Apiary Gardens is a tribute to the legacy of four mentors who helped shape my sense of self. It is a living breathing testament to the role that Edgar Warner, Enid Hoffman, Phil Cohran, and Kweku Andoh played in my life. The Garden and the sculptural arts in the garden were constructed in the name of these inspirational Elders as I sought ways to honor these ancestors. Karmu, Kelan, Kweku and Enid were Elders who shared their wisdom and served as nodal points on my journey to becoming who I am. Our personality actualizes in relationship to others; through them I gained greater realization of who I am.
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Apiary gardens began with the removal of vast amount of kudzu. This included the removal of the kudzu roots when possible (kudzu grows back when the roots are not removed). A small amount of tilling was done in a couple hard soil areas so that those areas could be seeded and for landscaping purposes, but the gardens were generally not tilled. No dig was the standard procedure, and as such, cardboard was used extensively. A large amount of good quality cardboard (no plastic tape, etc.) was covered with tree leaves, pine straw, compost, grass clippings, soil, and other available materials. Cardboard attracts organic life such as earthworms and arthropods on its underside and decomposes over time as it serves to suppress weed growth. Subsoil was dug from a nearby pit and added to the mixture on the cardboard. Lawns grew well on this surface as well as orchard trees and vegetable crops.