On Building Community in Community Gardens

**A*@aol.com**

Friends,

Talking about building community...again. 

After 9/11, the Clinton Community Garden sponsored a fundraiser for the 
families of the firemen in our community who were lost from our local 
firehouses.  We honored our local police and EMS, but thankfully, no police 
of EMS from our neighborhood houses lost their lives on 9/11/  As a 
follow-up,  we are committed to an annual September heroes  picnic for our 
local fire, police and EMS,   and have given each of these groups keys to our 
 garden, in case the families wanted to come by, or to eat lunch on a nice 
day. (To read more about the event keyholders, please go to our website  <A 
HREF="http://www.clintoncommunitygarden.org/";>Clinton Community Garden</A>  
and click on "Fireman's Benefit")

Most of the time,  we just see the firemen  on their trucks, flags flying 
behind them  like  clipperships.  NYC is short 650 firemen now:  over 400 
died on 9/11, others are on disablilty or retired. Unfortunately,  due to 
budget cuts, the city is not replacing them...and  may even close some 
houses;  talk about being penny wise and pound foolish!  

And everyone really loves these guys...

I just got this  note from Annie Chadwick, longtime CCG master gardener and  
former CCG steering committee chair: 

"FYI,  between clients,  went to the garden this afternoon around 2 PM. 
Fire Engine 21  with approx. 8 firefighters was leaving as I walked up to the 
garden.  I greeted them and said I hoped they enjoyed the garden.  The 
firefighter told me that they had been to a fire and didn't cook at the 
station so they bought lunch and ate in the garden. He said "someone came by 
the station and left us a key.  This is our second time to eat lunch in the 
garden and we really enjoy it."  Wow! a little thing like dropping a key by 
goes a long way!  Seeds Sprouting!  It's Spring!"

Best wishes,
Adam Honigman,
Volunteer,  <A HREF="http://www.clintoncommunitygarden.org/";>Clinton 
Community Garden</A> 

Peace, Annie

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