Local Student and Salem Housing Authority

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mon., June 4, 2012
CONTACT:
Nicole Miller, Public Information Manager
City of Salem – Urban Development Department
Tel: 503-540-2415
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.cityofsalem.net
Local Student and Salem Housing Authority
Create Community Garden in West Salem
Salem, Ore. – In the Fall of 2011, Alex Heine, a senior at West Salem High School, partnered with Salem
Housing Authority to create a community garden. The garden was built at the Housing Authority-owned Glen Creek
Apartments on Orchard Heights Road in West Salem. Heine coordinated a group that cleared the area of blackberry vines
and placed 15 raised beds along the bank of Glen Creek.
On Jan. 19, 2012, the Flood of 2012 swept the completed garden beds down the creek. After the flood, Heine collected the
debris that was spread along the creek banks and reset the garden area. With the assistance of Michael Calcagno, Salem
Housing Authority Maintenance Technician, the community garden was re-established. After months of wet weather, the
soil dried enough to fill the raised beds with a mixed garden soil that was donated from Highway Fuel, Co. and the plot
assignment began.
On May 30, 2012, the tenants of Glen Creek Apartments held their dedication event and began planting. Ian DixonMcDonald, Community Gardens Director from the Marion Polk Food Share, attended the dedication and provided seeds,
starters, tools, and planting tips to the tenants.
Heine was in attendance to witness the full circle of his Eagle Scout project. He was amazed at the excitement of the
tenants. “It was awesome to see how everyone's hard work paid off to benefit the community. After receiving so much
assistance from Salem Housing Authority over the years, it was great to be able to give something back. I hope to see this
project expand and continue to help families in the area,” said Alex Heine.
All 15 plots were assigned and Salem Housing Authority maintenance plans to build another 8 raised beds in the near
future. According to Andy Wilch, Salem Housing Authority Administrator, “Community garden projects provide a
substantial benefit for our clients - it is a cost effective way to increase the access to healthy food options while creating a
shared purpose within the community of residents. This is the third housing authority property with a resident-managed
community garden and we are focused on building more capacity at other sites.”
For more information about the Community Garden program, please contact Sonja Clodfelter at 503-588-6460 or email
[email protected]. Si necesita ayuda para comprender esta información, por favor llame 503-588-6178.
The City of Salem’s Urban Development Department is committed to enhancing community prosperity through an array
of programs in its four major service areas: Real Property Services, Housing and Social Services, Economic Development
and Downtown Revitalization. The Urban Development Department: manages the City’s urban renewal areas (URA) and
redevelopment projects within the URAs; provides loans and grants to finance activities that create emergency,
transitional, and permanent affordable rental housing for low and moderate income families in Salem and Keizer;
provides loans and grants to eligible businesses; and manages leases, acquires, and sells properties for the City.
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