What began as an outdoor education outreach in poorer neighborhoods in Dallas has expanded to the Mineola Nature Preserve.

Promise of Peace community gardens founder Elisabeth Dry has relocated to Wood County and is spreading the good news about gardening, along with mulch, compost and the nourishing benefits of plants.

Installation of Wood County’s first Promise of Peace garden got underway with a work day last Wednesday at the preserve, in an area between the playground and main parking lot.

It is adjacent to the long-standing native garden tended by Wood County Master Gardeners, who are partnering with Promise of Peace on this latest project.

Dry has also installed a couple single raised-bed gardens downtown, near the Beckham Hotel and Horsefeathers art gallery on E. Commerce St.

A 40-year career educator, Dry first got the idea for a community garden out of frustration that what she was doing to promote public education was actually harmful to children.

Her efforts to incorporate gardening and fresh food into curriculum were met with bureaucratic stone walls.

She was driving by a vacant lot in East Dallas and thought it would be a good spot for a community garden.

All she had to do was contact the owner, negotiate (and pay for) a lease, create a non-profit (in order to seek a city grant) and engage the neighborhood to take ownership.

It took just a month for everything to fall into place.

That was 2009. Promise of Peace gardens was born, and a transformation had begun.

“I love what it does for children and for families,” she said.

Another project established gardens in an apartment complex.

Within two years, the residents, who had been dependent on local food pantries, were no longer pantry clients. Their health had improved through better eating that allowed them to stop taking numerous medications, saving money.

And the kids living there were getting into much less trouble and learning self-reliance.

“This will spread,” she thought to herself.

She moved to Mineola in January and found a welcoming environment.

She presented the idea to the Mineola parks board and received an enthusiastic response.

The raised beds are hosting a  variety of vegetables and fruits.

She envisions children’s camps, an outdoor kitchen and helping citizens to have a better appreciation for the nature preserve and nature in general.

Follow the Promise of Peace Gardens Facebook page to watch its progress and find out about future work days.