Learn how to make your garden last all winter long at the 2nd annual Community Harvest Fest in Riverwest
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- On Sunday, Oct. 16, people will come together in the Riverwest Neighborhood to eat, learn about fall gardening and honor life.
With winter near, you can hear the sound of crunching leaves all over Scooters Community Garden of Hope in Riverwest. While the garden will be freezing over any day now, Susan Schmidt, wants to use the time to educate people about fall gardening.
Schmidt runs the community garden and she decided to host the annual Garden Market to share.
"We're trying to harvest that last bit of food and see what we can do with it when we don't have fresh tomatoes," said Grian Hollies-Maxwell with Groundwork.
Groundwork Milwaukee is a nonprofit that helps maintain community gardens across Milwaukee. It will help put on the market. Hollies-Maxwell has been busy turning all those tomatoes into sauce and canning them. This Sunday, she'll use them to make the chili.
The market will also have demonstrations to show people how to get dry herbs
"To dry herbs is extremely easy. All you need is your little bundle," said Samson Srok with Groundwork Milwaukee. "It's excellent at the end of the season to have dried herbs for all winter long."
The event will also have a cider press for people to make their own fresh apple cider and other family activities like face painting.
This is the second year Schmidt is hosting the Garden Market. This event and this space are about more than produce for her. She started Scooter's Community Garden of Hope 15 years ago after losing her brother to gun violence.
"I really wanted it to be as close proximity to where my brother lost his life," said Schmidt.
Her brother was killed just blocks away.
"So, it's more than just a garden, you know, it's a safe place they know that there's no there's no violence or swearing or fighting," said Schmidt.
This weekend her brother will be at the top of Susan's mind as she watches families enjoy this space and the community come together for something positive.
The event goes 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.