Springfield Community Garden will receive $25,000 for a new outdoor solar kitchen.
The Jefferson Street Oasis Garden is receiving funding for this expansion from the Springfield Rotary Club.
The Rotary Club plans to donate to a community garden to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Gourmet Food Truck Competition.
A ribbon cutting for the new outdoor solar kitchen will be held on July 27th.
The community garden on West Jefferson Street has more than 100 plots for neighborhood residents. Rotary Club Director Mary Jo Leventhal said the future kitchen will be used to educate gardeners on how to extend the shelf life of their crops.
“It's going to have countertops, it's going to be wheelchair accessible, it's going to have a laundry tub and it's going to have a six-burner propane stove,” she said.
Rotary Club President Eddie Bell said the donation to the garden is just one part of the philanthropic work Rotary Club does for the community. He said the club typically donates about $100,000 a year to various causes.
The popular gourmet food truck competition is often an entry point for residents to explore the activities the club engages in each year.
”So not only is it a day that the community really welcomes and loves to be a part of, but it's one of my favorite events of the year, and it's really great to do something like the Jefferson Street Oasis. It also fulfills its purpose. ” Bell said.
Organizers will announce the donation during the food truck awards ceremony.
”We have already provided grants to help the garden actually complete the project, and we plan to present the garden with a ceremonial check and announce the project and the support Rotary has provided for it.” said Leventhal.
This garden offers seedlings prepared for new growers to start their crops. You can also bring your own plants.
Community members interested in registering for a garden plot or volunteering can email Garden Manager Terry Fredrich at Habitatcreateohio@aol.com.
