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On Saturday, September 27th, a
ribbon cutting ceremony was held at the David W. Schroder Memorial
Garden on Logan Street in Lincoln. Though the garden has been in
existence for four years, there had never been a ribbon cutting
hosted there. The request for a cut this year came from Rachel Judd
because the garden has undergone some nice improvements and she felt
it was time to celebrate those improvements, plus the benefits of
the garden to the community.
The morning began with Judd explaining that the garden is going to
be established as a 501c3 not-for-profit organization. As such there
was a need for a board of directors. That board has been
established, and she is filling the role of the Board President.
Gathering behind the ribbon on the
street side of the new white picket fencing, Judd was joined by
members of the Schroder family including David’s daughter Jennifer
Champion, his brothers Andrew and Paul. On Jennifer’s mom’s side of
the family was Mark McLaughlin.
Also behind the ribbon was Brett
Aukamp representing Boy Scout Troop 1102, Angela Stoltzenburg with
Memorial Health Systems/Lincoln Memorial Hospital, extended members
of the Schroder family and Lincoln Mayor Tracy Welch. The ribbon was
held by Junior Miss Logan County Courtney Cecil and Karen Castelein
with Lincoln Daily News.
The first order of business was to
turn the event over to Judd, who shared the recent improvements to
the garden.
Judd began by saying that the garden began as an idea to put
together a place where people could come and work and eat what they
grew. She said that the Schroder family had provided the start up
cash for the project, the boy scouts built the garden shed and come
out each year and help with the “heavy lifting” projects. Lincoln
Memorial Hospital provides everything needed for the for first
project workday each year.
Judd said over the first few years,
raised beds have been installed to accommodate those who are unable
to kneel on the ground to garden.
In addition to the shed, two nice fences have been added plus a
greenhouse.
Judd said that each year there are about a half dozen groups who
come out and volunteer time, making the garden a true community
project.
Judd ended by saying that next year will be the five-year
anniversary and she and Jennifer will be brainstorming ideas for
public events to be held at the garden in celebration of the
milestone.
Mayor Welch was asked to speak. He
said that the garden was an excellent example of what can happen
when like-minded people come together and work together to turn a
vision into reality. He recalled a few years back when he met and
sat down with the group to discuss their vision for the space. He
said with that vision, the group has turned the garden (which was an
empty lot) into a beautiful space.
He concluded saying, “When you think about community, these are the
things you think about that make people want to come to our
community and be a part of it.”
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With speeches concluded, the group
stood for the posed picture, then Champion and Judd snipped the
ribbon in celebration of the garden and its success.
Afterward guests were invited to come into the garden where there
were coffee and sweets. They were also encouraged to take some of
the produce that was available.
[Nila Smith]
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