On August 23, 2008, nine members of the community garden picked, processed and froze 130 quarts of corn from the garden. The local Farm Bureau office donated use of their kitchen and the volunteers were able to complete the task in 3 hours. The quarts were divided amoung the participants. This was the first time some people had preserved food.
The garden manager, Dave Schmelzer has been taking extra produce from the community garden to the Allamakee Farmers Market. So far over $100 has been raised to support the garden and its expenses.
One common comment during the Study Circle discussions was the frustration expressed about the city government. Several people felt that ordinences were not being enforced and that city officials were not doing enough to improve Waukon. Three of the candidates running for public office started participating in our Visioning discussions and offered much insight. I am happy to report that those three people were elected to the council and are addressing issues identified in the Horizons discussions such as sidewalk repair and economic development.
The Allamakee New Beginnings board members met on June 5 with Sandy Scholl from ISU Extension. Sandy is a community development specialist and met with the ANB to help them develop a mission statement. First she asked them “why does ANB exist?”
To assist those in poverty
To help people meet basic needs
Help to be tied to education and teaching
To coordinate various assistance
Partnering to get ahead
Improving lifestyle
Collaborating with other agencies
Lessen the effects of poverty — through education
Investing in families and community to help them improve themselves
Make resources available to help people move ahead
Wake up the resources they have
Key words were identified in this list and after a couple of iterations, the following draft mission statement was agreed upon.
Allamakee New Beginning, Inc. exists to seek and manage resources as a charitable organization to lessen the effects of poverty by investing in families and individuals through education and collaboration.
The mission and vision will be further developed in future meetings. The ANB board also set a regular meeting date–the third Thursday of the month.
A dozen Horizons participants attended the Spring Fling on May 29. It was a reunion of sorts–a chance for us to catch up with all the events of the last six months. We started with a nice meal catered by the 66 Cafe. Then Teresa Wiemerslage gave a presentation on the history of the Horizons project and what has happened in the last six months. There has been a lot of projects! Sometimes you don’t think anything is happening, but when you take time to look back, you get a little perspective. The Habitat group has 3 houses to paint this summer and are looking for volunteers and more funding. The start of the Allamakee New Beginnings group is pretty neat. Mr. Burk who is a retired school superintendent commended the group on their initiative to start the non-profit to make sure that the Horizons ideas keep moving forward. That was a pretty special comment–especially since Mr. Burk isn’t easy to impress! The group decided to keep meeting in the future to make sure the projects keep going.
The mayor and several city councilmen are interesting the data being collected from the sidewalk assessments. They want to prioritize sidewalk repair around the schools to encourage more kids to walk and bike to school. Sidewalk repair was a major piece of their platform at the election. Already, you can see new stretches of sidewalks around town. It is nice to have the leadership interested in the appearance and safety of our town.
In addition, the area recently received a Safe Routes to School grant which will help us do student and parent surveys to learn more about the walking and biking habits of people in our town.
The Allamakee Community Partnership for Protecting Children (CPPC) is hosting a series of meetings called Live, Laugh and Love. This is an event for Parents to Learn How to Relax. Taking some time for yourself is an important part of parenting and is an important skill regardless of income level. Often financial problems increase stress in the home. We hope these programs will help reduce some of that stress.
Participants will learn about exercise and healthier food choices; massage /reflexology therapy; aromatherapy and laughter therapy in 4 different sessions. Doorprizes will include passes to the Wellness Center and for massages. The event is free to all parents and childcare will be provided during the event.
Many of the participants in the monthly CPPC meetings have participated in Horizons activities.
The 4-H County Council has designated the Stork’s Nest Diaper and Wipe Drive as this year’s community service project at the fair. The Stork’s nest is an incentive-based program that provides low-income women with healthcare services and educational programs in the community. These women are also single mothers. By attending the classes, the women can earn point to redeem for incentives like diapers, wipes or other infant supplies. Contributors can drop off diapers, wipes or monetary donations to the 4-H Exhibit Building during the fair or to the Extension Office anytime before the fair.
We hosted a workshop at the community garden on May 10. 12 people attended. This was the first chance the plot renters had a chance to meet each other. Bob Hauer from ISU Extension offered an interesting program on the tools to use in gardening and some of the best practices when planning your garden. I hear he will be coming back later in the summer to help us with pest problems and other issues.
Well, all the plots in the Community Garden have been rented. In fact, we had to add more space to the shared space in the garden. We have a wide diveristy of participants: coworkers, friends, a 4-H club, apartment dwellers, retired farm couple. We have secured several resources for the garden. Waukon Implement is donating the use of a riding lawn mower for lawn upkeep. Pioneer Hybrid seed dealer donated the sweet corn seed. The landowner paid for part of the tiller gas. The people who have plots are really starting to bond as well. Often you can see them sitting in the shade visiting once the work is done!