Master Gardener volunteers at a state level offered a community garden specialization this spring.
Two Fayette County Master Gardener Volunteers (FCMGV) interns, Pam Anderson and Peter Torgerson, began that specialization in March. They will participate in four all-day classes to learn how to organize, plan, and oversee a community garden. To begin their efforts, the FCMGV is partnering with residents of Fayette Landing to plant vegetable gardens in raised beds. In addition, they are supporting Destination HOME in its efforts to plant a vegetable garden at Rose Avenue Community Center (RACC).
Fayette Landing is a partnership between Woda Management & Real Estate, LLC and Community Action Commission of Fayette County (CACFC). Fayette Landing locations on Rawlings Street and State Route 22 offer supportive housing for the homeless. Raised beds for a vegetable garden were a part of recent renovations.
Destination HOME is a program of CACFC that provides support to chronically homeless disabled individuals in Fayette County. Jennifer Guisinger, program coordinator, approached FCMGV for advice and education on growing vegetables for her clients. While planting at RACC, Guisinger told the FCMGV, “I’m so glad you are here to help us. The garden is very manageable this year. We learned some things today.”
FCMGV met with the residents of Fayette Landing. Since there was interest in a vegetable garden, they began planning. Residents at Fayette Landing 22 have gardened for years. Renovations have changed some of the area they gardened previously. FCMGV worked with them to determine what areas were suitable to plant in addition to the new raised beds. Residents wanted to grow tomatoes, peppers, radishes, onions, cucumbers, and green beans to name a few. Their garden resembles a quilt with different vegetables arranged at 90 degree angles to each other. FCMGV will provide education, seed, and plants. CACFC provided tools.
Cool season crop seeds are already up at Fayette Landing Rawlings. Bed preparation and planting is underway at all three locations as weather permits. It will not be long until they will be enjoying fresh vegetables. They will be able to say, “I grew it myself.”