Girl Scout Troop 2374 donated 10, handmade and painted birdhouses to the Unity Park Community Gardens Monday, May 24, 2021.
The troop's headquarters is located at St. Stephen's Lutheran Church just across the street from the gardens. The Girl Scouts often visit and Scout Leader Cyndie Feemster said the girls wanted to do something special for the gardens. Garden Coordinator David Horn told Feemster that birdhouses would be a great addition.
"I went home, and sent [Feemster] the design for the Eastern Bluebird houses, the girls got busy, made houses, and painted them for us," Horn said. "Today we're going to accept their gift to the Unity Park Community Gardens."
The Girl Scouts presented the birdhouses to Horn and Mayor Joe Gibbons Monday. Mayor Gibbons thanked the troop for the gift and gave them all a City of Lenoir flag pin to wear on their uniforms.
"Thank for these beautiful birdhouses and for contributing to our beautiful garden and being a part of it," Mayor Gibbons said. "I brought you something special so you would remember your day. This is the City of Lenoir flag, and we'd like for all of y'all to have one. If you can put it on your uniform, that would be great."
Horn mounted the birdhouses Tuesday morning, and within 30 minutes a bluebird arrived, inspected and selected one of the houses for its new home.
The Community Gardens, located at 1419 College Ave, has eight different garden areas:
- Plum and pear tree orchard
- Blueberry bushes
- Rental gardens (families can rent the beds to grow produce)
- Master Gardener demonstration beds
- Pollinator garden
- Bee hives (bees help pollinate the plants)
- Cover crop garden
- 43-bed Community Share garden
"We are growing fresh produce for families who need access to fresh produce to come here pick today what you can use today and leave some for others," Horn said.
The Community Share garden was recently installed with donations from The Stevens Family Foundation, The Broyhill Family Foundation, VegoGarden.com, Caldwell UNC Health Care, Lenoir Service League, and in-kind support from the Caldwell Ag Extension Master Gardeners, City of Lenoir Parks & Recreation and Public Works staff, Caldwell Memorial Hospital Foundation Garden Fund - fiduciary services, and volunteer gardeners throughout the community.
Mayor Joe Gibbons, back left, and Garden Coordinator David Horn, back right, stand with members of Girl Scout Troop 2374 and the birdhouses donated by the troop.
Girl Scout Troop 2374 built and donated 10 Eastern Bluebird birdhouse to the Community Gardens.
Tuesday morning, Garden Coordinator David Horn installed the birdhouses around the site.
Within 30 minutes, an Eastern Bluebird arrived and picked out a new home.