Kent South End Association blesses Thomas-Anderson Memorial Garden for 2022

Record-Courier
·3 min read
The Thomas Anderson Memorial Garden in Kent's South End was dedicated recently.
The Thomas Anderson Memorial Garden in Kent's South End was dedicated recently.

The Historic South End Association recently blessed the Thomas-Anderson Memorial Garden in the south end of Kent, and celebrated the opening of the second annual garden season.

Doria Daniels, chairwoman of the association, addressed the crowd with her "State of the Garden" message, highlighting accomplishments for 2021 and sharing 2022 plans. She shared her vision for the garden on land she donated for use.

David Hassler director of the Wick Poetry Center, and Doria Daniels discuss future opportunities to have poetry reading and writing for kids and adults in the garden. The Rev. Christie Anderson of Kent Social Services listens to the conversation.
David Hassler director of the Wick Poetry Center, and Doria Daniels discuss future opportunities to have poetry reading and writing for kids and adults in the garden. The Rev. Christie Anderson of Kent Social Services listens to the conversation.

Mayor Jerry Fiala welcomed guests, and the Rev. Christie Anderson, executive director of Kent Social Services did the invocation prayer, The Rev. Renee Rucholtze reviewed the garden method and the benediction was offered by Rev. Amy Gopp, senior pastor of the Kent United Church of Christ.

Daniels said her vision for the garden included beautification of the neighborhood, providing healthy food to share, drawing residents from other communities, races, ethnicities to "cross pollinate" and foster better relations using the garden as a catalyst; and experiencing the outdoors in this post-pandemic environment.

The garden was designed using a environmentally friendly method called the "lasagna method" that layers compost material and doesn't disturb the soil through tilling.

Ruchotzke, president of the Kent Environmental Council and a community affiliate minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church; Karl Liske, a certified master gardener, and Randy Rucholtze were instrumental in helping lay out the landscape of the garden and instructing more than 50 various volunteers. The volunteers participated at different times on Saturday work schedules, including Girl Scout Troop 90450 and KidPower the garden crews children group.

The garden received a number of donations of plants and seeds from numerous businesses and individuals. Season Micro Farms and Black Dog Acres, as well as the Battleground Restaurant, donated the flowers in the pollinator garden. Family and Community Services helped water with their truck.

There are six garden sections - green leafy vegetables, tomatoes and peppers, corn and potatoes, healing herbs, pollinator flowers and berry and fruit trees. Each section is named in memory of a resident. The garden has a sitting bench, water fountain for bees and a register free standing library. The years accomplishments ended in being the recipient of the Edith Chase Conservation Award.

Daniels said 2022 is starting out to be a productive year as the garden crew begins the planting season by:replacing the plastic terrace boarder, which lines the wood chip walkway, with brick donated by community residents.

There will be a dedication of the fruit trees with memory plates. A peach tree will be dedicated in memory of Roger DiPaolo, among nine other memorials. This event will occur in July, and the event will include a dinner to be announced. A garden brochure is being designed which highlights the garden activity.

A drawing shows the design of the Thomas Anderson Memorial Garden, which was dedicated in Kent's south end recently.
A drawing shows the design of the Thomas Anderson Memorial Garden, which was dedicated in Kent's south end recently.

Daniels introduced neighborhood friend Jacquie Peoples Dukes' book of poetry, "South End Serenades" and publisher RC Wilson to the audience The two became acquainted in the garden at the 2021 blessing ceremony, and over the year worked to publish her poems, one of which was written for the garden "Heirloom Garden."

Doria thanked supporters of the garden from its inception, including Fiala, Kent Environmental Council, Kent InterFaith Alliance for Racial Reconciliation, the Portage County NAACP and Hometown Bank.

A sign in front of Kent's former recreation center on Franklin Avenue denotes the neighborhood as Kent's "Historic South End."
A sign in front of Kent's former recreation center on Franklin Avenue denotes the neighborhood as Kent's "Historic South End."

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Kent South End Association blesses Thomas-Anderson Memorial Garden