Dakota EcoGarden

If you are ever free on the second Saturday of any month, come join us for our monthly work party! It is a fun time where you can socialize with our residents while we work towards our common goal of beautification and health of the garden healthy. Anyone is welcome to come (once the stay-in-place is over). @ Dakota EcoGarden

Today we share with you a look at our garden. We grow a variety of plants but primarily plant produce for our residents. With the help of volunteers we are able to host get togethers to plant additional produce and clean up weeds. One of the many ways we practice sustainability is by using recycled water to irrigate the garden. It is very beneficial to the earth and a great way to ease a drought. Gardening volunteers and donations of garden supplies are always needed and appreciated.

Feature Spotlight: Nancy Retired teacher, activist, and humanitarian are some words used to describe Nancy. She took on the challenge to help alleviate the homeless problem in Fresno. She founded what is now the Dakota EcoGarden; however, in the beginning, that property was inhabitable and within 9 months with help, she transformed the space into a place for homeless people to rebuild their life and get on the right track. When asked what she was most proud of, it was that the Ecogarden is still running after 6 years, and that she was able to help. She wanted to let people know that the EcoGarden doesn’t solve the homeless problem, but that it is a start. Help is always needed and there is always a way to help. @ Dakota EcoGarden

We are Nancy and Gerry! We are the founders of this beautiful organization. Our mission has always been to help those in need in our community and we hope to continue to make a difference in the lives of many who come through our organization. We couldn’t have done it without all the support from our community. #homelessfresno #nonprofitorganization #Fresno #foodbanks #volunteer #Ecogarden

Dakota EcoGarden provides a safe and eco-friendly living space for the less fortunate. We support our residents by giving them the educational, emotional, physical tools, and caring support to escape the cycle of homelessness. We provide shelter for 12-14 residents 365 days a year. Join us in making an impact in the homelessness situation in our city and in changing lives for the better! @ Dakota EcoGarden

Dakota EcoGarden is hunkered down, sheltering in place. Trying to keep our residents safe. We'll have to cancel our second Saturday garden work party (would have been April 11). We also have a moratorium on new residents - hoping in the meantime that the City and County and other agencies receiving extra funds to help homeless folks these days, will actually find ways to do so. Reports of more low-barrier shelters and hand -washing stations, and lower levels of harassment near the POV, are encouraging. Nancy had jawbone cancer surgery March 19 and is beginning a long recovery period. Gerry, Dixie, Bev Fitzpatrick, and Caroline are carrying on as the hands-on DEG "small board". ("Big Board" is the Eco Village Project board - working with Arthur Dyson to make a greater impact on the homelessness situation.)

March 14, 2020 is the second Saturday. Y'all come help in the garden at the Dakota EcoGarden. From 9 - 11 (or more if you want to work longer). If it's raining hard, we will cancel, but what are the chances of that? nancy w

Thanks to all our wonderful donors. We had a great response to our end of year donation request letter.

The work party usually on the first Saturday of each month, is changing to the second Saturday. So let nancy w know if you can come on May 8 from 9-11 AM. Residents and volunteers work together in the garden or on whatever projects are under way. [email protected] or 559 224-17i38

This is Nancy Waidtlow calling out to my community for help. I have a disabled, homeless man staying in my "back room". He gets the usual $900 per month disability check. He has a small dog he will not part with. He needs something like a boarding house because he doesn't/can't? prepare food for himself.He was living with his mom, but she died within three weeks upon getting cancer. He is in extreme pain (his legs, especially one knee) are messed up from incidents long ago an...d the cold weather has caused extreme pain. He hates the idea of the Rescue Mission, but even they won't let his dog stay inside - he would have to be in a kennel at the Pov. We tried two of the new "triage centers" - the one that used to be CAP would take his dog, but no vacancy - call every day (or more than once per day) and if there's a vacancy, be the first one to get there. He's been to MAAP and I tried to take him again, but the wait is really hard and they don't seem to have anything for him either, even though he must be very high on the vulnerability scale. And I have to admit, he will not be welcome most places because he moans and cries pretty loudly pretty often. I have been in this "business" for 6 years now and still feel I have learned nothing that will help me in this situation. I know people are housed in Fresno because WINGS delivers household goods to newly housed people several times a week. How do they get their housing? Is there a professional social worker out there who knows the ropes? I'd be happy to pay them for their services. Six months had gone by since the family moved out of the room (after asking for 4 days they stayed 9 months). I wasn't going to take anyone after that but I thought this would work out better. And it isn't. So if anyone is still with me and has an idea, please email or call me. [email protected] or 559 224-1738. See more

How about we put out the word that the First Saturday of each month can be an opportunity for the community to come help out at the DEG? From 9 to 11 am - this would be mostly garden work but there might be construction or clean-up or other types of work to be done. Call Nancy Waidtlow, 224-1738 or email [email protected] if you are interested. And if you haven't seen the completed Succat Shalom (house of peace - our newest Art Dyson- designed detached bedroom-formerly known as the dinosaur egg), come by at that first Saturday time and take a look.

Poster created by CSUF student for our upcoming OPEN HOUSE/POTLUCK. And a "before" photo of the newest eco shelter - it looks different now! Early potluck show - in the front yard. And the house - look for it on Oct. 27.