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y s die <br /> EUGENE � � ■ � J �,�� � ■ ernes � ■ _ <br /> � L-� �-� 1►j 1t <br /> March 7, 2003 <br /> CONTACT: <br /> • Chris Girard, Eugene Community Gardens Coordinator, 682-4845 <br /> • Merry Bradley, Mathews Community Gardens Manager, 484-7144 <br /> • Jenica Tannenholz, Special Projects, Parks and Open Space, 682-4802 or 682-4800. <br /> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE <br /> MATHEWS COMMUNITY GARDENS MANAGER OFFERS <br /> RICH COMPOST FOR WORK IN GARDEN <br /> Merry Bradley, community gardens manager at Mathews Community Gardens, will offer <br /> rich compost to any gardener in exchange for a little work. Beginning March 17, gardeners <br /> from both private and community garden plots can benefit from the 20 tons of organic matter <br /> generated from the Mathews Gardens composting site. "Anyone can get compost for their <br /> garden...if they come to a weekend work party," says Bradley. At the high point of the season, <br /> a batch of compost can be turned over in just three weeks and then divided into shares for <br /> those who helped. <br /> Willing hands are lured by the quality. Mathews Gardens is able to generate a high <br /> caliber of mixture with the help of community sources. The compost is enriched by recycled <br /> leaves from the city's Public Works Department (about 280 cubic yards per season), produce <br /> from Wild Oats Markets, manure from Lane Forrest Products, and garden waste from the <br /> gardeners' plots. <br /> The quality of the compost also benefits from Bradley's extensive expertise. Through <br /> her efforts and direction from Anne Donahue, compost coordinator for the City of Eugene's <br /> Solid Waste and Recycling program, a grant was obtained to continue the research Bradley <br /> began at Food for Lane County's Grassroots Garden. The composting mixture she developed <br /> there is internationally sited. The grant provides also provides money for the upkeep of the <br /> composting site. <br /> Since the composting project began, it has instigated an increase of interaction between <br /> the gardening community and a sense of family between Mathews community gardeners. "(The <br /> Mathews Gardens gardeners) are mostly students...with a high turn-over rate," says Bradley. <br /> There are now more opportunities for these younger gardeners to work as a unit as well as with <br /> those who are more experienced. A sense of unity was felt as volunteers from <br />