Produce from local garden will go to Christ's Table

ZANESVILLE – Half of all produce grown in a garden located at Clay Gardens Place will be donated to Christ's Table. Volunteers and residents of Clay Gardens will cultivate the garden all summer and harvest the produce.

"We never have enough fruits and vegetables," said Keely Warden, executive director of Christ's Table. "When we buy, that's what we have to buy. Fresh vegetables, to us, are precious."

Planting took place on Tuesday and harvest will take place all summer.

The garden was built last year with the help of a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture for participating organizations in the USDA People's Garden program, which gives funds to local organizations to grow produce that will be donated to need services and organizations.

Last year, the first year for the program, the grant awarded to Clay Gardens was $500. This year, Clay Gardens split the grant with another organization. But with donations coming in from individuals as well as businesses, they were able to stretch the grant farther than they could last year, said Lisa Dent, life enrichment coordinator at Clay Gardens.

Potting soil, wooden pallets and other equipment and supplies were donated by Home Depot and Dollar General.

"This year it's astronomical compared to last year," Dent said.

Last year, the garden grew four varieties of produce. This year, they were able to plant 60 varieties of tomato, cucumber, squash, zucchini, strawberry, onion, radish, carrot, peas, green beans and a wide selection of herbs.

About 50 to 60 percent of the produce grown at Clay Gardens this year will be donated to Christ's Table. The rest will be kept at Clay Gardens to be used in the kitchen or other food-related activities.

Residents of Clay Gardens, a senior living facility, take part in growing the garden, Dent said. Working in the garden can increase socialization as well as health benefits.

"They take great pride in it," she said.

Anyone who wants to volunteer this summer to work in the garden can contact Dent at 740-450-2744.

Staff members at the local USDA office and volunteers from Kairos Youth Ministry with the Trinity Full Gospel Church helped with the planting on Tuesday, and many will be back throughout the growing process.

Hanna Runkle, who is home from her first year of college, was volunteering with her sister and other members of the youth group. Runkle said she didn't volunteer to help with the garden last year, but she was glad she did this year.

"To come back helps me stay connected with the community," she said.

ksnyder2@zanesvilletimesrecorder.com

740-450-6752

Twitter: @KL_Snyder