The first planting day for the Clarkston Community Garden is set for June 2, and according to Garden Manager Jim Tesnar ‘it will be a good year.?
In 2010, local gardeners grew 10,500 lbs of produce and donated it to Lighthouse North and Gleaners Food Bank in Pontiac. Now that the soil is ready for sowing, area volunteers will help kick off the Community Garden’s fifth year this upcoming Saturday.
To make sure this season yields the most produce, Tesnar and other volunteers have been hard at work tilling the soil, fertilizing with manure from a local horse farm, and building a ‘barrier fence to keep out the critters,? Tesnar said.
All of this preparation is in part to ensure a large donation of produce to local food banks, but the township Parks and Recreation department also wants to enrich the community Jim Tesnar explained.
From Tesnar’s perspective, getting involved in the growing process at Clarkston Community Garden offers participants a variety of educational experiences.
For instance, they can learn about planting and caring for a variety of foods such as eggplant, basil, garlic, cucumbers, radishes, beans, sweet corn, and more.
Those who get involved can also gain experience with composting, mulching, beekeeping, and putting up trellises for climbing plants.
There are also options for the flower lover. Plots for irises, bee balm, and other blooms will yield flowers for cutting into ‘bouquets for hospitals, hospices, and other people whose lives will be enriched,? Tesnar said.
Clarkston Community Garden off of Pine Knob Road will hold its first planting day on June 2. To find out about other planting days see www.itpr.org.