To celebrate Earth Day last week, we had the joy of helping to build a new raised bed garden at the East Seventh Street Center (aka Kid’s Café) at 7th Street and Elm Tree Lane. Joining us in this effort were approximately 15 elementary and middle school students who attend the center for afterschool programming, along with a nearly a dozen other volunteers. We were also thrilled to get the help and support of numerous neighbors who were drawn out of their houses by both the beautiful weather and the curious site as the garden was installed.
Why so curious? Because the garden went right ONTOP OF THE PAVEMENT! 
Following the lead of the innovative gardeners at the New Agrarian Center and City Fresh in Oberlin, OH, who have perfected asphalt gardening, Seedleaf is able to put in this garden so that these students, who don’t have the luxury of their own green space, can still enjoy gardening and the resulting bounty of healthy, homegrown food.
The garden was built with nearly 65 cinder blocks stacked to form a L-shaped garden bed and 2 cubic yards of a soil/compost mix. The students have already started planning for what they’ll grow, including greens, carrots, beans, radishes, and even strawberries.
Not only do the youth plan to enjoy the fruits of their labor, but they hope to set up a small farm stand to sell any surplus.
To truly personalize their bed, the students will be painting the blocks so that any passerby will stop to take notice of their hard efforts!
Stay tuned to see more pictures as the garden develops, and feel free to stop by to see this great “unexpected” garden bed.
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