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April 28, 2015 • Page 11
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M I S S O U R I VA L L E Y
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M I S S O U R I VA L L E Y
Healthy Yankton Community Garden Is Growing!
Once the idea was planted, the Healthy Yankton Community Garden started
growing. Now hoeing for the sixth year in a row, the garden has also helped to
increase interest in gardening all across the community. The harvest has been
bountiful and the rewards plentiful, reported HY representatives who agreed to
report on their progress since the first soil was turned over.
The seeds of hope were abundant in the minds of Brenda Johnson, Nancy
Teachout, Susan Thorson and Angie O’Connor back in 2008. The dedicated
volunteers helped to propagate their plans into a rewarding reality…a
patchwork of plots where residents get exercise, socialize, and make future
nutritious meals materialize. Gardeners are even encouraged to ‘grow a row’ to
donate their excess produce to others in need.
“A start-up grant from the Department of Health and additional financial
support from Avera Health helped HY patch plans into place,” said Angie
O’Connor, of Avera Sacred Heart Wellness Center.
In collaboration with the Dogs-R-Us 4-H Club, HY sought and gained support
from Yankton City Parks and Recreation Director, Todd Larson. Larson and the
other representatives received overwhelming support from the Yankton City
Commission and, oh, how the dog park and garden did start to grow in 2009!
Tilling land in Yankton’s backyard, Marne Creek West Park provided the perfect
place for garden plots. Today, Healthy Yankton shares a parking lot with the
dog lovers, along Yankton’s West City Limits Road.
There have been so many people all across the community who have
provided fertile ground that yields success for the Community Garden. Mark
Hunhoff of Mark’s Machinery readily digs in to donate his time, equipment, fuel,
and expertise to work the soil each spring and fall. Hunhoff recruited Tony Ellis,
who also offered his services and assistance in the early years.
“Gardeners are required to pre-register and pre-pay to obtain approval
to plant, weed, monitor, and clean up their designated garden plot after
harvesting a bountiful crop for their personal use. Individual garden plots are
approximately 12’X18’ in size and there are 221 plots available for planting.
With only a $20 per plot fee, gardeners are excited to take a bite out of their
grocery bills by growing their own produce. Gardening continues from midApril to mid-October, depending on the weather,” stated Sr. Julie Peak, OSB,
the number of gardeners grew, so did the amenities at the garden. A few years
who serves as the current President of the HY group, explaining the current
back water access was added in cooperation with the City of Yankton. Raised
process.
bed gardens were added just last year, with funding provided by a grant from
One big task each spring is plotting where gardeners will plant. Over the
years assistance in marking the garden has come from the Mount Marty College HyVee. A large sign at the entrance, picnic tables, and covered message boards,
were added in cooperation with the City Park. The Master Gardeners planted
Men’s Basketball Team, then under the guidance of Coach Jim Thorson and
several flower boxes.
with support from his wife Susan Thorson, who serves as MMC’s Director of
Even before the HY Community Garden was tilled, the Healthy Yankton group
Health Services. Inmates at the Yankton Minimum Unit of Mike Durfee State
had deep roots within the community. The group stopped traffic to promote
Prison also helped create whimsical garden markers that initially provided
the first walk across the upper deck of the US Highway 81 Meridian Bridge in
country appeal. Practicality required a transition to more durable garden
2006. A Winter Fest had been held annually to encourage active and healthy
markers.
lifestyles, even during the coldest days of South Dakota winters. HY teamed up
What goes in must come out so another big task is garden clean-up each
with Yankton County 4-H to get pups and their pet-parents walking around the
fall. The support by members of the HY group has been supplemented by
Fantle Memorial Park. The HY group was honored as past Yankton’s Volunteers
the dedicated and hardworking City Parks and Recreation staff. Coordination
of the Month, February 2012, for their commitment to cultivating the
between the city staff has been supported by Brittany Orr, Recreation
Community Garden. Television stations, radio reports, and regular newspaper
Coordinator, who along with Laura Larson, community member, remain as
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coverage have provided a media
active members of the HY group.
HY Community Garden.
HY Secretary and Master Gardener Cindy Nelsen brought her fellow plant
Planting ideas for improvement opportunities continues to grow, proving
masters to the plots to provide growing guidance for gardeners. Like a friendly
that the Healthy Yankton Community Garden has grown with the support of
farmer, the Master Gardeners make themselves available at the garden site,
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the community. While no one can predict the future, the idea for a Community
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offering wise words about dealing with worms, encouragement for eco-friendly
Garden fell on fertile ground, has been carefully cultivated, and continues to
approaches, and praise for those proud ofyourproduce. Nelson researched
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place
produce a place that helps the HY Mission grow, “The Healthy Yankton group
rodent eradication and promoted production of the owl houses that were
encourages lifelong, healthy, active lifestyles by providing education, support
prepared by former leaders and members of the Dogs-R-Us 4-H Club. Placed at
and opportunities for individuals and groups in the Yankton area tosite at
the Community Garden and other Yankton Parks, the boxes encourage nesting
Visit our Web improve or
maintain their health.”
by owls to feed on rodents, avoiding chemical eradication.
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?Angie O’Connor
The HY group took root by cultivating partnerships within the community. As
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