When the community garden, formerly located at McCord Stinckney park, was pushed out by residents? qualms, three acres of fertile land was left vacant.
Now through the efforts of many at Independence Township, the Michigan State University Extension office and local master gardeners, the Plant-A-Row for the Hungry Project will have the chance to produce a bountiful harvest of fresh produce for the Oakland County Food Bank.
‘We got off to a false start when the courts had their garden out there,? said Independence Township Trustee Dan Travis.
Last year, Plant-A-Row for the Hungry did not get started until June and much of the growth season was missed. This season, Independence Township is calling on the community to come out early and often to make the garden as big a success as possible.
In the lone year that the community garden was in operation, 12,000 pounds of vegetables were produced for the hungry in Oakland County.
‘In the long term, this garden should be owned and run by the community,? said Elizabeth Egan, a master gardener in charge of the project.
Currently through Independence Township Parks and Recreation, Egan is asking that community groups, from Scout troops to local businesses ‘adopt the garden? for one week during the growth season. Volunteers will help install plants, sow seed, fertilize, water, weed, harvest and deliver produce to the Oakland County Food Bank.
‘The size of the garden will be dictated by the volunteer groups,? said Egan. ‘We do have the potential to harvest between 12,000-20,000 pounds of produce.?
For a yield of that nature, the Plant-A-Row for the Hungry Project needs 30-40 volunteers each weekend. According to the Oakland Couty Food Bank the organizations, groups and businesses will be helping some 20,000 people in Oakland County, but the people behind this project foresee some fringe benefits as well.
‘For some people who do not have a garden space this could potentially be a chance for them to enjoy themselves and meet other people,? said Travis, who Egan credits with making much of the Plant-A-Row for the Hungry Project possible.
Also for those who are already blessed with a green thumb, the Plant-A-Row for the Hungry Project is an opportunity to glean knowledge from a master gardener or two. Aside from Egan, Master Gardener Bob McGowan, who runs the Bittersweet Farms Plant-A-Row garden, will take an active role helping the Plant-A-Row for the Hungry Project get off the ground.
‘Being master gardeners we tend to talk a lot about gardening,? said Egan. ‘People can expect to learn good horticultural practices. Hopefully, they can take these skills to their own garden.?
Egan is planning on planting a wide variety of crops, including: beans, carrots, squash, wild asparagus, spinach, tomatoes, okra, lettuce, cabbage and radishes. Egan’s hope is to also have a sunflower garden and a herb garden.
Currently the Plant-A-Row for the Hungry Project is looking to secure some other gardening items as well as volunteer groups.
For the garden to be a complete success, they are also looking to obtain soaker and professional gauge garden hoses, roof shingles to make weed barriers in between the crops, watering cans, plant stakes, picnic tables, small mammal fencing and stakes, and a solar powered deer fence.
Any group or individual who would like to ‘adopt the garden? should call Elizabeth Egan at 248-620-4621 to schedule their commitment.