Photo by Amy Cherry Bryan Kale, co-organizer of the Freedom Gardening and Seed Bank project, looks on as youngsters Brianna Quiggle, 9 and Kaylee Rigard, 13, highlight where they live on a map of Johnsonburg. The map will showcase all of the locations where wildflower seeds are planted.

By Amy Cherry

Staff Writer

Becky Redmond-Kale and husband Bryan have embarked on the Freedom Gardening and Seed Bank project in an effort to improve her hometown, one flower at a time.

The multi-faceted project focuses on the many benefits of community gardening.

The Kale’s kicked off the project by collecting foxgloves in Johnsonburg and Wilcox. The couple created colorful wildflower bouquets which they distributed to numerous Johnsonburg businesses, with an attached card providing details on their efforts.

According to Redmond-Kale, a 1991 graduate of Johnsonburg High School, what began as one idea has snowballed into several.

Project Peace is the largest endeavor of the project which entails planting a massive  peace sign atop a four acre plot of land located in the Terra Cotta section of Johnsonburg.

The land, owned by Redmond-Kale’s father Ed Redmond Jr., overlooks the bypass and can be best viewed from the seesaw in the community park, the Holy Rosary bell tower and on Third and Spruce streets.

The Kale’s are wasting no time as they spent the weekend preparing the site by marking the location of the sign, weed-whacking the outline and will soon be ready to plant seeds.

Kale said it will take between 100-200 lbs. of sunflowers seeds to create the peace sign. Blue flax flowers are being incorporated into the design, which will represent the blue and gold colors of Johnsonburg High School.

Pumpkins and other wildflowers will be used to provide an additional punch of color.

According to Kale he estimates the peace sign will be in full bloom in 2010, in time for Johnsonburg’s Bicentennial Celebration observing the community’s 200th anniversary, slated for the last weekend in August.

The variety of seeds being utilized in the project, ranging from sunflower bird seeds, blue flax seeds, wildflower seeds and pumpkin seeds, are known to attract a wide array of game birds and song birds such as doves, quails, pheasants, finches, turkeys and cardinals.

While Kale has purchased a majority of the supplies on his own, any resident wishing to contribute may purchase any of the above-mentioned seeds for use in the various project.

The Kale’s are also drafting a proposal to submit to PennDOT in hopes of being considered for the agency’s Highway Beautification Program. They are working on gathering letters of support from the community as part of the process.

Additional projects include planting the hill outside the community center inside the park with a variety of wildflowers and creating a mediation garden in the corner of the park complete with an arbor and handmade wooden bench, which Redmond-Kale plans to dedicate to her grandfather.

In order to foster flower growth the Kale’s are also planning to purchase queen bees to aid in the pollination process. They will be situated inside the sunflower patch.

Anyone interested in participating may pick up a free plastic bag of seeds at the community center or at this week’s Johnsonburg Farmer’s Market.

By planting an array of wildflowers throughout Johnsonburg in backyards, abandon lots, riverbanks, roadsides or just scattering them about, Kale hopes to fill a map of the area with pushpins signifying the locations where residents dropped the seeds.

“We’re not trying to grow things that are high maintenance. Most of these flowers don’t need to be taken care of, just let nature take its course.” Redmond-Kale said. “This is a way for young people to get their town back without permission. There’s no name on it, there’s no ulterior motive, no one’s getting any money”

The Kale’s utilize their vast knowledge of flowers, gardening and nature in San Diego, CA, where they own and operate a nursery, The Zen Garden, named after the couple’s two-year old son, Zen.  

During their extended visit to Johnsonburg the Kale’s are hoping to generate interest in their project especially by children and young adults.

Redmond-Kale emphasized one of her main reasons for doing the project is to get children away from the TV and outside where they can witness the miracles of nature.

This week Kale explained details of the overall project during a presentation to youngsters at the Johnsonburg Community Center’s day camp.

The project headquarters are currently situated on the third floor of the Johnsonburg Community Center.

“We wanted an excuse to hang around,” joked Redmond-Kale. “This place (Johnsonburg) is so neat because of its culture and history. There’s a lot to it. I see big things for Johnsonburg,” said Kale.