In 2010, a volunteer group with critical support from community members Martha Button, Dave and Sandy Bojanowski, and John Glenn established Perry's Community Garden near Dr. Field's office. The Community Garden is visible from the Bank of Castile.

The volunteers report that 13 total plots were prepared by Bob Masonis for the initial plantings--one of which was designed as a "long" plot, 4 ft by 50 ft.

Several community members, and a 4-H group decided to plant plots!

The Long Plot

The long plot was planted with the "three sisters" —corn, beans and pumpkins. During the season, Perry's kindergarten made a field trip to the new Community Garden to see the pumpkins growing, and sixteen pumpkins were donated to the PCS Elementary School Kindergarten. A cover crop of oats was planted at the end of the season, and it will be tilled under in the spring.

Action: Weeding, Watering and Planting

Each Tuesday night, our "gardeners" met to weed, water, plant and watch the gardens grow! Seeds and plants were donated by Dave Bojanowski. Ray Frank from Community Action recruited four young people to work in the garden -- two of the girls continued with the project through the end of the summer, and when there was food to be harvested they were given lettuce, beets, cucumbers, tomatoes, cabbage, and more. The girls also worked with Berny Harwood of Community Action to build a scarecrow and sign for the Garden.

The project has really benefited from the efforts of many - including the staff of Dr. Field's office, who helped to keep the scarecrow adequately clothed! A compost pile has already been established for the garden.

Project Purpose

Why the garden project? The mission is "to develop a community garden organized and managed by a volunteer group where residents can rent a small plot to grow vegetables and/or flowers."

Benefits:

• Access: Establish an option for all community residents to garden
• Education: Healthy Food Choices, Self-sufficiency, gardening skills, sustainability
• Connection: Create opportunities for community residents to connect through a shared resource
• Create mentoring opportunities
• Support pride in community through useful beautification
• Provide family-oriented activities
• Promote heritage of rural agricultural values

Please come visit, enjoy or get your own plot in the Perry Community Garden! For more information, contact the Dave or Sandy Bojanowski at 585-237-3721.