FARMINGTON — The bounty from the Hope Harvest Garden provides vegetables for local food pantries.
This community effort, now in its sixth growing season, depends on the work of volunteers, said Eileen Liddy from the Healthy Community Coalition. Last year more than 650 pounds of vegetables were produced for six local food pantries and the Abused Women’s Advocacy Project.
Franklin Community Health Network provides space for the garden on the Franklin Memorial Hospital green located next to the Stanley Building.
This project is based on volunteers. Nearly 150 volunteers each year have given of their time and effort. As in the past, volunteers are always needed, she said.
For those available on Wednesday afternoons, Weeding Wednesdays are held from 2 to 4 p.m. Later on Wednesdays, a supervised “Open Garden” is held from 4 to 6 p.m. Open garden includes not only weeding but also transplanting, sowing seeds, harvesting, controlling bugs, mulching, fertilizing and preparing vegetables for the food pantries. Once fall arrives, volunteers help with rototilling, shoveling and raking.
People of all ages and experience have helped. High school students from Foster Techonology Center, a Mt. Blue Middle School student and four first-grade classes from Mallett School have already contributed this year by planting seeds and seedlings.
Healthy Community Coalition is involved in the garden along with many other organizations, individuals and businesses.
Anyone or any group that would like to volunteer or receive more information may call Liddy at the HCC at 779-2923.