Local artist, Home Depot team help build new gardens at Suncoast Community Center
A local artist and Master Gardener and the local Home Depot volunteer team recently helped build new gardens at Suncoast Community Center.
“The garden is being built for multiple purposes,” said Chairman of the Suncoast Neighborhood Task Force Bill Shreve III, who was newly elected to his second term. “First, in hope that we in the near future will be able to produce fresh vegetables and herbs to distribute to the residents of our community, and the second reason is to teach the youth in our community that not all foods come from grocery stores.”
“It will benefit the community and be a teaching tool as well.”
The idea came from a local artist and friend of the center.
“It was initially Bobbi Robertson’s idea to do this project,” he said. “She’s a Master Gardner with the University of Florida Home Extension in Fort Myers. She came up with the original design of how that area could best be utilized. Not only are we doing vegetables and herbs, we are also having a mounded flower bed of compost and topsoil. Newspaper and hay are also used until you form a large mound. What we are going to do is make that a butterfly garden.”
An all volunteer team from the North Fort Myers Home Depot started the garden last week.
“Suncoast Community has a lot of great partners that help us throughout the year, and that is equally good that Home Depot has come on board to help us get this community garden off the ground. We are very grateful to all partners, including Home Depot, for coming on board to help for the betterment of this community.”
Charlotta Mitchell, operations manager for the North Fort Myers Home Depot, said, “This is the garden that the Suncoast Community approached us with, with a proposal to help implement above ground planters in what they wanted us to do. With our Team Depot, which is a volunteer committee from within our store, we are dedicated to giving back to our communities.
“We’re also going to install and revise their sprinkler and electricity system and we are donating all supplies and labor for their garden. For the all-day event, we’ve all pitched in a labor of love, actually.”
Many changed their schedules just to do the event.
George Larson, store manager, was there, along with his department supervisors to do the labor.
Bobbi Robertson, known as a “paper artist” has designed many projects for Suncoast, including her renowned centerpiece design for the North Fort Myers Chamber Of Commerce Celebrity Waiters auction. Her artwork will be on display at Commissioner Tammy Hall’s office May 14 through June 14.
“I’ve been a Master Gardener since 2005, I was the curator of the Herb Garden at the Extension Office of Lee County for the last five years or so. I relinquished that title to be the Director of the Suncoast Community Garden.
“I envision teaching children in the neighborhood that their groceries don’t just come from the supermarket. The goal of this garden is to eventually supplement the food pantry with fresh vegetables.”
She said they will also be growing things in the “tire gardens” – much like ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization) does that as well.
“I took a class at community gardening there.
“We’re also going to have worm culture. That’s growing worms to use their fras (their castings) as fertilizer. We’re also going to have a class here on May 14, at 1 p.m., teaching us how to care for the worms.” It will be led by Rachael Singletary, another North Fort Myers resident.
“She got me a grant from the Charlotte Harbor Estuary for teaching worm culture here at the garden.”
Robertson is a member of the Southwest Florida Craft Guild.
“We have a gallery for four months in Coconut Point Mall on Fashion Drive.”
She recently learned one of her pieces that have sold (she had several) will be going to England.
“My daughter, son-in-law and grand babies live in London, so that was really special.”
Easter Egg Hunt
Suncoast Community Center will hold the first Easter Hunt there on Saturday, April 7.
One partner will be SALS (Sons of the American Legion), said Paul Hanlon, Commander of the SALS.
Leading it will be Kim Ainsworth, the committee chair.
“We have some prizes as well as candy and free haircuts and pizza donated by local businesses including Dominos and Darlene’s Hair Hut.
“Sponsors I’d also like to mention are Bright Ideas, a local trophy company, GWJ Construction, Crews Septic Service (North Fort Myers), Scottie’s Marine, and Smoke 4 Less in Weaver’s Corners.
“Also, the owner of Carter signs in North Fort Myers gave a personal check for Easter baskets. It really warmed my heart.”
The event will run from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the center.
Other Suncoast news
In other Suncoast Center news, local resident advisor Susie Gillespie was recently bestowed with the honor of “You Make A Difference Award” at a special luncheon.
“I’ve known Susie for many years and I’m continually impressed by the way she puts her heart and soul into everything she does for the Suncoast Community and the Goodwill mission,” said Vice President of Communications & Development Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, Inc. Carolyn Johnson. “This honor is well deserved. It’s a privilege to see her recognized for her tireless efforts.”
The Suncoast Community Center is located at 2241 Case Lane in North Fort Myers. To reach the center, call 731-9838.