Growers and friends of the Clarkston Community Garden enjoyed a cool fall evening at Independence Oaks for the annual Garden Harvest Dinner Fundraiser, Oct. 2.
For Bill and Joanne Kayuk of Lake Orion, it was a celebration of their first year in the garden.
“A friend told us about it,” Bill said. “We wanted to do some organic gardening, but didn’t know much about it.”
Their first crops included kale, corn, tomatoes, and raspberries.
“Tons of cherry tomatoes,” he said. “The watermelons didn’t make it.”
They plan to return next year.
“Absolutely,” he said. “I’m very inspired by it.”
Marv Pelot of Rochester Hills travelled to the Clarkston garden through the summer to grow tomatoes.
“And zucchini, lettuce ? the corn didn’t make it,” said Pelot, also in his first year in the garden.
John Selden expanded his beekeeping hobby to four hives. The bees collect pollen from meadowland in and around the garden, making three grades of honey so far this year.
“It’s going great ? we had three really good spins of honey, with possibly a fourth,” said Selden, in his sixth season. “The bees start with dandelions and goldenrod, then it gets darker as they get to the purple loosestrife ? bees love it.”
He started by sharing a garden plot and helping a beekeeper maintain a hive.
“My second year, I got a hive of my own,” said Selden, who now speaks at local schools and community groups about bees, beekeeping, and the health benefits of honey.
“I’ve become interested in it ? it’s fascinating,” he said.
About 64 families shared the Independence Township garden, located at the Northeast corner of Pine Knob and Stickney Roads. They grow produce for themselves as well as local food banks, producing about 10,000 pounds of food.
“The growers love it. The property is so peaceful and joyful, growing fresh food,” said Kelly Hyer, Garden Harvest Dinner Committee member.
This dinner was sponsored by Healing and Healthy Foods for the Community and Clarkston Hot Yoga, and catered by Union Joints.
Lewis E. Wint and Son Funeral Home, Clarkston Farm and Garden Club, and other sponsors provide funding to maintain the garden and finance expansions, which this year included new raspberry, rhubarb, and asparagus patches. For more information, call the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Seniors at 248- 625-8223.