Directory of Gardens

Challenger 7 Community Garden

The Challenger 7 Community Garden is located in Challenger 7 Memorial Park. Volunteer gardeners grow vegetables in 15 raised beds and donate their harvest to feed the hungry. The garden was orginially established in 1990.

In 2004, the volunteers of Challenger 7 Community Garden are adapting to a new location after a move, having grown their produce on the same well-tended lot in Challenger 7 Park for 14 years. In 2001, the Harris County Master Plan for Parks determined the land the volunteer group had been working would better serve the park's 500 weekly visitors as an open-air pavilion and barbecue pit. "The location is logical," said Mike Rudnicki of the Challenger 7 volunteers, "because it was so near to the parking area." Logic, however, could not diminish the hurdles that the dedicated group faced in starting over. Luckily they did not turn from the challenge, and have had a good working relationship with the County Commissioner's Office.

According to Paul Mauricio, the General Superintendent of Parks for Precinct 1, the group had been notified of the plans for their plot well in advance. The Challenger 7 volunteers and the County then worked together to find another location within the park, and finally decided on an open site within a quarter of a mile of the original. The county then donated raw materials so the displaced gardeners could rebuild. Concrete blocks, gravel, and "Living Earth" soil were supplied in bulk. Rudnicki estimates they will use approximately 1500 blocks when all 15 raised beds have been completed. The group has also been extremely thankful for the help of a local Boy Scout Troop on soil delivery days. They have already moved 60 cubic yards of soil, and several beds still remain to be completed and filled.

Most moves result in some growing pains, and this was no exception. The site suffers noticeably from poor drainage between several of the beds. This means that while the raised beds allow the plants to drain well, walking between them can be messy. The group has also been amending their new soil to raise its nitrogen levels and pH, based on recommendations from the local agricultural extension office. Losing its storage shed and compost bins were also significant obstacles, but simply the additional time and effort required from all of the volunteers is the major drawback to the situation, according to Rudnicki. Though, "a lot of good things came out of it too," he said.

Each new bed has been connected to a central water header that will allow a drip irrigation system to be installed later. The volunteers are looking forward to this big benefit during the heat of our summer. And while the group had raised beds at its old location, they were constructed of landscape timbers, and were showing their age. The concrete blocks will be more durable in the long term. Plus, because they've reduced the overall plot size of the garden to maximize growing area and minimize grass, the amount of non-gardening upkeep such as mowing will diminish.

The volunteers' hard work during the new garden's initial stages has paid off too, as they have already harvested many winter crops including: broccoli, cauliflower, mustard greens, collard greens, and various varieties of lettuce. Seed potatoes were planted in early February, and almost all of the 100 plants are growing well, having been planted with wettable sulfur and cottonseed meal. Peas that were along with the potatoes appear to be suffering from the low soil fertility. The group has diligently foliar fed them weekly with fish emulsion, and is hoping to keep them going. Late March found the gardeners planting three beds of tomatoes, a bed of zucchini, and a bed of cucumbers. In early April they harvested Bok Choy and planted more tomatoes and several varieties of peppers.

Volunteer days and hours as of spring 2004:

For those who wish to volunteer at the Challenger 7 Community Garden, the group meets every Saturday at 9:00 am, and works for approximately 2 hours. New volunteers are always welcome, but rubber boots and gloves are recommended. The garden donates its produce to two local religious institutions, Interfaith Caring Ministries and the St. Bernadette Catholic Church, who use it in their efforts to feed the area's hungry.