Maze Garden Celebrates 15th Anniversary Tonight

Fifteen years ago, a small plot of land on the South Side along E. Third Street, just west of S. New Street was declared a City Park. That plot is now home to a community garden that has brought fresh produce to New Bethany ministries and the residents of South Bethlehem.

 “To see a piece of City Property serve so many people is really gratifying. That’s what it is really all about,” said Bob Hosking, the city's parks maintenance superintendant since April,  “It is a community asset and an educational tool.”

At First Friday, the diverse community will come together to celebrate the 15th Anniversary with a potluck and DJ ARM-18 spinning records for one last time before the beds are put to rest for winter.

Sharon Shaw of Bucks County, a special guest, is one of the original designers who created the geometric patterns of raised beds from which the Maze Garden gets its name. 

Locals have been able to grow their own vegetables in the raised beds by purchasing a small plot for $10. They are also welcome to freely pick the bounty of the harvest throughout the season. 

The Maze Garden is among the first of a growing number of community gardens in the Lehigh Valley. The intention is to establish strong community connections, provide nutritious produce to low-income communities and educate locals on urban farming techniques so that they can grow their own vegetables on the small patch of earth.

Both the Bethlehem Citizens’ Academy Alumni and the South Side Initiative through have worked cooperatively with Hosking and the City Department of Parks, Recreation and Property to revitalize the garden that fell into disrepair prior to 2007.   

Hosking said he was both “impressed” and “grateful” to Lehigh University’s South Side Initiative and BCAA for their efforts.

Jeanie Keller, President of the BCAA, shared how she introduced a local boy to green beans at a First Friday. “Those are green beans? I don’t like them,” he said. Keller invited him to try one straight from the stalk, he ended up picking a bunch and taking them home to his family. 

The garden is totally organic and the enriched soil is “like black gold,” as Keller puts it.   

“Kids who don’t have access to fresh foods or the variety can come to the garden and pick their own vegetables,” said Keller.

“The woman who has worked the hardest is visiting Lehigh Professor Dawn King, this past summer she taught [urban agriculture] classes there,” said Keller.

For her class project, one of King’s students, Katharine LeBoeugh, fixed the pond that had been previously destroyed. Another student, Jullie Patterson focused on entertainment and how to set it up with the one outlet available.

Lehigh student initiatives from the sorority Alpha Gamma Delta have also contributed to the success.

DJ-ARM 18, also known as Andrew McIntosh, has been spinning records at the Maze Garden since 2007. He has witnessed the increased involvement of Lehigh University and the local community.   

McIntosh shared some memorable moments at the Maze Garden. “When Michael Jackson died, a crowd gathered, it was two hours of just listening to Michael Jackson music.”

Another memory: “When Obama was elected, we streamed his acceptance speech and I played records underneath it,” said McIntosh. “People gathered to sit and it was a real palatable feeling of, pardon the cliché, hope.” 

Keller said that since this is the last party for the growing season, she would like to see a good turnout. No doubt those closest to the garden will want to share and make new memories with the community they have cultivated at the Maze Garden.