April 14, 2004
Show spring sensation
More than 5,500 people attend Habitat for Humanity Home and Garden Show
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
From awnings to zinnias, there was something for everyone at the Habitat for Humanity Grand Traverse's Home and Garden Show.
The three-day show drew more than 5,500 people over the weekend to the Grand Traverse County Civic Center for shopping, browsing and talking gardens with other enthusiasts. Exhibitors included numerous area nurseries as well as vendors of all things garden, from bulbs and plants to gadgets and decorations.
A variety of workshops throughout the weekend provided educational opportunities, as did booths by the MSU Master Gardener Program, the Grand Traverse Conservation District and area water testing services.
The show raised $50,000 of undesignated funds for Habitat for Humanity Grand Traverse projects, money that can be used as needed to complete homes.
"We can fill in gaps, wherever they might be," noted Robin Grubbs, executive director of Habitat for Humanity Grand Traverse for three years. "This is the main fund-raiser for us every year."
Crystal Wilson of Northport is one of the organization's partner families, having received approval for a home once she completes her 225 hours of sweat equity. Friday morning, Wilson and her daughter, Bryton, 11, were greeting visitors to the show with warm smiles, pleased to spend the time and bring themselves further toward their home ownership goal.
"It was a blessing when I got my house, though I haven't moved in yet, have to get my sweat equity hours first," said Wilson, a student nurse who plans a May graduation from Northwestern Michigan College. "They've been so helpful, I'll be an RN in about three weeks and they've been very patient with me and my schedule."
This is the first year that the fifth annual Habitat for Humanity Grand Traverse's Home and Garden Show was held at the Civic Center. The vast space smelled like spring, filled with fresh flowers and growing plants that mocked the still chilly weather outside.
"It's so nice to see spring, even if you've got to go indoors to do it," said Penny Bashore of Traverse City, one of 100 volunteers who helped put on the show.
Grubbs said the move to the Civic Center this year from the Park Place Dome was very positively received.
"People felt it was so much more centrally located to the resources they wanted, such as restaurants and shopping," Grubbs said. "We are happy about the location and also the accessibility, it was handicapped accessible."
Amber Schwalm attended the event with her mother and daughter, Macy, 1. An avid gardener, Schwalm comes to the show every year, this year's shopping 'must have' during her Friday morning visit was a bird bath.
"I just love my gardens, I have several," she said. "We're going to try and have a vegetable garden this year, we'll have a little helper, too."
A number of Traverse City Central High School students were on hand during the show to entertain younger attendees. They had a variety of crafts and games set up in their booth for the show's younger attendees.
Brittany Ottersletter, a tenth-grade student at the school, formed a teen chapter of Habitat at the school this year. She enrolled other members into helping out at the show.
"I couldn't find any volunteer activities for kids, something that we could be involved in," said Ottersletter, who also organized the Habishack event this fall where students slept all night in boxes to raise money for Habitat for Humanity.
All of her efforts are just steps along the way to her ultimate dream.
"I like helping people and making a difference in the world," she said. "I hope when I get older to go over to Africa and build houses there."