Planting for Peace 2010

The 2nd annual Planting for Peace has extended way beyond its expectations. At a meeting/community tour in January, residents present addressed a need for more healthy food options in their community since the closure of Food City. Three residents agreed to be the demonstration gardens- Alberto, Alice, and Nicholas. From there, a goal was set to install 8 gardens by P4P on April 24. AzHS and the youth from Az Dept. of Juvenile Corrections Day and Evening Support program helped us install a total of 7 before the event and the final one went in on June 12.

The youth from ADJC also helped dig the holes for the trees graciously donated by Whitfill Nursery and Home Depot the week prior to the event.  Volunteers came together together on April 24 to plant over 100 Native Mesquite trees in Nuestro Barrio. A tree dedication ceremony was held at Herrera Elementary for the 8- 24″ box trees planted, with one being dedicated to Joaquin Olivas, the founder of Los Ojos Communidad, the original community organization. Classes on sustainability and lunch were held in Nuestro Park for residents and volunteers after the event to celebrate Earth Day.

We thought the event was over and done, but we received a large surprise by an additional donation of trees from Elgin Nursery. On June 11, 39 additional, 15 gallon trees and 12- 24″ box trees were distribute to the community. It is not complete! Elgin Nursery has MORE trees for the community that will be distributed and installed toward the end of June.

Many thanks to Arizona Homegrown Solutions, Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections (these guys and the staff are amazing to work with!), Home Depot, Whitfill Nursery, Elgin Nursery, Wells Fargo Green Team, PVCC students and faculty, FreeCycle employees, Kalil Bottling, and YouthBuild for your support of Planting for Peace. Thank you for believing in our community.