Bill was one of the charter members of Incredible Edible Milbridge when we started in 2013 and was instrumental to our successful launch. Although he was the oldest member of our group, he always seemed to have more energy than the rest of us.
Bill could grow anything; he was a superb gardener, and believed gardening would solve all problems. He grew countless vegetable seedlings for us. He was proud of the lush vegetables growing in his greenhouse and would generously offer tours to visitors who dropped in. He showed us his system of collecting rain water to irrigate his plants. He and his wife Anne connected with local businesses to solicit lumber for Incredible Edible’s raised beds in town. He offered his carpentry skills by building some of the early raised beds for us.
Bill just had good old- fashioned know-how. He loved figuring out creative ways to use lumber scraps –to make planters, to create bee hives, to make garden signs. He donated many of his bee hives to IEM, each one with a wood-burned inscription of a garden-related quote and an information sheet about the life cycle of bees. He made all our original vegetable garden signs from scraps of clapboard.
But above all, Bill was a teacher. He loved to share his knowledge and skills and we all enjoyed his wit and wisdom. This very generous man worked tirelessly to make Incredible Edible successful and we are forever grateful. Even in death, Bill was a giving man. He asked that any memorial donations be made to Incredible Edible Milbridge. Gifts came in from far and wide; those memorial donations have funded the new granite bench at Milbridge Commons Wellness Park. Local sculptor Jesse Salisbury created the magnificent piece that will serve as a lasting testament to a life well lived. Bill Arnold- a leader, a gentleman, a visionary.
Please join us on Saturday, July 6th at 11:00am for the dedication of the stone bench to Bill.