trying to 'beautify' fema lots in our small town new hartford ia

12 years ago

To my GJer friends...

Some of us older folks (retired they call it) are trying to do 'volunteer' work & establish community gardens & such in our small town of New Hartford, IA after the 500-yr flood of 2008 & a tornado (losing 2 lives) in that couple weeks.

Lots of people were able to rebuild but 23 lots are now FEMA lots where families had no choice but to move on...no one can ever build on these lots & we are trying to 'beautify' them.

Anyway, we were selected to participate in a nationwide contest to win a free fruit orchard, complete w/ irrigation, sponsored by Edy's fruit bars & the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation. Our theme is HELP US HELP OTHERS!

We can only WIN by ONLINE voting once-a-day & we are shooting to be 1 of 5 winners on May 30th. I wonder if any of you would consider voting online each day for us! We are currently in 3rd place ...

You just register an email address & chose a password for yourself so you can vote 1X daily...any number of votes will help us out! The link is below ... our zip code is 50660 if you want to use that when you vote or you can look on the map list...New Hartford FEMA Lot Restoration ...New Hartford, IA.

Thank you so much! Jeannespines

This is the FEMA lot where we want the orchard...just 2 blocks from our Elementary School...pictured are some of the kids & volunteers:

{{gwi:126953}}

Here is a link that might be useful: Communities Take Root!

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Comments (14)

sunnyca_gw
12 years ago
All I got was "they want name of my community"? We need place to vote for you! Jan
jeannespines
Original Author
12 years ago
Click on 'Vote' ...they will ask for e-mail & password (you do for yourself) so you can get on & vote.

Our community is New Hartford, IA or Zip Code 50660.

We're in 3rd place tonight...so doing good...but others are jumping ahead! Thanks, sunnyca...hope you can VOTE! Jeanne S.
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Tinker if this is what you want to do, I say go ahead. You have outlined your situation and it sounds like you understand full well what you're getting into. That said, a couple of stories: We have lived in the same neighborhood for 15 years. We rented for about 6 or 7 years, then started to house hunt--only in our neighborhood. We found THE house. We bid higher than reasonable and were confident we would get it, and didn't. It was bought by a developer for 30% more, who reconfigured the antique house so that the lot could be split and added two really ugly condos. We were aghast, and I can't believe I still have to look at that thing every day (we pass it on the way to dd's school). It was the best thing that ever happened to us, because we learned that you can lose your dream home, and life goes on, and unbelievably, better dream homes came along. We bid on 3 more "dream homes" in our neighborhood, getting a little more cocky and skeptical every time. I live in the fifth house we tried to buy, 4 years later, and we're very happy with it. We got a great deal, and it's head and shoulders above the first house we went for. So, as much as this house speaks to you, keep in mind, other houses can still do that too. I recommend taking 48 hours and looking around in some other places, with a different realtor. Look on craigslist--you will see things that don't show in mls listings. I have a friend that was house hunting in two of the most expensive towns in our area, my modest mid-range town wasn't even on her list. But she stumbled on a listing in Craigslist, and now has twice as much house, just as good a commute, and far better schools than she expected. Before you commit to this house, think outside the box. Heck I wish 2000 people like you would descend on Galveston, TX and invest in those crumbling victorians. Or Brunswick, GA. Just look at this: http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-Detail/817-Egmont_Brunswick_GA_31520_M63142-27459 or this: http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-Detail/815-Albany_Brunswick_GA_31520_M60146-44621 I'd buy the second house just to get a tree like that. Finally, if you are open to spending that kind of money on preservation, from a stewardship standpoint, it makes more sense to spend the money on a house that won't be torn down when you move on. Could you look in a more historic district where these types of homes are valued? If you can live with the idea of your work being undone, then I guess you're ok, but knowing with certainty that the work I put into my house would be ripped up would drive me nuts. But that's just me.
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concretenprimroses
11 years ago
good luck. I see you are now in 2nd place. I'll try to remember to keep voting!
Kathy
jeannespines
Original Author
11 years ago
Thank you, ladies! We are in 2nd place...& if we can keep up the voting for the next 14 days (thru May 30th), we may win the orchard!!! They will award the 5 top winners on May 31st! We're really hoping to stay in the top 5!!! So, 'Plant your Vote!' for New Hartford, Iowa! Appreciate it! Jeanne S.
chelcass
11 years ago
Hey Jeannie, You are still in second place. I vote every day for you. Sure hope you win. will be keeping my fingers crosses!!
diggery
11 years ago
Planting votes here - drafted the hubs too =]
Prayin for FAVOR

~digger
jeannespines
Original Author
11 years ago
THANK YOU, GJ'ers!!! Very appreciated! 8 more days of voting starting tomorrow ...last day of voting May 30...winners top 5 announced May 31st ...we want to be one of them! THANK YOU!

