jamboree have volunteered to help with planting.

Newman said future projects may include a community garden, community composting, seed swaps, and special events where freshly harvested foods are cooked on site. She said she wants to get area elementary schools involved, so that every young person can identify a broccoli seed and know what an edible sprout looks like.

“To be perfectly honest, apart from raising my children, this is really the most authentic thing I have ever done,” she said. “(Grow Palmer) nourishes me on so many levels. This is about healthy lifestyle, healthy foods, supporting local growers, bolstering the local economy, and eating awesome food!”

Newman said the idea for Grow Palmer germinated from a presentation she saw on urban agriculture from the Technology, Entertainment and Design group, “a clearinghouse of free knowledge from the world's most inspired thinkers.”

The more she read, the more she learned, and the more excited she became. Urban agriculture seemed to fit Palmer and at a perfect time, she said.

Newman owns “A Twist Beyond,” and raises alpacas, harvests their fur, and sells warm and handsomely made gloves, hats, and other clothing. An organic gardener for 33 years, she has also raised beef, chickens, turkeys, and hogs.

“There is really nothing I find more gratifying in the world than putting a meal on the table that has come directly from my farm, my yard, or that I have harvested myself,” she said.

Newman said she also like the way the project seemed to compliment local history.

“The Valley is the bread basket of Alaska,” Newman said. “Palmer is the only Alaskan town that grew out of agriculture. We have access to an amazing amount of incredible local food. People are so much aware now of eating healthy. Grow Palmer is as much about growing food, as it is about growing a healthy community.”

For more information, contact GrowPalmer@gmail.com, or find them on Facebook.

The city of Palmer’s annual Capital Project Fair is from 4 to 7 p.m., April 24 at the MTA Activity Center, across from Palmer Junior Middle School. Grow Palmer is one of 17 potential projects, include airport resurfacing, city hall upgrade, upgrades and storage at Palmer Depot, Walk to the Fair. Attendees can preview the projects, talk with advocates and local officials, as well as meet the new City Manager. A very informal voting process also allows attendees to indicate support for their favorite projects.