Jeannette Rankin Park Clean Up

Neighborhood volunteers cleaning up Jeannette Rankin Park on September 30, 2020.

Do you miss gardening and getting outside? Fall might already be upon us, but there are still opportunities to enjoy the outdoors before the cold weather sets in. The University District is in the midst of their Autumn clean up in Jeannette Rankin Park. This is the triangular plot near the intersection of Arthur Avenue and 5th Street. Whether you are trying to get in some volunteer hours or just appreciate outdoor work, this is the perfect opportunity to get involved. From digging up weeds to mulching and planting, there is plenty of work to be done.

This project will take place on October 17 from 10 am- 2 pm at Jeannette Rankin Park, on S 5th Street between Arthur Ave and Maurice Ave. Tools will be provided, but it is requested that you bring a mask and gardening gloves. Contact Julie Stephenson at (406) 304–9273 if you have any questions or to RSVP. We hope you can make it!

Here are some fun facts about gardening and how plants impact our lives:

1. Atomic gardening, a technique developed after WWII, uses helpful mutations caused by radiation and created modern peppermint and grapefruit. (1)
2. A man’s risk of impotence is almost reduced in half by weeding, lawn mowing, or digging for 30 minutes. (2)
3. Plants absorb sound. They reduce noise pollution. (2)
4. Plants clean air, by removing bacteria and photosynthesizing (metabolizing oxygen and producing carbon dioxide). They also clean the soil by taking up chemicals and heavy metals from the groundwater and soil. (2)

Photo by Lucas van Oort on Unsplash

Don’t be a dud, come dig some mud!

Citations:

1. Jazz. “Gardening Facts — 16 Interesting Facts About Gardening.” KickassFacts.com, KickassFacts.com, 1 Sept. 2017, www.kickassfacts.com/gardening-facts/.
2. Throne, Audrey. “The Environmental Benefits of Gardening.” U.S. Green Technology, U.S. Green Technology, 18 July 2019, usgreentechnology.com/environmental-benefits-gardening/.