Community Garden Market/Tour Thursday; Public Welcome

Potter County Today

Members of the public can purchase fresh vegetables and learn more about the successful Community Garden on Thursday, Sept. 9, at the Maple View property, just off Rt. 872, in Coudersport. The 4-H Science of Gardening program is holding a Fall Harvest Market from 11 am to 6 pm. Additionally, at 5 pm there will be a tour of the garden and a recap of the project, with details on field trials, cover crops, this year’s growing season and plans for the 2011 garden. The Community Garden is under the direction of Carrie Bowman, Cooperative Extension youth educator, and Bill Waltman, an Extension horticulturalist who serves as the program’s agricultural coordinator. Members of the Spud Growers FFA Chapter of Coudersport High School have also assisted, as have parents of some of the students, including Eric Boucher of Austin, shown here.

Some of the produce has been donated to senior citizens and people in need, while some has been sold to raise funds for 4-H. Crops have been grown without the use of pesticides. Crop rotations, composting, and cover crops are being used to move the garden toward organic certification in the coming years. The project’s “hands-on” approach teaches the group about the stages of plants, timing of insect arrivals, fungal diseases, pollination processes, and the role of rotations in soil health and quality. Local farmers have donated supplies and assistance. For more information, email cbb136@psu.edu or 274-8540.

Article courtesy of Paul Heimel and the Potter County Commissioners.