Fort Knox Neighborhood Backyard coordinator Alisyn Kandybowicz explains her plans Jan. 11, 2023 for reworking the shared inexperienced area right into a collaborative gardening effort from neighborhood members each on and off publish.
VIEW ORIGINAL
FORT KNOX, Ky. – Fort Knox has a brand new face heading up social horticulture efforts.
The Fort Knox Neighborhood Backyard affords cultivation fans a spot to come back collectively and share their ardour for planting and rising. As the brand new backyard coordinator, Alisyn Kandybowicz stated she’s anxious to convey her expertise to the inexperienced area.
“The backyard is a beacon of psychological and bodily well being for me,” stated Kandybowicz. “My motto is ‘bloom the place you’re planted.’”
Kandybowicz beforehand served because the neighborhood backyard coordinator when her Household was stationed in Texas. She stated since arriving right here, she’s been engaged on some thrilling adjustments for the Fort Knox area, the primary of which can be a singular new setup.
“Normally with a neighborhood backyard, a location is offered for folks to backyard on their very own,” stated Kandybowicz. “We’re doing one thing completely different this 12 months.”
Kandybowicz stated she’s created a extra cooperative model backyard with a single general plan the place neighborhood members can undertake completely different initiatives, so everybody can join weekly and month-to-month duties based on their pursuits.
The brand new 2023 design for the Fort Knox Neighborhood Backyard is comprised of a number of cooperative venture areas to incorporate tomatoes, sunflowers, pumpkins, herbs and lots of others.
VIEW ORIGINAL
“There’s a tomato venture, a sunflower venture, a pumpkin patch and so many others,” stated Kandybowicz. “With this plan, we’re studying collectively, however everybody can give attention to particular person areas.”
In keeping with Kandybowicz, the brand new plan supplies alternatives to collaborate with fellow gardeners or discover quiet time alone, if most well-liked.
“Every particular person will deal with their venture, and we’ll all form of assist one another too,” stated Kandybowicz. “There’s additionally an choice to have your individual plot.”
Annually, there’s a centered theme for the neighborhood backyard. Kandybowicz stated this 12 months’s will assist unite completely different organizations on publish.
“Our 2023 mission is ‘Meals Forest,’” stated Kandybowicz. “Its primary goal is meals and safety by way of the schooling of gardening and vitamin. We’ve partnered with the Military Bodily Resilience Work Group and the Crimson Cross Serving to Arms Meals Pantry on publish.
“Any extra produce goes to the meals pantry.”
Kandybowicz stated she’s thrilled realizing the meals grown within the backyard will go on to sustaining the neighborhood.
“I feel probably the most thrilling factor about it’s that our mission is to focus on the meals and safety of one another proper right here at Fort Knox,” stated Kandybowicz. “We’re serving to each other by offering the produce.”
Kandybowicz defined the harvested crops can be obtainable in a tiered style. Those that work the person initiatives could have precedence for what they’ve helped develop. After that, backyard members can be notified of any extra obtainable, and all remaining produce can be donated to Serving to Arms.
Along with this 12 months’s new backyard structure, Kandybowicz stated one other replace can be made to the growing older signal. She got here up with a enjoyable method not solely to replace it however contain the neighborhood in its creation.
As a part of the 2023 redesign of the Fort Knox Neighborhood Backyard, the 5 faculties on publish in addition to the Faculty Age Heart and Devers Teen Heart are engaged on creating new indicators for the backyard. Winners can be introduced March 20.
VIEW ORIGINAL
“We recruited seven contestants tasked to design a brand new signal,” stated Kandybowicz. “They’re the 5 faculties on publish, after which the Faculty Age Heart and Devers Teen Heart.”
Kandybowicz stated every contestant is taking a distinct method. For example, she stated the artwork membership at Scott is engaged on the signal, whereas each scholar at Kingsolver is designing one and the varsity will then vote on a winner.
As soon as all indicators are full, Fort Knox Garrison Commander Col. Lance O’Bryan can be tasked with selecting the winners. First and second place will every be held on reverse sides of the primary signal, third place can be positioned on the backyard entrance, and the remaining 4 can be hung across the backyard in several areas.
Winners can be revealed on the backyard’s opening day occasion, which Kandybowicz stated doesn’t solely mark the beginning of spring—
“March 20 will even kick off our planting season,” stated Kandybowicz. “It’s going to be climate dependent, however that’s once we’re going to start out getting issues going.”
Though the backyard is the property of Knox Hills, Kandybowicz inspired any members of the set up, whether or not residing on or off publish, to take part. She stated there will even be a gardening class held March 4 to show the fundamentals of planting greens.
Members of the Fort Knox neighborhood are inspired to enroll to be neighborhood backyard members and may choose to work instantly within the backyard or obtain notifications when produce is accessible.
VIEW ORIGINAL
Whether or not contributors are seasoned gardeners or newcomers, Kandybowicz stated she hopes the brand new updates will revitalize curiosity and present Fort Knox the worth the neighborhood backyard brings.
“It’s serving to coach the neighborhood, together with offering a spot to socialize,” stated Kandybowicz. “It brings like-minded folks right here to make mates.”
————————————————————————-
Editor’s notice: For extra info or to obtain backyard updates, textual content Alisyn Kandybowicz at 602-284-5406 or electronic mail garden@knoxhills.com.
