How a garden grows

Published 1:30 am Saturday, June 30, 2018

The Lynnwood Elks Lodge 2171 heard requests for a garden space from veterans living at Sebastian Place in Lynnwood. The Elks recently led a volunteer effort to fulfill that wish.

There is now a paver-lined garden area, about 9 feet by 35 feet, with tall raised garden beds that are wheelchair-accessible. A small storage shed with tools, soil and plants completes the new space.

Volunteers also included U.S. Navy Reserve Seabees from Naval Station Everett and women from the Lynnwood Emblem Club 366, along with some of the veterans who live at the complex. The Emblem Club also purchased the vegetables, herbs and other plants.

A grant from the national Elks organization helped pay for the materials, which were provided at cost by Dunn Lumber of Lynnwood, Ace Hardware of Edmonds, Sure Would Inc. of Everett, and Millers Equipment and Rent All. Catholic Community Services — which operates Sebastian Place, a housing complex for chronically homeless veterans — fed the volunteers. And for the finishing touch, Award Services Inc. of Lynnwood donated a plaque to commemorate the effort.

The Elks may not be done yet.

“A phase two garden was designed, but we’ll wait to see how the garden grows,” said Jerry Cote, Elks Lodge secretary.