Hope sprouts anew on Chicago’s South Side
It was sadly ironic: In a place called Altgeld Gardens, there was no thriving garden. Only a plot of tired grass and ragged bushes struggled to grow in this challenged South Chicago neighborhood fringed with derelict steel mills and waste dumps.
But stroll down South Ellis Avenue today, turn the corner onto 132nd Place, and you’ll be greeted with a very different sight. The breeze whispers through the leaves of the Red Maples, already more than 12 feet tall, casting soothing pools of shade. Brilliant pink and blue petunias, yellow daisies and red geraniums create splashes of bold, spirit-lifting color, while green peppers, tomatoes, herbs and peas overflow the lovingly tended raised beds.
Even more amazing, the transformation from barren plot to verdant garden took a single day — thanks to the combined efforts of a determined “garden makeover” team. Fiskars joined with Lowe’s to bring nature back to Chicago’s Altgeld Gardens community with the Project Orange ThumbSM Chicago 2008 initiative.
Over 60 volunteers, including 35 Fiskars employees tilled and planted from early morning to late afternoon at the aging garden site on May 21. The $75,000 makeover included all donated labor, design time, project coordination, tools and all necessary supplies. Lowe’s, United Industries, and Bonnies donated all of the materials for the project.
“Altgeld Gardens is the first national gardening makeover project for Fiskars. Because the community asked for assistance, we feel they truly appreciate the importance of gardening to provide beauty, sustainable food resources and a place of community,” said Paul Tonnesen, President of Fiskars Garden.
Master Gardener Joe Lamp’l, nationally known as “Joe Gardener,” designed the garden for the Altgeld community. A Certified Landscape Professional and founder of The joe gardener® Company, Lamp’l created a garden design that includes raised vegetable beds, herb gardens, raspberry patches, pumpkin and melon patches, butterfly bushes, a community gathering area and more. Also, taking from one of the original gardening activists, Lamp’l designed in an apple orchard in honor of Johnny “Appleseed” Chapman.
“Our community is incredibly grateful to Fiskars for selecting our group,” said Gertte Smith, Director of Site Operations for Altgeld Gardens. “Words can not express the amount of gratitude we have and how delighted we are to have been given this opportunity.”
The Project Orange Thumb Chicago 2008 initiative has support from Greencorps Chicago, Lowe’s, United Industries, Bonnies and the Altgeld Gardens community.