Hi Troop 2,
For my Eagle project, I will be building two garden beds for the Dan Ryan Community Gardens in the Cook County Forest Preserves. The beds will be placed on the forest preserve property. The goal of this project is to expand the gardening space available to community members in the Dan Ryan area (Southside of Chicago). To help make the space more inclusive, one of the beds will be built as an accessible raised garden bed for people who may have difficulty bending down (older adults or individuals with mobility challenges). This bed will be built higher than the standard bed so it can be usable by such populations. Both of the beds will be built using untreated red cedar wood. Red cedar is resistant to rotting and insects, which makes it a strong and long-lasting wood for outdoor use. By using untreated wood, the beds will also be safe for growing plants because no harmful chemicals will seep into the soil.
The garden beds will serve as a community garden for the residents who live in the Dan Ryan neighborhood. These beds will create a shared space where neighbors can come together and plant different fruits, vegetables, and flowers while building relationships and a sense of community. Furthermore, the garden beds will help community members spend more time outdoors. This could help boost community morale and reduce stress. The gardens can also serve as a space to educate the community about sustainability and gardening skills.
