By Jason Arndt
Correspondent
More than two-dozen students of Union Grove Elementary School are coming together to form a common goal.
One of those goals was met May 13, when the Union Grove Village Board approved the Healing Hands’ mission of creating a community garden on the site of the old village hall.
This will be Union Grove’s first-ever community garden, explained Healing Hands’ co-founder Tiffany Janicek, “The project is in its infancy but we’re hoping to have a lot of support in the community.”
Village trustees listened Monday night to the parent of two students at the elementary school tell her story and mission to bring the community together through a gardening effort, with a dozen students on hand.
The old village hall site is a spacious area and trustees suggested that the volunteers work with Public Works Director Mark Osmundsen.
“It’s a rather large area so you need to tell us what size plot you need for this project, and then coordinate with Mark of Public Works to decide where to put it,” explained Trustee Michael Younglove.
Board President Mike Aimone believes the land at the former village hall can nicely support a garden, due to the fertile soil it contains.
Janicek is seeking further community support to make the effort a success, including the involvement of Shepherds Ministries and American Legion.
Shepherds is a facility that helps adults with disabilities integrate back into the community and already has a community garden, according to Trustee Theresa Holm.
“We’ve already contacted Shepherds and they are willing to work with,” Janicek said.
In addition, the UGES students already have plans for what to plant on the eventual garden off Main Street.
In answer to a question from Aimone, most students mentioned tomato plants and carrots and were excited to have the opportunity to contribute as a part of the community.
For more Village Board news, see the May 17 edition of the Westine Report.
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