Carver Community Center is located in Orchard Knob, an area which could rightly be referred to as a food desert. Although it at one time had an active raised bed garden, it had fallen into disrepair and was overrun with weeds. With the help of the Master Gardener organization and volunteers, it is now overrun with children and adults planting, harvesting and eating vegetables
Ms. Wanda Officer, the Education Director at Carver, helped determine what should be grown in the garden. Plant starts were then grown in MG Diane Shelly’s greenhouse with seeds from the Food Bank. Children who were interested in gardening in 2 different age groups (6-8 and 9-11) spend morning class time, along with staff members, in the garden, helping to plant, weed, harvest and, of course, tasting vegetables.
For some, it’s their first exposure to fresh vegetables. The enthusiasm is overwhelming. We talk about the difference between male and female flowers, how ants can pollinate some plants, which part of the plant they are actually eating, the difference between a green pepper and a red pepper and so much more. There was so much joy and excitement as we harvested potatoes and carrots, a true treasure hunt. They are waiting patiently for the harvesting of sweet potatoes! So far this season, we have harvested 110 lbs. of vegetables, with lots more to harvest.
Plans are now underway for the Fall Garden. Children and staff will choose what they will grow, plan the layout so that crops are rotated, add amendments to the soil, and help to seed the plants so they are ready for Fall. MGs Carlton Mathes and Diane Shelly are the primary educators in this program, working together to expose these children to the joys of gardening. We have been discussing the possibility of building compost bins and a pollinator garden, perhaps as an intern program.