I'd be happy to help, but my experience is limited. Read a little more and you might find some of it useful. In Chicago, my neighbors and I are working with Neighbor-Space to turn a nearby vacant lot into a community garden. We're still in the planning stages and would like to get something in the ground this year. There are two longtime existing community gardens (run with the help of Neighbor-Space) not far from our plot and our little group has been talking to their leaders, who've been very helpful. You might try talking to them. Frankie Machine Garden - 1800 W. Haddon Ave., Marjorie Isaacson, marjiei@yahoo.com, Greenhouse Garden - 1100 N. Wood St., J.W. Glass, jwglass@bscichicago.com, ph. 312-498-3889, If you want some info on community gardens in the City of Chicago, talk to Margaret Weiner at Neighbor-Space. It's a non-profit citywide agency and she can probably find plenty of other people for you to talk to. They run about 55 community gardens in the city of Chicago and buy or lease the land, provide liability insurance, and provide some basic grant money along with a lot of good connections. info@neighbor-space.org 312-431-9406 Sounds like an interesting project. Good luck. Not that relevant, but check out the 30 homemade earth boxes I put on my garage roof. Here is a link that might be useful: Chicago's Neighbor-Space Organization

Here is today's update!!! Straight off the press!! Marion, sweetheart, please know, and extend to all my other friends out there in gardenweb land, their prayers are making a difference. Today's oncologist appointment was so tense for us...waiting and waiting. The Oncologist's plan of attack is straight forward, sounding much less painless and less debilitating than we both envisioned. He gave us so much hope and promise with his assessment that for the first time in weeks, we were actually chuckling with him and breathing easier. He has our total confidence. And we are praying his plan will work and Dennis's treatments after surgery may allow him to get back to a normal life and work while still getting Chemo and radiation and, Oh crap, I am just so much more relieved as is the love of my life, Dennis! Now, we face surgery on Tuesday to get rid of the evil within, and move forward. Today was a GOOD DAY! God bless.

Hi Kathi, I am so very sorry to hear of your daughter's family's loss of their home and belongings. I simply can't imagine what any of us can say to comfort her except that they are alive and well and, eventually, can replace all the "stuff". I know people always say "it is just stuff" but....I think it is easy for us to say that when it is not "our" stuff, and I imagine it is a lot harder to say it and mean it when it is "your" stuff. I would imagine it is a very hard loss to bear. I also hope they will cling to all their memories of the times they shared in their home.....and will remember that wherever they live, wherever they rebuild, they will make many new happy memories as well. I hope and pray that she and her family will find that the love of their family members and friends and their faith in a Supreme Being will carry them through this difficult period in their lives. If it helps them to know that a "stranger" is praying for them, then tell them that I am. I do hope she will come to next Saturday's event with you. I can promise we will shower her with love and well wishes and try to help her forget her sorrows for a few brief hours. Maybe when she rebuilds, we can have a special "plant party" and all bring her plants from our gardens to plant in her "new yard". At times like this, I think you truly discover the strength within you, and I imagine she and her family already have begun to discover how strong and resilient they are. I know that you will be their rock and help them through this difficult time because that is what moms do. : ) Much love, hugs and prayers to all of you. Please let us know if there is anything more we can do to help her. Dawn

I*'m glad Glenda is OK, I sure hope we can hear from Beverly soon. Death toll is up above 300 and climbing. I've been in two tornadoes here. Once when I was in high school, a tornado removed parts of the roof and boke most of the windows, but there were only minor injuries. The second time was right here in White Cloud, the girls and I headed for the basement. When we came back up the neighbor's house had a lot of damage and many big oak trees were uprooted but Amanda's bikini was still hanging over the deck rail where it had been drying. The thing I will never forget is the noise... To this day, I have a crank radio, bottled water and sleeping bags and blankets that are kept in the basement. I have enough canned goods down there to feed everyone for months, as long as the water holds out. Annie