Et cetera : FEMA Corps Team Pine 4 Spends a Day in the Garden

Julie Hankins and Tyler Austin dig holes to plant onions.

Julie Hankins and Team Leader Chalynn Passmore paint garden stakes labeling the vegetables.

By: Christina Willis

AmeriCorps NCCC FEMA Corps team Pine 4 wanted to get involved in the community as soon as they reached their third and final project round destination in Kansas City, Mo. so they contacted Hillcrest Transitional Housing before leaving Vinton, Iowa. Hillcrest Transitional Housing is a program that helps homeless families, singles and youth get back on their feet by offering free housing in exchange for participating in life skill classes designed to get the homeless back into the community. On March 30, 2013 nine members of Pine 4 along with the local community joined together to participate in a volunteer day hosted by the organization to begin a community garden at a transitional housing complex.

Pine 4 got their hands dirty by planting seeds and potted vegetables in 19 previously built 4x12 plant beds. Afterwards they watered the beds and painted 19 stakes naming the vegetable or herb in the matching bed. Then the team moved nine pallets used to support new rain barrels, which some team members helped assemble. The rain barrels are essential for collecting and housing the water used in the community garden.

Team member Moses Sunbeam, who organized the independent service project (ISP) with Hillcrest Transitional Housing, summed up many of the team members’ feelings when he said, “What I enjoyed most was getting my hands in the dirt, a welcomed break from office life.”

Pine 4 enjoyed working with the Hillcrest Transitional Housing program so much that they already have another project planned with the organization. On April 13, 2013 members of the team are helping to remodel the site of a future local donations center. Pine 4 also looks forward to visiting the community garden throughout their time in Kansas City, Mo. to check on the fruits (or vegetables) of their labor.