Kansas weather — it’s minus-2 one day and 60 degrees the next.
We really never know what to expect. But here is one thing that you can count on. In a few weeks it will be gardening time again. This means digging in the dirt, plenty of sunshine, some time spent behind a shovel, hoe, rake and hose.
And suddenly, you have food — potatoes dug from the earth; green beans snapped from the plant; juicy red tomatoes hanging from their vines, purple eggplant; yellow, green and white squash waiting to be cooked up into a delicious ratatouille; mounds of leafy greens, and bouquets of radishes, beets and carrots. These are the things that await you if you don’t mind spending some time in the garden.
In the past two years Humanity House has grown and given away nearly seven tons of vegetables at our Fresh For You produce distributions. This year we were gifted the Elm Creek Community Garden. We are so happy to have this opportunity given to us.
As with everything else that happens with Humanity House, things seem to happen in a circular way. Last fall, Walmart donated all its leftover seeds to us, leaving me happy, but trying to decide what to use and what to distribute to others. Then the Humanity House Community Garden came to be.
This year a person or family can rent a 12-by-24 garden plot for $25. Renting a plot includes tools, tillers, seeds, water, and if all goes as planned, starter plants.
We will be giving gardening classes at our building, and if all goes well, we will cook up something from the garden for our produce distribution folks and anyone passing by to try.
Garden plots are available for free to people whose income falls under the guidelines for food assistance, even if they do not receive SNAP. In exchange for the plot, individuals are asked to give 2 hours of volunteer service to the garden.
The best way to get kids to eat vegetables or try something new is to have them grow the vegetables. We have free container gardens just for kids up to age 12.
We have accessible raised garden containers for people with disabilities or who are elderly so they can still garden, enjoy time spent outdoors, and have the fresh produce that they love.
If you have recipes to share we are gathering them for our Humanity House recipe book. Classes on canning, freezing and preserving are in the works too.
Produce is costly. Good nutrition is costly. We do all that we can to help the people in Allen County to live better lives.
Come into our office at 509 N. State St. and sign up for a season of fun, learning, growing and good eating.
If you would like to donate plants or seeds, contribute to the water fund or perhaps rent a plot for someone, those are great ways to show the people in Allen County that you care about them. We hope to see you in the garden this spring. Kindness matters!
