Master Plan

[LEWIS B & TAMARA JONES]

DHS Gardeners:

Mr. Maloof asked that I forward this letter to you.  So here it is.  We have a work day on December 6th at which time we can discuss what we need to do with all the items in the garden.

If anyone has any idea of where we might go, please let us all know.  

I am so sorry that this has happened.  

Tamara Jones

On Tuesday, November 18, 2014 8:19 PM, Noel Maloof <nma...@csdecatur.net> wrote:

Tamra and Moira,

Thank you for the discussion time last night about the garden during our PTA meeting. I understand the importance of the community garden and the desire to keep it intact.The first and most important concern is the future of student gardening at DHS. As I stated last night, we have developed a plan to temporarily relocate the student garden and its plants from the current location. We have included options for a permanent student gardening location in the construction plans. It is. We have developed a robust plan that will give our students and teachers long term access to gardening. Our plans integrate the garden into our curriculum in a number of areas. For example, the IB science curriculum requires labs focused on plant life. Our culinary arts curriculum continues to support the system wide initiative of farm to table practices. Integrating a student garden into the curriculum along with continued community support is one of the strongest ways to sustain student gardening at DHS.

The second issue is the community garden located on Decatur High School property. As we discussed last night we are coming to the end of being able to host a community garden on the DHS campus. Over the next few years our population at the high school will grow at an astronomical rate. This is not speculated growth, it is growth that currently exists. In our Kindergarten through third grade classes we have close to 1,700 students attending school. These students represent a level of growth that is historically more that we have ever served in CSD. With this in mind, we will be working diligently to provide students the proper facilities to be educated in. This will require a long-term multi million dollar construction project. This project will be going on while school will continue for the students who currently attend the high school. We are very limited in space on the campus and will need to utilize every inch of the property to stage and accommodate the needs of our students and the construction project.

I will ask that we communicate to all community garden members that the community garden will begin shutting down at this time. We will need to remove all plots, personal property, as well as any other non-student and non-school materials from the campus. Your group asked me to communicate this to you during the fall so that any transplanting can be done at the best time of the year. Please be assured that I have already begun work to support the move of our pollinator garden and other plants used by the students at DHS. We may also offer an adoption opportunity for our supporters to take a few of the mature pollinator garden plants to spread throughout our community. I encourage those who use the garden to seek the other opportunities that the City of Decatur has provided for community gardening. I will also need a list of the assets that will be left for the students to use in the future. Please share this with the current community gardeners and let us know when you have a plan together for closing out and moving the community garden.

While losing a community garden can be a very sad proposition for some, the students will benefit from this event in ways we could have never planned for. It has caused the staff and myself to look at new ways to provide our students gardening space in the future. We have also looked at ways to integrate it directly into the curriculum providing the sustainability it needs. We will also continue our work with the Decatur High School PTA to provide community involvement for gardening with our students. I appreciate the continued support of Decatur High School and the City Schools of Decatur. Together, we can make this a very positive outcome for our students.

Noel Maloof

Principal

Decatur High School

(404) 370-4420

310 N McDonough St, Decatur, GA 30030

"Rewriting The Future. Redefining School."

[Kelley Peace]

Tamara, and all,

To say that I am "disappointed" with this news is an understatement.

I was in Miami for work last week, and unable to attend the meeting Tuesday night. Regret that.

I just want to publicly thank you, Moira, and all DHS community gardeners for making the effort to save our garden.

I attended the last "home owner's" garden training tonight, at the Co Extension office. Gary was the featured speaker. I spoke with him about our garden, and available future sites. His thinking cap is "on".

I'm afraid I may not have another opportunity to express my thanks to every single one of you who have made my Internship- Master Gardening so memorable. I knew NOTHING about community gardening when I chose this "assignment". I still don't know a whole heck of a lot---Nothing like you guys. But Tamara, Moira and Juwann ( so sorry about murdering the spelling) made a point to orient me to the garden, the first month I was "assigned".

You've all welcomed me,  mentored me, and taught me, in a short time. I can't tell you how much your welcome and sharing of garden lore has enriched my first year of gardening.  I hope our garden paths will cross again........

I'm the "lucky" intern,

Kelley Peace

MG Intern: 2014- 2015

Sent from my iPad

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[Debra Kahn]

Dear All:

As one who participated in the garden for two years, sadly leaving because my work commitments made it impossible to participate fully and I felt like someone else should have the opportunity - I have to say this community garden was a joy to be a part of. The energy, creativity and attention to even the smallest detail was inspiring to me. If I had a piece of land in Decatur I would gladly give it for use as a garden. I am hopeful there is someone out there who will emerge to fill the gap.

Thank you for all the work, and the gift of this Community Garden. ---Deb

Deb Kahn

Cultural Arts & Special Events Coordinator

City Schools of Decatur

404-370-4178