FORTVILLE — This summer, plants will sprout in a garden outside the Vernon Township trustee’s office that members of the community will tend to.
Plots will be designated for both individual gardens and for the township, whose yields will go to local food pantries. Those in government, agriculture and education are coming together to make the initiative possible.
Stacy Nielsen, who works in community engagement for the township trustee’s office, said at an informational meeting on Feb. 17 that 19 of the 24 5-by-10-foot plots had been reserved so far.
After the meeting, Nielsen told the Daily Reporter that the idea for the community garden came up shortly after township trustee Florence May started her term in January 2019.
“When Flory took office, there was a lot of talk about that township government wasn’t really reaching the community,” Nielsen said. “So her goal, when she came into office, was finding ways that would touch the community in an impactful way.”
May told the Daily Reporter that no funding toward the initiative comes from the township and that it is completely partner-driven.
Gary Sharrett, a Vernon Township board member and farmer, plowed the area for the garden last fall.
Lucinda Blair, Mt. Vernon High School agriculture teacher and FFA adviser, will manage the four-plot “master garden” in which the township will grow produce for food pantries in the Fortville-McCordsville area. Her students will start a majority of the seeds and compile information for gardeners on common vegetables, their uses and best-care practices for growing.
Purdue Extension Hancock County provided seeds for the master garden.
Gloria Del Greco, community wellness coordinator with the local Purdue Extension, attended the recent kick-off meeting.
“My job is to help communities make healthy choices,” she told the group. “Working with your garden is a very simple thing for me to do. I’m glad to be of assistance.”
About 25 attended the meeting. Those with plots will pay $20 deposits they’ll get back at the end of the gardening season if all regulations are followed.
Attendees introduced themselves at the meeting. They ranged from those with no gardening experience to seasoned green-thumbs. They included those who don’t have enough space on their personal property to garden; those interested in healthy eating; an office looking for an ongoing team-building activity; and those who don’t want a plot but wish to volunteer in the master garden.
Kittie Masters grew up on a farm and had a big garden when she lived in Wilkinson. She moved to Fortville eight years ago, where she tried to garden before discovering it didn’t work out.
“I enjoy gardening,” she told the Daily Reporter. “I gardened when I lived in the country and now that I’m in town, I don’t have a space for it.”
Masters looks forward to growing tomatoes, peppers, onions, zucchini and other kinds of squashes in her community garden plot.
“It’s very therapeutic,” she said. “It’s just one of my hobbies; I enjoy it a lot.”
Nielsen said future initiatives for the community garden include an area for composting, a rain barrel system for watering and a planting demonstration led by Blair and a member of the Hancock County Master Gardeners. She’d like to plan a cooking demo in the future as well.
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To sign up to get involved with Vernon Township’s new community garden, visit vernontownship.us/community-garden. For questions, contact [email protected].
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