• E-Edition
• Home
• News
• Sports
• AP
• Obituaries
• Classifieds
• Jobs
• Autos
• Homes
• Garage Sales
• Coupons
• Subscribe
• Archive
• Services
• Contribute
• Blogs

Growing for the future

E-mail Story    |    Print Story    |    Comments    |   

By DARLENE PRINCE

prince@crescent-news.com

Interest in gardening with vegetables and fruit has become widespread in the past few years. Spurred by the recession, higher costs for food and an interest in better tasting food grown closer to home, many people have put in their own vegetable gardens.

With the realization that people who live in town may not have access to land to grow their own garden, three community gardens were started this year in Defiance, Hicksville and in Fulton County, near Archbold.

In Defiance, the Defiance County Master Gardeners began working on the Defiance Community Garden early this year. The garden is located in a fenced-in area on the grounds of the old Defiance Hospital, off East Second Street.

Master gardener Norm Tadsen said, "We held several meetings early in the year to see if there was any interest in a community garden."

There was quite a bit of interest, so the master gardeners prepared a plot of land on the old Hospital grounds. Use of the land for a community garden was given by the Defiance County commissioners who also arranged for a water line to be installed at the site. The only charge for gardeners was $5 for the use of water.

Master gardeners Orville and Jane Clark and Bette Mohr were also involved in the project. The master gardeners have been on hand to help novice gardeners with advice about their plants.

"There are 18 garden plots that are being used in the garden," said Jane Clark. "They are 8 ft by 16 ft. each." Some groups who are using the garden have more than one plot.

Busily working on their garden were Linda Mayer and Tammy Murrock, from the Richland Place PATH Center.

"When the garden idea came to our attention, we decided to use a plot to plant vegetables for the soup kitchen," Mayer said. "We planted peppers, tomatoes, cabbage and beans." She said various volunteers from the PATH Center, including Murrock, have worked in the garden.

"I have enjoyed doing this and I will be doing it every year now," she said.

Tracy Ruffer, from Quadco, and Quadco consumer Mindy Welch were watering their plot filled with Indian corn, peas, beets and radishes. Ruffer said the Quadco consumers have enjoyed working in the garden and learning about growing plants. Bill Priest, of Quadco, said the consumers were very excited about the garden.

"I've been bitten by the gardening bug," said first-time gardener Bud Warner. He proudly showed off his plot filled with cabbage, brussel sprouts, tomatoes and flowers.

"Hats off to the master gardeners for all of their help," Warner commented.

In Hicksville, the Hicksville Community Garden is located at the Defiance County Fairgrounds. Gardener Mark Bok, who was in charge of the project, said, "This is our first year at the fairgrounds. Skip McClem of the Hicksville Beautification Committee and I worked with the Defiance County Fair Board and they gave us land to use at the fairgrounds. Lavon Wiles of the fair board helped. Dave Ferguson tilled and leveled the ground. The board helped with the water line, too."

Bok said the garden has 12 plots that are 8 ft. by 12 ft. apiece. One of the gardeners, Peter Kennerk, has been a gardener for a long time.

"I planted eggplant for the first time this year," he said. "I always like to try something new. That is the challenge of gardening. I got involved in the community garden because I want other people to get involved in the community and in gardening."

Another gardener, Denise Christman and her son, Kirby, are first-time gardeners.

"My sister, Julia Gilbert got us involved," she said. "We planted corn, cabbage, beans and carrots. I will put the beans in a crockpot with potatoes and ham. I plan to freeze some of the beans, too."

In Fulton County, near Archbold on County Road F, the Green Acres Community Garden has been sponsored by Green Acres greenhouse and farm owners, Tracy and Lisa Gleason. They set aside a two-acre lot on the northeast corner and offered the free use of plots to persons interested in gardening.

The Gleasons held seminars to give information about growing vegetables and plants. They were rewarded by the participation of 20 gardeners.

Tending one plot were Fred and June Eicher.

"We have always been gardeners," June said. "We tried to make the best use of the space. We planted tomatoes, potatoes, cabbage, beans and marigolds. We will share our produce with our family and neighbors. We really appreciate what Tracy has done here for the community."

Gardener Alan Martin said he and his wife Anne, were enjoying working on the garden. He had planted peas, corn, garlic and yellow zucchini.

"I absolutely will be here next year," he said.

Working on another plot was Tom Evans, who said he has been involved in gardening since he was a kid. Tom and his wife, Diana, planted beets, banana peppers, sweet corn, onions and other vegetables.

"When she heard about this, my wife said I can't believe someone is offering ground for planting vegetables," Evans said. "Tracy should be commended for doing this for the community."