Community Garden Update

 The Greencastle community garden has 19 4’x8’ raised bed plots, 18 of which have been rented.  There are also two 4’x8’ public plots.  Compost for the plots was donated by DePauw University.  Over time the compost has turned into excellent soil.  We have mulched the areas between the plots with leaves provided by the city. This makes the areas between the plots low maintenance.   

We have a fair number of public plants that are mostly flourishing with little care.  The public plots contain donated peppers, tomatoes, and a watermelon plant.  There was also a squash plant that died, but not before we were able to harvest a couple of squash.   We received a donation of irises which we planted along the western fence. 

There are a fair number of tomato and squash plants, and a gourd plant which have come up wild between some of the plots.  

Anyone can harvest from the public plants.  The community garden is open every day during the growing season, from dawn until dusk. 

Early on, the individual plots included spinach, radishes, lettuce, and dill.  Now they contain tomatoes, peppers, green beans, squash, okra, corn, and herbs among other things.  There are also some ornamental flower plants.  We have two water barrels which the city graciously keeps filled.  In this drought year that has been our main source of water.  Despite the drought, the private plots are absolutely flourishing.  It’s really quite amazing to see. 

In the fall, we plan to add a few more raised bed plots.  If you haven’t joined us in previous seasons, we hope you consider becoming a part of our community of gardeners in 2013.  

Bruce Sanders

Community Garden Director

Come On Out for Music Fest This Saturday!

Following is a guest post from Gail Smith, owner of Almost Home Restaurant in Greencastle, and host of this Saturday's Greencastle Music Fest.


We hope you'll join us for this year's Greencastle Music Fest, which will take place this Saturday, August 25, from 3 until 11 p.m.  

Hosted by my restaurant, Almost Home, the festival is sponsored by York Automotive (celebrating 25 years in business!) and Headley Hardware,as well as First Financial Bank, National Center for College Costs and Cyclone Custom Products.  

Lee Smith, the former MLB great (pictured, with me) who spent most of his playing career with the Chicago Cubs, will be at the festival signing autographs from 3 to 4 and 6:30 to 8:30.  He will also be having lunch with the DePauw University baseball team at noon at Almost Home.  

The music extravaganza kicks off at 3:30 with The MacDaddys.  At 5:30, Philip Steven & The Open Road will take the stage. Ellusion will be entertaining the crowd at 7:30, and the night will end with The Flying Toasters' performance at 9:30.  

The festival's cornhole tournament is open to the first 20 teams that sign up before 6 p.m. on Saturday, and individual cornhole matches will begin at 6:30. 

Music and fun are definitely on tap for Saturday -- and it's all free on the square in downtown Greencastle.  Tasty food and drinks will also be available for sale.  See you there!

Sixth Annual National Night Out

On Monday, August 6^th, our annual National Night Out event will take place at Robe Ann Park in Greencastle from 5 – 8 p.m.  This community outreach allows us the platform to stand together to promote drug awareness, health, safety and unity in our fight to build a safer nation for our children.

We are pleased to continue to bring this tremendous event to families with children in elementary to middle school.  There is no cost to attend and by registering when they arrive, families are eligible for the free concessions:  hot dogs, snow cones, popcorn, pizza and drinks, and of course, all the activities including the bicycle rodeo and raffle items.

We could not continue without the sponsorship of so many of our local businesses:  Area 30 Career Center, Bounce House Fun Rentals, Butler’s L.P. Fertilizer, Casey’s General Store of Roachdale, Chicago’s Pizza, Co-Alliance, Community Partners, Cross Cuts, Dance Workshop, DePauw University Athletic Department, Figs Follies, Flowers Bakery, Garls Bike Shop, Greencastle McDonalds, and Greencastle Parks & Recreation.  Also supporting us are:  Hendershots Service Center, Jean Holder, DDS, John Hennette, DDS, Holiday World, Humble Pie, Kings Island, Monical’s Pizza, Monster Mini Golf, Putnam County United Way,  Papa Johns Pizza, Pizza King, Purdue Cooperative Extension, TCU, Terre Haute Children’s Museum and Pizza Hut.

The following agencies continue to participate:  Air Evac, Air National Guard, Dennis Knuth, DDS, John Hennette, DDS, Ivy Tech Community College-Greencastle, Boys Scouts of America, PC Girl Scouts, DePauw University Public Safety, Department of Child Services, Family Support Services, Greencastle Fire Department, Mental Health America PC, Madison Township and Reelsville Fire Departments, Roachdale Police Department, Johnson Nichols Health Clinic, PC Head Start, PC Operation Life, PC Tobacco Cessation Coalition, PC PIE Coalition, Purdue Cooperative Extension, Kiwanis, Greencastle & Indiana State Police Agencies, PC Community Corrections, PC Juvenile Probation, PC Prosecutor’s Office,  PC Sheriff’s Department and PC Adult Probation.  Our local schools continue to participate in our “Dunk Your Favorite School Administrator” contest. 

Back again this year will be the free toothbrush and toothpaste along with a nutrition component educating our families on eating healthy.  Dance Workshop will be doing a Zumba workout and a new addition will be the first annual rookie run with our local law enforcement officers.  A visit by our National Night Out Knight will be a real hit as he attempts to join in all the fun.

This event could not be possible without the hard work and commitment of so many committee members and community volunteers. 

We hope to see you on Monday, August 6^th.  Should rain cancel our event, our rain date is Thursday, August 9^th from 5 – 8 p.m.  Join us – you won’t be sorry! 

Linda Merkel

Executive Director

PC Youth Development Commission