Blawnox residents invited to help grow community garden

A community garden is coming to Blawnox, at long last.

The initiative by I Heart Blawnox has been in the works at least four years, with volunteers from the religious outreach searching for a proper venue.

They’ve joined with borough council to bring a garden to the Blawnox Community Park along Center Avenue and officials said seeds should be planted by mid-May.

“We’re planning to clear the designated area and then we’ll hold a community clean-up,” Councilwoman Jess Dayhoff said.

“All residents are welcome and encouraged to participate.”

Clean-up will be 9 a.m. to noon April 27.

Cost of the garden has not been released but Dayhoff said it is expected to be minimal.

A leadership meeting is scheduled in coming weeks and officials expect to release details of the garden, including square-footage and number of plots, then.

Pastor Tracey Russell, from I Heart Blawnox, said she envisions a truly community venture.

A master gardener helped Russell downsize the original plans from 2016, when she was in talks to plant a massive garden along Freeport Road.

The 2019 season is expected to include vegetables and flowers. Maintenance will be volunteer-based, including weeding, pruning, harvesting and watering.

As proposed, tomatoes, peppers and herbs wills sprout in the far corner of the fenced park, which is locked each night.

Officials are hoping that residents of the Blawnox Hi-Rise will be encouraged to visit the garden since it sits so close to the apartment building.

“This is truly a gift to the community and my hope is that it brings residents together to literally find common ground,” Dayhoff said.

For more information, call 412-828-4141.