September 13, 2012
 WHERE: Temple University Ambler, Ambler Arboretum of Temple University Community Garden, 580 Meetinghouse Road (Meetinghouse and Loop Roads)
WHEN: Sunday, September 23, 3 to 6 p.m.
John Paul Endicott saw the world as it could — and should — be; people helping one another where possible, communities gathering together for a common goal of health and wealth being. He knew that no one should be allowed to go hungry. The countless hours he put into area charitable endeavors, including helping to raise interest and awareness about community gardens right at Temple University Ambler, were certainly reflective of his desire to see community agriculture thrive throughout the region.
John Paul joined the Temple University Ambler community as a horticulture student, quickly showing a passion and dedication to the field and to the Ambler Arboretum and campus as a whole. Tragically, John Paul’s life was cut short during a vehicle accident in July 2010.
Since their devastating loss, John Paul’s family — sister Katie, brother Daniel, parents Jack and Judy, wife Shannon and little River Ryan-Endicott — with the support of Temple University Ambler faculty and staff and a veritable army of friends have dedicated themselves to continuing John Paul’s work in the Ambler Campus Community Garden and the John Paul Endicott Memorial Fund, which supports community agriculture education, including a summer internship for students in Temple’s School of Environmental Design — the intern assists in the Ambler Arboretum food crops garden and maintains a section of garden being grown for donations to help feed the hungry.
On Sunday, September 23, the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University and the John Paul Endicott Memorial Committee will host the “2nd Annual Garlic in the Garden Festival,” from 3 to 6 p.m., in the Ambler Campus Community Garden.
“Garlic was one of John Paul’s favorite crops. We thought it would be a great idea to celebrate in the garden with a festival,” said John Paul’s mother, Judy Endicott. “Ultimately, we want to bring people out to get involved in the garden here at Ambler and in community agriculture in general. We’ll also be taking donations at the event for the Mattie Dixon Community Cupboard in Ambler in addition to having a 50/50 raffle and a silent auction-style raffle.”
Of special note at the Garden Festival this year will be the formal dedication of hops-trellis in the Community Garden’s food crops garden honoring John Paul Endicott’s memory.
 According to John Briley, who is assisting in coordinating the event, the hops-trellis — facilitated by family friend Warren “Boomer” Miller and designed and constructed by nationally recognized blacksmith Warren Holzman and artist and craftsman Jesse Daniels — offers both a practical application for all students “as well as a personal connection to John Paul for family, friends and those who knew him.”
“Hops were one of John Paul’s favorite crops to grow and he personally cultivated them at home with his brother Daniel. Temple University Ambler doesn’t currently have a hops-growing area for demonstrations on campus so we felt this would be a nice addition,” he said. “The hops-trellis and the accompanying vines will also create a canopy effect for food crops that would benefit from some shade during the growing season.”
According to Miller the goal for the trellis “is to have a memorial for the family and friends of John Paul while hopefully educating and inspiring Temple students.”
“The students will learn how to grow hops and can hopefully be inspired by what this trellis represents. It will look like an inviting ‘hoppy’ archway with benches to sit on in the shade that it creates,” said Miller, a friend of John Paul’s brother Daniel Endicott since they were children who learned blacksmithing himself under the tutelage of Holzman. “Ideally I hope visitors will be able to hear about John Paul’s story and be inspired and be able to take it all in while sitting in the trellis. It will be the perfect place to take a break when working hard in the garden on those hot volunteer days.”
Miller said he approached Daniels about working on the project knowing that he also had a personal connection to the family as a friend and fellow student at Temple’s Tyler School of Art with Daniel Endicott. After talking about the hops-trellis, Miller discovered that Daniels worked in Holzman’s shop — Holzman generously came on board to devote time to the project as well, he said.
“Warren credits Jesse for the majority of the design and Jesse has been very dedicated to this project. I know Jesse is truly inspired, humbled and honored to be a part of this project and is working very hard to honor John Paul’s memory and to make the Endicott’s proud,” Miller said. “Warren Holzman did not have the privilege to know John Paul, but when he was able to spend some time with the family and understand the project he was also inspired and honored to be representing the family.”
 Admission for the Garlic in the Garden Festival will be $10. Visitors, however, may receive $5 off of admission if they bring a donation to the Community Cupboard or by bringing an entry to the featured “Garlic Dish Competition.” To enter a dish, simply contact garden@jpendicott.com.
“Anyone can enter, said Endicott. “We thought it was a purely fun way to highlight the garlic harvest.”
The Garlic in the Garden Festival will also include games, music and more! All proceeds will benefit the John Paul Endicott
Memorial Fund and the John Paul Endicott Summer Internship, supporting community agriculture education and donation.
According to Briley, the primary purpose of the festival “is to bring people together — friends, family, kids, adults, students, teachers, volunteers and more — to have fun, learn about plants and horticulture.”
“We also want to demonstrate our thanks to everyone who has supported the garden and John Paul’s memorial project through their donations and volunteerism. This gathering will allow people to re-visit the garden and see what has been accomplished in the past two years,” said Briley, one of John Paul’s closest friends for more than 20 years. “All resources generated from the festival will go towards continuing to build and maintain John Paul’s endowment while honoring him by examining the things that he was passionate about and continuing his work. Those who knew John Paul, realize that these educational, awareness building and community activities would be at the top of his list!”
John Paul, Briley said, was a “staunch proponent of the concept that you didn’t need to have a farm or a lot of land in order to grow your own spices and herbs.”
“We know that if he were here, he would be in the garden pursuing his passions and we feel that the best way to honor him is by continuing his work,” he said.
For more information on the Garlic in the Garden Festival at Temple University Ambler or the John Paul Endicott Memorial Fund, contact llowe@temple.edu or 267-468-8440, visit www.jpendicott.com or contact garden@jpendicott.com.
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