Progress is being made in our town...
4 Seasons Perennial Garden is almost complete...now only the grassy area needs seeded when rains come back again...flowers done, mulching done, arbor built, bird baths ...everything looking very beautiful!

another lot ...the Veteran's Memorial...concrete slab has been poured ...dirt/grassy area worked up ...flag pole & electric installed ...volunteer is starting to install memorial tomorrow night ...hopefully, for Memorial Day on Monday! Oh, this is so awesome!

another FEMA lot ...Gazebo...costs lots & lots of money...money has been raised ...some grant ...lots of donations, concrete poured, sidewalk forms laid & truck bringing in 6000 lbs. worth of Gazebo pieces tomorrow...volunteers will be building it ...hoping to be done for New Hartford yearly celebration ...'Beaver Creek Days' ...the 1st weekend of June.

So we're hoping to announce that we are a WINNER of the free orchard on May 31st also!!!

another lot...has been tilled up ...& 8 garden plots laid out for community...one 6th grade class started plants in terraium & now have them in the garden...they will tend to the plot this summer! We have a grant in progress for this lot & hoping to hear by June 1st!

so, lots of good things happening ...APPRECIATE your votes! Anyone can still vote...last day of school today so am afraid we will lose some voters!!! Thank you so much, GJers!!! Jeanne S.

www.communitiestakeroot.com 'Plant your vote for New Hartford!'
jeannespines
Original Author
11 years ago
Here's the Veterans' Memorial lot...I am in awe of all the volunteers & support to get this done...it will be dedicated tomorrow morn (Memorial Day) at 9 am. & then walk across bridge (wreath goes in the river) & onto the cemetery...the cemetery has been replanted w/trees & all the stones fixed back up since the tornado of 2008 ...

here's a pic at dusk when the Vets Memorial was installed by volunteers (built by volunteers also) ...2 trucks put their headlights on it so I could take some pics) ... it was humbling!

{{gwi:126954}}

And then the next night (after windy day & then rains), a friend took this pic after a few volunteers had planted roses & mulched & added some urns....she sent me this pic on my cellphone...it's AWESOME!

{{gwi:126955}}

So I thank you for voting for the orchard! May 31st we will know if we are in the top 5 yet!!! We still are tonight with 3 more days of voting left! Crossing fingers! Please vote! Everyone counts! Jeanne S.
chelcass
11 years ago
Awesome Pictures. The rainbow is stunning. as of today you are still in second place. Yea!!!!
jeannespines
Original Author
11 years ago
Yes, chelcass! We are lookin' good! GREAT, matter-of-fact! 3rd place has really gained on us this past week but we're still in 2nd & still in the top 5! If you click on the website tomorrow, it should announce NEW HARTFORD as one of the winners!!!

So thank you, thank you, thank you, GJer friends, who cast a single vote or even more...so appreciated! Planting should happen this summer yet on another empty FEMA lot just near the school ...our theme HELP US HELP OTHERS ... it's working!!! It's happening!! I am just super-excited! THANKS SO MUCH! Jeanne S.
chelcass
11 years ago
Congrats! You won!! Fantastic! Don't forget to take pictures of before, during and after.
jeannespines
Original Author
11 years ago
YES, WE DID WIN, Chelcass! Yes, I'm taking pics, too! Thanks so much for 'planting your vote!' We should be getting the orchard anytime near the end of June to mid-July...we have a party & Edy's Fruitbars brings them! Jeanne S.
chelcass
11 years ago
Fantastic! Wish I could be there to help. I love digging in the dirt.
diggery
11 years ago
Woohoo!! Congratulations! If I were closer, I'd love to help. No where else I'd rather be than diggin in the garden. The pictures are beautiful. A rainbow, a promise, and Hope for the future. God is good all the time..

blessings,
~digger

trying to 'beautify' fema lots in our small town new hartford ia

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