Letters from Sept. 1, 2007

Blueberry Patch

Community garden in need of help

I am a gardener in the Blueberry Patch Parks and Recreation Park, off Sylvan Way in East Bremerton. The owner left this land to the city years ago for use as a park. Each gardener commits 8-12 months to organic gardening on their patch of ground for which they pay rent to the parks department.

This year, contractors, and city officials have threatened to move these gardens all of 40 feet into a parking lot. They want us to move our gardens to non-organic ground 40 feet away from the existing location. These are perennial gardens, (a perennial returns each year) which are currently in organic ground; the current gardens have been amended and are deemed organic due to time without chemicals

I wish to be flexible however, it will take a minimum of three years and money to amend and certify the new soil as organic. The watering spigots will also need to be moved, this is an additional expense.

As a concession the proposals from the contractors have included offers to dig up and move our gardens. Not to be ungrateful but will they also work the soil for 3 three years and care for the plants that are in shock due to the move.

My questions are:

“Why is the existing empty space not adequate?”

“Why is the public not being notified of this proposed land use change?

“Why are they not being offered the opportunity to voice their views when it comes to public park land use?”

I ask that the public bring to the attention of the city officials their feelings about the desires for “public” space.

Kate Puls

Bremerton

Ed Pietras

He will be missed by many

Thank you for printing your story about your encounter with Ed Pietras. I am attaching a copy of our newletter in pdf format with a little more information on his extremely active life. He will be missed by many.

William T. Paxson

Past Grand Knight

Knights of Columbus

Holy Trinity Council 11789

Bremerton

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