\ Community garden yields plenty in first year Plans for expansion underway SPECIAL ri) I HI CHRONICLE In 12 months, the "Reap More Than You Sow" (RMTYS) project in Rural Hall has gone from a concept to Forsyth County's second largest producing community garden, yielding 7.500 Haurr pounds in cfops for area food banks and volunteers in its first year. What's remark able, said project C o - founder Mark Godwin, is the speed in w hich the idea blossomed, as community hackers gener ously bought into a plan with infrastructure, a focus on young people and a concept known as ecotherapy. "We haven't had to spend one cent of our own money," Godwin said. "The commu nity response has been more Submitted RKNO Volunteers work in the garden. than what we could have ever expected. After I approached (CEO) Scott Bauer at Southern Community Bank and Trust, they agreed to not only help us financially, but donate land for our first gar den. After that, the project just took off." RMTYS, a nonprofit organization, is celebrating its first anniversary this month with a fall planting at the four original gardens on land donated for use by Southern Community Bank and Trust, Pfafftown Christian Church, Nazareth Lutheran Church in Rural Hall and Dr. Tom Wolfe and Sandy Steele. The project has received multi-year financial commit ments from Southern Community Bank and Trust, Flow Honda Winston-Salem and Technology Crops International. Funding and materials from Home Depot, Vulcan Materials. D.A.C. Industries. and Shouse Nursery have also been instrumental in the garden's early success. Just as critical has been services provided at no charge from the law firm Kilpatrick Stockton. LLP and Zero Gravity Design. More than 100 volunteers ages six to 77 worked the gardens during the summer, tilling, planting and ultimate ly harvesting more than 30 different crops, from corn to tomatoes to bell peppers to broccoli. They also grew flowers, from petunias to marigolds and 10 different herbs, such as cilantro, basil and oregano. The organization was co founded by Godwin and Chairman Andrew Hebard. both qualified horticultural ists and business owners who specialize in crops. Plans are already under way to increase the number of gardens to 20 by 20 1 1 and early 2012. extending their reach in some instances into nearby Davie, Yadkin, Surry and Guilford counties. For more information, no to www.reapmore.org. or email info@reapmore.org. Photo* b> Todd Luck The W SSL Rehabilitation Studies Club prepares for its Disability Awareness Month event. Disabilities from page HI through a ma/e of chairs using a white cane to feel their way. Even a challenge as seemingly simple as pour ing water from one cup into another was difficult for the blindfolded students. Junior Margarett Herder said she thought she did okay on the pouring chal lenge. She did find the blind obstacle course "very, very challenging. She relied on verbal directions from stu dent onlookers to help her navigate Herder, an English major minoring in Deaf Studies, said she felt the awareness event was need ed. "Just for a moment, we walk in their shoes, and we feel like, 'wow that's so hard.' but we've got to rec ognize there are people who face these issues every day and these disabilities every day." said Herder. "It brings Michelle Perry attention to (them) and gives a newfound respect." The canes and blindfolds were provided by Industries for the Blind ( IFB) of Winston-Salem, which also set up a display at the event. IFB is the nation's top employer of visually impaired people. The orga nization's dedicated employees make everything from mattresses to eyeglass es. IFB also offers classes and events to educate the public about the visually impaired, said IFB's Jenny Viars. Junior Michelle Perry helped out at a information table for The Adaptables. Inc., which was manned by Executive Director James Whalen and Independent Living Program Director Keith Greenarch. Adaptables provides advo cacy. information and serv ices for those with disabili ties. The agency offered a flier listing the proper terms to use when referring to peo ple with disabilities. "It makes you become aware of what you say and what you do." Perry said in reference to the proper names list. Rehabilitation Club President Deiandra Wade said she thought the event was a success, drawing a larger crowd than she expected. She said she hoped her fellow students learned something from the event. "The point is to make each individual aware of what goes on around them." said Wade. "They need to understand the things that (people with disabilities) have to go through to lead a normal life." [Trusted care at home when someone you love is facing serious illness . Hospice ?Sr Palliative C A R E C E N I I K 768-3972 \ IospiccCarcCcntcr.org Macedonia Holiness Church Of Cod Of The Apostolic Faith, Inc. BbhoiiXX.WiK.Sr. DD;S.TJ).- Paslur Sunday Service* Sunday School Morning Worship . . . 9:45 a.m. . 1 1:00 a.m. . . . 6:30 p.m. M.Y.P.U Wednesday Services Prayer & Bible Study 7:30 p.m ?4111 Whitfield Drive Phone: 336-767-3700 A"?u. 336-767-7006 anr St. Peter's Church & World Outreach Center KOCMl.uvb'ft! 'IHmr-Saim NC VVI^?fn iMItSMMO Come Worship With Us! Sunday Express: 8:00 a.m. Sunday Worship: 10:00 a.m. Wednesday Bible StudH 10:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.nP Bishop James C. & Mrs. Joyce Hash, Sr., Pastors For information about additional seniles, visit our website at www.spwoc.com Grace United Holiness Church 140 Forest Drive Kernersville, NC 27284 336-992-3190 > Services at (?race Sunday Morning Prayer.. .9:30 a.m. Sunday School 10:00 a.m. Morning Worship 11:15 a.m. Tuesday Evening 7:(X) p.m. Ricky B. Wilson Visit Our Website www.graceuhc.com Geneva B. 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