Document MG1623v2Kykmm83xr9RneVZ7k

Monsanto FROM (NAME-LOCATION-PHONE) Diane Herndon, A2SP, x2915 DATE SUBJECT REFERENCE TO : June 8, 1994 : East St. Louis Urban Garden NAPS release cc: Larry O'Neill Loren Wassell Jerry Ingenthron Gary Barton Steve Archer : Kevin Cahill Lisa Drake Attached are several copies of the North American Precis Syndicate (NAPS) release on the East St. Louis Urban Gardening project. This was drafted after the harvest last fall, then held until spring so it would be picked up during the planting season. In addition to your approvals, Sr. Cecilia of Operation New Spirit, and Sue Kohler, SIUC, also reviewed and approved the copy. As you know, NAPS distributes these pre-set, camera-ready stories to thousands of newspapers across the country. They are usually picked up by smaller publications including suburban and rural papers, and regional city papers. As I receive placement reports, I'll pass them along to you. Thanks for your assistance. Diane Herndon DSW 135098 STLCOPCB4035057 Environmental Protection Mews 8e Notes Urban Gardeners Harvest Hope (NAPS)--Corn and hope both grow in an innovative gardening project to help improve America's urban environment. Several vacant and abandoned areas in East St. Louis, Illinois were transformed into thriving gardens that celebrated their first harvest last summer. Where waist-high weeds once grew, chest-high corn flourished. Debris was replaced with manicured rows of plants--crunchy peanuts, colorful hot peppers and can taloupes the size of bowling balls. The urban gardening project was a joint effort among Operation New Spirit--an East St. Louis citizens group working for a brighter city future---and the Office of Economic and Regional Development and the Graduate School at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC). An herbicide to control weeds prior to planting, Roundup DRYpak, was donated by Monsanto Company, which also provided financial support matched by SIUC. Another company supplied seeds. Dozens of East St. Louis resi dents, ranging in age from seven to 70, participated in the urban gardening project. Many were first-time gardeners. "They came away with a sense of accomplishment and communi ty spirit as well as a bounty of good, nutritious things to eat," says Sister Cecilia Hellmann, a neighborhood organizer with Operation New Spirit. Four gardens were planted last spring throughout the city, yield ing an abundance of produce. Among them was a community garden tended by senior citizens and a demonstration garden on the Seeds of hope and change are bearing fruit in an East St. Louis urban gardening project. campus of State Community College. The urban gardening project had three goals: To provide educational and technical assistance to neighbor hood groups and individuals to develop inner-city gardens. To provide economic develop ment opportunities through the cultivation of vegetables and flow ers that might eventually enable East St. Louis residents to open a farmers' market. To provide a means for East St. Louis residents to improve their nutrition. "Last year was the pilot year for the project and we were pleased how well everything went," says Dr. Susan Kohler, a research project spe cialist with the Office of Economic and Regional Development at SIUC and project director. "It couldn't have been possible without the hard work and dedication of so many people in the community." People such as: Sgt. Steve Saunders, who supervised a crew of first-time offenders who helped prepare and maintain the garden sites. Willie Beard of the University of Illinois Cooperative Extension, who guided and moti vated a group of young 4-H gar deners whose crops were entered in 4-H shows and agricultural competitions. Organizers would like to expand the project this year to additional sites in East St. Louis. Says Sister Cecilia, "Our ultimate goal is to have self-supporting gardens that contribute to the health of East St. Louis citizens and inspire us to respect and renew the Earth." DSW 135099 STLCOPCB4035058