Show i Opportunities Grow in Local Loca Gardens JW Owens Contributing Writer As one drives south on Main Street in Salt Lake City Utah it itis itis itis is easy to see the growth and development of the area over time The towering buildings located downtown are an indication indication indication indica indica- tion of such progress Unfortunately further south on Main Street there are some buildings that have been aban aban- In further comparison some buildings have the appearance of ofa a heap of charred lumber and twisted metal Other buildings stand strong and are glorious works of architecture and engi engi- There are many groups organizations and individuals that want to add their form of beauty to the area Across the street from the hospital hospital hospital hos hos- pital located at 2500 South Main Mainis is a plot of land that measures just over one acre A local company owns the land and it has been leased to a profit non-profit organization tion called Utah GARDENS The acronym GARDENS stands for Gardens Achieving Resourcefulness Diversity Education and Neighborhood Safety Founded in May of 2001 Utah GARDENS currently operates operates operates oper oper- ates four gardens including the garden opposite the hospital Other garden locations include Glendale Murray and a second location in South Salt Lake The garden at 2500 South Main offers a variety of activities and Last Year Utah GARDENS partnered with the Salt Lake Judicial Court system system tem to allow youth who had been assigned community service hours to work at the garden These service hours gave some of the youth an exciting opportunity to see if gardening was an interest to them and at the same time to pursue a meaningful hobby Gardening probably was something something something some some- thing these youth had never before experienced and was a positive replacement for the activities in which they had been involved All of the produce that the youth grew at the Main Street garden has in the past been donated back to the community In some cases the vegetables were given back to those individuals who were victims of the youths' youths crimes In other cases the produce produce produce pro pro- duce went to the Utah food bank or to various homeless shelters around the Salt Lake Valley This partnership has continued through this year and is intended to continue well into the future The Main Street garden also has hasan hasan an area to be set up that will be dedicated to the teaching and instruction of gardening and gardening gardening gardening gar gar- dening techniques Master Gardeners who make gardening their profession will teach these these classes Another feature of the Main Street garden appeals to individuals als and families that have no space to have a garden of their own but desire to grow their own food or flowers Utah s GARDENS rents garden beds out to such families and individuals for 25 for the year Utah GAR GARDENS D ENS promotes a sense of friendship within the community It gives neighbors the ability to form strong relationships relationships relationships rela rela- with one another Utah GARDENS is a dynamic organization that is seeking volunteers volunteers volunteers vol vol- vol- vol for the youth program as aswell aswell aswell well as other programs within the organization Those interesting in learning more about Utah GARDENS should contact Shane at 1 |