Dozens of plastic plant pots and purple Solo cups stuffed with greens, blooming greenery and houseplant clippings make up Springfield Neighborhood Gardens’ newest challenge: a “take a plant, go away a plant” stand.
The inexperienced, wood plant stand is positioned on the Midtown Neighborhood Backyard at 1471 N. Benton Ave. Neighborhood members are welcome to go to the stand, which sits between the workplace and gardens, to take a plant they want and go away one for others.
Springfield residents Kimberlee and Dustin Stokes are the masterminds behind the challenge, established a few month in the past.
“(The plant stand) was an thought I really discovered on Fb a very long time in the past from somebody … he had it in his personal little neighborhood and I used to be like, ‘Wow, that is actually superb. I want we may do one thing like that right here.’ And Dustin was like, ‘Why do not you?'” Kimberlee mentioned.
Kimberlee and Dustin’s principal precedence was selecting a secure location for the plant stand, that will not be disturbed or taken benefit of. So that they reached out to Springfield Neighborhood Gardens management, who had been excited concerning the thought.
“We’re at all times having group companions ask if we will take donations and we did not actually have a very good centralized spot the place we may, as a result of we had been at all times attempting to push our group gardens,” Springfield Neighborhood Gardens coordinator Amanda Drewel mentioned. “But it surely’s a lot cooler now that we’re in a position to — because of (Kimberlee and Dustin) — share it with the group.”
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To get the stand began, the Stokeses donated about 10 of their very own vegetation, however it did not take lengthy earlier than others started to take discover. Kimberlee mentioned individuals have donated pumpkin, tomatoes, peppers, flowers and greenery, and houseplant cuttings.
“It is blown up method greater than what we thought,” Dustin mentioned. “We had been simply attempting to make a bit stand for the group, only a trial. It has been accepted very properly, and we’re simply very grateful.”
The plant stand has been so profitable that Springfield Neighborhood Gardens requested the Stokeses to create a second one, particularly for Missouri native vegetation. This stand shall be positioned on the Delaware Neighborhood Neighborhood Backyard at 1538 E. Stanford St. Dustin mentioned the stand ought to be accessible inside just a few weeks.
Springfield Neighborhood Gardens has just a few guidelines for visiting the plant stand:
- Solely take 1-2 vegetation from the stand and go away a minimum of one.
- Label your plant, both on the pot or with a stake. There are labels and a pen accessible on the stand.
- Respect the Midtown Neighborhood Backyard workplace and gardens. Solely vegetation on the stand are free.
- For those who want to enter the Midtown Neighborhood Backyard itself, you should obtain permission from a Springfield Neighborhood Gardens volunteer/worker.
The take a plant, go away a plant stand is accessible to group members anytime on daily basis.
Springfield Neighborhood Gardens was established in 2010, with the primary garden within the Grant Seashore neighborhood. In the present day, Springfield Neighborhood Gardens manages 17 group gardens and three city farms.
To be taught extra about Springfield Neighborhood Gardens, go to springfieldcommunitygardens.org/gardens.
Greta Cross is the trending subjects reporter for the Springfield Information-Chief. Comply with her on Twitter and Instagram @gretacrossphoto. Story thought? E-mail her at gcross@gannett.com
