By Kathy Kuglar
At the request of the staff at Findlay Street Neighborhood House (FSNH), St. Barnabas volunteers are coordinating a garden project on their grounds with teenagers and staff. On June 3, Kathy Kugler joined with three FSNH teen volunteers and one staff member to set up the gardens.
Several years ago, raised beds were built in the rear of the FSNH property. Kathy put some T-brackets on the bottom of three beds to stabilize the containers so they would be ready for new soil and plants.
The group filled the planters with good soil and planted tomatoes, okra, peppers, carrots, and eggplants. They also sowed flowers including marigolds, mini sunflowers, and zinnias.
The back of FSNH’s property doesn’t have a water source, so the local fire department will fill a 50-gallon container as needed, so the site has adequate access to water. The fire department provides water for several community gardens.
The teenagers are also keeping a garden journal where they record when the plants are watered, when they are harvested, and other details, so we can evaluate what grew best.
The vegetables will be for teenagers, staff, and any FSNH participant, based on quantity produced. Caring for the gardens will continue to be a team effort between St. Barnabas, FSNH staff, and the teenagers. We hope to expand the project as interest allows.