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i �� i _� ► ,r ,..___minit �� <br /> EUGENE TAN"AM ins s 601 I 1111r7111111111111111111111=111111111111111111M <br /> March 7, 2003 <br /> CONTACT: <br /> • Chris Girard, Eugene Community Gardens Coordinator, 682-4845 <br /> • Alice Aikens, Amazon Community Gardens Manager, 343-2874 <br /> • Jenica Tannenholz, Special Projects, Parks and Open Space, 682-4802 or 682-4800 <br /> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE <br /> AMAZON COMMUNITY GARDENS MANAGER WELCOMES SPRING <br /> Alice Aikens loves to help things grow. As a volunteer manager for the Amazon <br /> Community Gardens and steward of her own plot, she has many opportunities to watch both <br /> flourish. In her twelve seasons with the Eugene Community Gardens program, Aikens has <br /> been an active part of building new fences around the garden, organizing various workshops, <br /> and facilitating a contribution program to Food for Lane County. Last season alone, she and <br /> the other Amazon community gardeners donated 2,243 pounds of surplus produce. <br /> Aikens values the feeling of community within the garden and appreciates that it extends <br /> beyond the gardening family. She knows this environment provides learning opportunities. <br /> "The key is education, everyone should be a lifelong learner," Aikens says. Gardening provides <br /> an atmosphere of understanding for all ages. "Youngsters don't appreciate (the growing <br /> process) coming from a frozen food culture," she claims. "There's a sense of accomplishment <br /> that comes from cultivating the seed-to-food process." It is not unusual to see children working <br /> along side parents in their garden. Families use this time to teach their children life-lessons. <br /> The Amazon gardens provides a retreat for visitors of all ages who come to sketch, write <br /> or photograph. "Sunflowers--they love the sunflowers," says Aikens. Aikens, too, finds <br /> inspiration amidst her flowers and vegetables as she paints with watercolor. For her, gardening <br /> is a three dimensional art and takes visual aesthetics into consideration when planting. "Every <br /> year is like a new palette," she says and looks forward to this year's canvas. <br /> For more information or to register for a community gardens plot, call 682-4800 or visit <br /> 1820 Roosevelt Boulevard in Eugene beginning March 17. <br /> ### <br /> ID <br /> Public Works•Administration•City of Eugene•858 Pearl Street•Eugene, OR 97401 <br /> Phone: (541)682-5262• FAX: (541) 682-6826• www.ci.eugene.or.us <br />