A garden wish, granted!
BY SHAUNNA BURHOP / ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE OCTOBER 2023 EDITION OF THE BURHOP GROUP NEWSLETTER.
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SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITIES is so important to us here at The Burhop Group, we made it part of our mission. So when we learned about a grant program available from our own Mainstreet Organization of Realtors, we immediately started to brainstorm ways we could utilize it to make a big impact.
To be approved and awarded the grant, the project had to:
1. Be available for public use;
2. Create something new;
3. Be located outdoors; and
4. Be completed by the end of 2023.
We knew it would be a challenge to meet all the criteria with such a short deadline and decided we would need to partner with a local agency who had a project on their “wish list.” Northwest Compass had wanted to develop a community garden, and they had the land necessary for the installation, but lacked the funds.
With the help of our team, Northwest Compass was able to receive a $22,000 grant to create a new “Living and Giving” garden. The space will include container, vegetable, and cut flower gardens; water features; accessible pathways and benches for public access; native plants; a bee pollinator garden; bird feeders; demonstration space for educational opportunities; seasonal displays; and our own personal favorite—a Toad Abode (learn how to make your own here)!
The grant will also cover a much-needed shed for materials storage, a composting station, and a rain barrel.
Several Baird & Warner Northwest Suburban agents volunteered their time to clear debris, add new plantings, and install the new pathway and other amenities. Generous support and donations were received from Sherwin Ace Hardware, Home Depot, Lurvey Home and Garden, Pesche's Flower & Garden Center, and The Mulch Center.
The intent and hope are that the garden will serve as a respite for community members and provide educational opportunities for growing food and cultivating gardens for the public for years to come.
Contact us if you’d like to learn more about the project or ways you could help.
