PIC Promotes “Growth” in Monessen

The seed started with the Private Industry Council’s proposal to the Pittsburgh based Sprout Fund in the winter of 2010.  The Sprout program set out with hopes to catalyze community-based projects in Pittsburgh and surrounding communities that would inspire greater stewardship of our region’s natural resources.

PIC received $5,000 to support a week-long biodiversity camp for youth.  The Private Industry Council’s Youth Specialist Julie Sefcheck teamed up with Robert (D.J.) Dojonovic and his wife, Angela DiBart to provide the perfect location for this garden.  DJ offered the use of the land that many people in Monessen fondly know as, “DJ’s Pumpkin Patch.”  The space in and of itself boasts fun with the giant pirate ship that sits off to the side of what is now a community garden.  But the fun really started when the youth arrived!  The Monessen Salvation Army Day camp served as the catalyst bringing the children to the program.

For one week, the PIC Youth Specialist along with Salvation Army staff worked with the children to teach them all about gardening and sustainability, rainwater collection, and recycling.  Later in the week 4H Master Gardeners taught the youth all about pollination and introduced them to hissing cockroaches.  Additionally, the group had a wonderful time with hands on activities that included making life-sized scarecrows and mobiles; and they even made and enjoyed salsa!  Things got a little squirmy when Waste Management taught all about composting and even brought along some worms!  If all of that wasn’t enough excitement, the children had the chance to actually plant their own seeds and over the course of the week, see things start to sprout.

The week of fun concluded with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 11th, 2011 which was attended by Representative Ted Harhai, Commissioner Charles Anderson, Monessen Mayor Mary Jo Smith, and Private Industry Council President and C.E.O. Tim Yurcisin.  The Salvation Army program will continue to tend to the garden with the children throughout the summer and come harvest time, PIC will be back to help.  The vegetables grown will be donated throughout the community, and the summer project will end with a culminating farmers market.

The Private Industry Council’s proposal for a Community Garden Project in Monessen, was one of 20 biodiversity projects selected for Sprout funding. PIC would like to extend a thank-you to Teresa Seh and all of the community members that have helped see this project through, and hopes that this years’ garden will be a seed for future community gardens to grow.

For additional photos click here.