KCA Neighborhood Benefits from Mayor Anthony Masiello's Neighborhood Matching Fund Grant

           Thanks to the contributions of many, the redevelopment of a vacant lot at 20 Orton Place into a community garden has now completed its third phase and is completely finished. The project began modestly in 2000 when the City of Buffalo and Grassroots Gardens of Buffalo donated topsoil and lumber for creation of two flower beds and a perennial flower bed.
           These modest efforts were fed by neighborhood contributions in the form of cash, products and labor along with an approximate $3,000 neighborhood matching grant in 2000-2001 and an important $2,000 grant in 2001-2002 that was used to enhance the garden, replace flower planters on street corners and create neighborhood welcome signs.
           In 2002, approximately $400 was invested in the garden from the neighborhood matching grant to complete the final sections of the garden which included the creation of a compost bin and three additional vegetable garden plots which were adopted by neighborhood residents.

Orton Gardens now includes 9 vegetable beds which are adopted by neighborhood residents
along with two perennial beds and two annual flower beds.

2002 Improvements
           Thanks to the Mayor's Matching Fund Grant, we were able to complete the garden. Money was spent to obtain topsoil, lumber and mulch. It was also used to obtain plumbing hardware to tap into a nearby water source.

The rear section of the garden includes a compost bin and ornamental grasses.

Other 2002 Neighborhood Projects Funded by the Grant
           Planters were put on street corners to beautify the neighborhood. Planters are adopted by residents, planted and maintained using their own resources.

Beth Kauffman and Melissa Klein welcome visitors to the neighborhood during the 2002 Annual Garden Walk in July. In front of them is a lovely flower planter provided with funding from Mayor Anthony Masiello's Neighborhood Matching Fund

Flower planter on the southwest corner of Jersey St. and Normal St.

The following is a list of major donations to Orton Gardens and their source:
2000

• June - Annual flowers, roses and lumber for flower beds, donated by Grassroots Gardens of Buffalo
• July - 20 yards of top soil, donated by City of Buffalo
• July - Install wooden fence in rear of lot, donated by neighborhood residents
• August - Grass seed and rototiller rental, donated by neighborhood residents
• October - 150 daffodil bulbs, donated by Erie County/Keep WNY Beautiful
• October - Dwarf spruce, dwarf plum trees and perennial bushes

• April - Yew bushes, donated by Dave Granville
• April - Lumber for 6 vegetable beds, funds provided by Mayor's Matching Fund Grant
• April - 10 yards of top soil, donated by Grassroots Gardens of Buffalo
• June - Annual flowers, donated by Grassroots Gardens of Buffalo
• July - Ornamental bushes, donated by Alison Fleishman
• July - Front and side fence and wooden entrance sign, donated by Grassroots Gardens of Buffalo
• July - Rear fence and removal of trees, funds provided by Mayor's Matching Fund Grant
• July - Mulch, bushes and planters installed, funds provided by Mayor's Matching Fund Grant
• October - 300 daffodil bulbs, donated by Erie County/Keep WNY Beautiful

• May - Topsoil and lumber for 3 new vegetable beds, funds provided by Mayor's Matching Fund Grant
• June - Annual flowers planted, donated by Grassroots Gardens of Buffalo
• July - Planters, hoses, compost bin and mulch, funds provided by Mayor's Matching Fund Grant

Special thanks to...
           Allentown Association, Inc.; John and Cyndy Allen; Joyce Berg; Chris Brown; Sue Byron; Mary Ann Cassidy; Candace Church; Peter Covey; Dinah Gamin; Dave Granville; Joe Gerace; Grassroots Gardens: Milton Zeckhauser and Coco Wozniak; Beth Kauffman; Paul Lachacz; Elizabeth Licata; Mayor Anthony Masiello; Michael Rooney;