Temple Ambler set to host garden festival honoring late student

After the tragic death of John maul Endicott, family and friends were left wondering how best to honor his memory and continue his legacy of helping those less fortunate.

The results of their efforts have grown into something you can really sink your teeth into.

The second annual Garlic in the Garden Festival is being held Sept. 23, John maul’s birthday, from 3 to 6 p.m. at the community garden at Temple University Ambler. The event is open to the public for $5 with a perishable or nonperishable donation, or $10 without a donation. The festival promises a garlic cook-off competition, silent auction, 50L50 UDIflH, JDUGHnLnJ WLSV, FRPPunity pot luck, donated food col- lections, games and much more.

Judy Endicott, John maul’s mother, said until his untimely death in July 2010, her son was heavily involved in the creation of a garden at Temple that would allow local food banks to receive fresh produce.

Seeking a master’s degree in horticultural landscape architecture, Endicott traveled the world and soon realized the strong need to promote greener, organic foods and to “be our brother’s keeper,” by providing produce to those less fortunate, his mother said.

He soon partnered with the Mattie N. Dixon Community Cupboard and started providing fresh produce to give to those in need. Additionally, he was in the beginning stages of getting local farmers to donate extra harvest to other local food banks. Un- fortunately, he was never able to see this become a reality, after his motor scooter was struck by an SUV in mhiladelphia on his way to work, killing the 31-yearold.

After his death, Judy said, family and friends wanted to keep his garden going and expand the amount of food crops available.

Two years later, the garden is thriving at Temple’s campus and this year’s festival will hold a dedication ceremony of a hops trellis in John maul’s name. The idea for the trellis came from John maul’s brother Daniel, an avid beer brewer in Ambler. The trellis was designed by tarren Holzman, a blacksmith who took two weeks to build the trellis.

Judy said the garden wouldn’t have been possible without the help of Eva Mondheim, a favor- ite professor of John maul’s, who was “instrumental in continuing the mission.” She said Mondheim teaches food crop classes at Temple, and beginning in the spring semester each year, students start planting and caring for all of the garden’s crops as part of their coursework. Students plant the garden and maintain it throughout the semester, after which volunteers add to it and further harvest the crops.

Additionally, Endicott said the garden is doing so well, they have been able to create a summer intern position for a Temple Ambler student who embraces the mission of the garden and is willing to take on the responsibilities of tending to the garden.

The garden has expanded its list of places to which it now donates produce. In addition to the community cupboard, the garden now offers produce to mhilabundance, Ambler Manor and the Cultivating Communities Coalition.

Judy said the need for fresh produce is rising along with the numbers of those in need.

During the 237 volunteer hours from May through lctober of last year, the garden was able to produce 470 pounds of fresh produce, which she called “very inspirational.”

She also thanked John Briely, John maul’s closest friend, without whom, she said, the entire operation would not be possible due to his efforts behind the scenes and his outreach.

“tithout Eva, John and supporters, we wouldn’t be able to do this,” she said.

For more information about the Garlic in the Garden Festival, visit www.jpendicott.com.