News

20
Jun
2012

Mercy Haven Garden Opens to Offer Shared Space, Bounty

BRENTWOOD, NY. JUNE 20, 2012. More than 100 community members braved blazing heat today, the first day of summer, to mark the opening of Mercy Haven’s new community garden in Brentwood, NY. The “Growing Together” Community Garden reflected community spirit in every sense, taking shape through the united efforts of more than a dozen community groups, and offering shade and fresh vegetables to both residents and neighbors of Mercy Haven houses throughout Long Island.

The Garden is located in Brentwood, Long Island, behind the Mercy Enrichment House, a central gathering space for affiliates of Mercy Haven, a nonprofit agency that provides housing and services to Long Islanders who are homeless, living with mental illness, or living in poverty.

Citi, in particular, led the volunteer effort by coordinating work on this garden with Citi’s Global Volunteer Day on June 16th. Fifteen Citi volunteers from all over Long Island worked on four main garden projects to advance the garden, constructing a greenhouse, building work benches, planting blueberry bushes, and distributing many square yards of soil. The volunteers devoted their Saturdays to the projects, working from 9:30 – 2:30. By day’s end, all projects were complete.

Many community groups came together to support the garden, including PRONTO of Long Island, the Unity Project, Mercy First, Boy Scout Troop 25 & Crew 25, Brentwood High School, St. Anne’s Parish Outreach, St. Anne’s Gardens, SEPA Mujer, and several groups of Mercy Haven residents. The Garden was created in partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County as part of their Creating Healthy Place in Suffolk Countyinitiative. Funding for the initiative is provided by the New York State Department of Health.

Mercy Haven’s Executive Director, Sister Patricia Griffith, thanked all volunteers, saying she had long held the dream of such a garden. “I believe we can learn so much from Mother Earth,” she told the festive crowd gathered at the garden’s opening. “She reveals so much to us, and in this interaction between earth and human, we find our commonness and mutual healing. No one can rush the experience of a garden growing—we are asked to wait, to take care, to water, to interact, notice and pay attention. In this frenzied world of ours—isn’t that a great gift?”

“All the elements of a successful garden are here; good soil, air, water, sunlight and most importantly, people,” said Susan Wilk, Project Coordinator of Creating Healthy Place in Suffolk County. “The turn-out here today is clear evidence that community element of this garden is strong.”

Joan Avolese Mannino, Administrator of the Mercy Enrichment Program, which includes Growing Together, shared stories of the incredible enthusiasm of Garden Members.

“It’s been such a wonderful experience to have so many different groups come together to work together to create this beautiful place.” Ms. Avolese-Mannino said. Garden Members, volunteers from the corporate world, and Mercy Haven staff united to build the raised boxes, move compost, plant vegetables, and construct a green house. They came together in a resolution to continue giving, as well, as each group will donate 5% of their yield to local food pantries.

“We are so pleased to be a part of this exciting project and hope to continue to assist Mercy Haven with all the good works they do for those who are in need in the Community,” said Patricia Edwards, Vice President for Community Relations at Citi, who dedicated the greenhouse with a plaque.

“I’m excited about the garden because I want to give back,” said John, who lives at one of Mercy Haven’s three Community Residences. “Part of what we grow will go to the homeless and I used to be homeless. I’m glad I can help others who are having a hard time.”

John also shared the health benefits of the garden. “I’ve lost 90 pounds in the last year,” he said. “I know that eating the vegetables we grow will help me keep healthy and continuing to lose weight.”

Sister Pat, Ms. Wilk and a representative from each garden group took part in a ceremonial ribbon cutting. Ms. Wilk also presented Mercy Haven with a scale that will be used to track how much the garden produces.

Some groups have already begun to harvest vegetables including radishes, lettuce and broccoli. The Growing Together Garden has already yielded more than 5 pounds of produce, and it’s only the beginning of its first season.

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