With temperatures dipping down into the 20’s and snow and sleet falling from the sky less than two weeks ago, it is hard to believe the date on the calendar. For those who like to play in the dirt and plant a garden, you know that it is time to be planting certain vegetables or the heat of the summer will create another problem. Many peoples’ past includes spending time working in the family garden. Whether it was a few rows or an acre in size, the goal was to provide fresh produce at the family dinner table and help cut food costs. When I was a kid we knew where our food came from. We spent time planting, weeding and harvesting the family garden. Nothing tastes better than fresh peas, green beans or asparagus. And don’t forget the strawberry patch; the berries were so different than what we find in the store today.
If your mouth is starting to salivate, thinking about all of the wonderful food that can be harvested from the garden, read on. There are several Community gardens that are up and growing for this season. Community Christian Church, just east of Barton Community College, has named their project the Garden of Eatin’. A grant awarded this year helped them place a small building to hold their garden tools closeby. A few 10 by 20 foot plots remain for people to rent for this year. Just $25 pays for your spot and scholarships are available. One perk the Garden of Eatin’ boasts is an automatic watering system. Contact Bob LaPierre at 793-7020 or acscomputers@cox.net if you would like more information.
The Hoisington community has an established community garden which is cared for by volunteers. Stepping down from the helm this year, Teddy Williamson put a lot of love and nurturing into getting the garden project going. Grant money provided tools as well as food preservation equipment. Donations of material and labor provided a nice sized storage shed. This year Lisa Salter has stepped forward to direct the garden. She is quick to give credit to other volunteers like Donna and Gerald Donovan who oversee the watering and Karen Ganoung, who serves as secretary of the project. Lisa emphasized that the Hoisington community garden is open to everyone to come and plant, weed and then harvest the vegetables. Once things get growing there will be a vegetable stand every Saturday morning and twice each month produce goes to the Hoisington Food Bank.
I’m anxious to hear about any other community or neighborhood gardens out there. Planting, caring for and harvesting a garden is a great family activity. Happy gardening!
Donna Krug is the Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Barton County. You may reach her at (620)793-1910 or dkrug@ksu.edu