It was one of those perfect North Carolina spring days: the sun was shining, the temperature was in the mid 70s, a nice breeze was blowing, the rain from the day before had cleared out and folks were eager to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather. You couldn’t ask for a better setting for the Geer Street Learning Garden’s first annual Garden Party and Compost Giveaway. The event was held on Saturday, April 15 at the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle community garden, appropriately labeled because large numbers of the local community turned out for the food, fun, garden tours, and free compost-to-go available for all to enjoy.
Geer Street Learning Garden is on a quarter acre of land situated in the heart of Durham, tucked away behind the offices of Reinvestment Partners, one of the sponsors of the Garden Party. Located between one of the most vulnerable census tracts and one of the most prosperous business districts in Durham, the Geer Street Garden is a flourishing urban green space. The garden has twelve vegetable beds, community garden beds, fruit trees, an outdoor kitchen, a small greenhouse, three beehives, a vermicompost system, a perennial rain garden, a pollinator garden, and areas for community gatherings. The produce grown at the Garden is distributed to two local food pantries and another nearby agency.
One of the big draws of the day was the offer of free compost provided by Compost Now, a long-time supporter of the Food Shuttle. Attendees were encouraged to bring their own bags or buckets to collect the nutrient-rich compost to take home and add to their own garden beds. Volunteers were on hand to shovel the compost into the provided containers.
Another attraction at the event was the Food Shuttle’s food truck, The Spinning Plate, which was offering delicious pork and cauliflower options for those in attendance. Seating was available nearby, where guests could also visit with representatives from the Food Shuttle, Keep Durham Beautiful, Farmer Foodshare, and Durham County Public Health’s nutrition health program, DINE.
Garden tours were offered throughout the event by Jason Maraveyias, the Food Shuttle’s Community Garden Manager. Many in attendance mentioned that they lived nearby but had never visited the Garden and were amazed at how much is grown in such a small space and how beautiful the Garden truly is.
Jason Maraveyias giving a garden tour
Mikey Cristiano, the Durham Community Garden Manager, was extremely happy with the event. “With over 70 community members attending the Garden Party, lined up to receive free compost and food from the Food Shuttle’s Spinning Plate Food Truck, we could not be more pleased with how the event turned out. This event was about bringing our neighbors together and we look forward to more events like this in the future!”
Mikey Cristiano (3rd from left) and Garden Party volunteers