For the past few months a group of “20 somethings” have been pondering a blank field on the corner of 45th and Lamar in Austin, Texas. Eager to help out the families that utilize the Austin Child Guidance Center, these young women developed a design to install a therapeutic garden of native plants and materials. Headed up by Sarah Jones, LMSW, a therapist at the Center, and accompanied by other employees, over the course of the summer, the garden project was organized.

My permaculture teacher contacted me about offering up my design services, which I was delighted to do. In June I met with Sarah, Tracy Tanner, and Grayson Hoffman, and off we went dreaming up arbors, council circles, mazes, veggie gardens, and outdoor classrooms. After a few meetings, countless emails, and tons of fun we had a final design and a plan of action.

Thanks to the Keep Austin Beautiful program, trees and soil were donated and a grant was awarded to the Children’s Healing Garden at the Austin Child Guidance Center. With the help of William Thompson of TexFlora Nursery, plants and material for stone edging was found. Most of the plants were donated by Native Texas Nursery. Victor Vinson Trucking donated gravel and boulders.

This past Saturday the hard work and planning became visible as the mounds of soil turned into prepared beds and the decomposed granite was smoothed out over the pathways. The Key Club from Nyos Charter School scraped grass and pulled weeds clearing the way for the paths. The heavy limestone blocks were laid into trenches lining the beds that the group of amazing high school kids prepared. Other volunteers hauled materials to and fro, making the morning fun and productive.

Despite our best efforts to move all the materials, the work is not over. There will be a work day the morning of Saturday October 24th starting at 9am. This will culminate in a ribbon cutting at 12:30 and the official opening of the healing garden’s first phase of installation. A second installation of the remainder of the garden will be completed within the next year. It will include bamboo lined “hiding corners”, a native meadow, and a butterfly garden.

If you are interested in volunteering or helping out by donating plants, materials, or funding, please contact Sarah Jones at the Austin Child Guidance Center or visit the Facebook page.

Bon volunteering!

Kate