Community Garden, and Spirit, Keeps Growing

WHITESBORO — The last few tomatoes are clinging to summer, wrapping up another bountiful season at the Middle Township Community Garden in Whitesboro. The productive plot, located adjacent to the historic Whitesboro School, provided much more than produces. It also offered children attending the Concerned Citizens of Whitesboro’s annual Rainbow Summer Camp a hands-on educational experience.
Township Recreation Superintendent Robert Matthews, who has spearheaded the community project for several years, said about 85 campers helped tend the garden weekly this summer. The children helped plant seeds, weed, water and maintain the garden. “They embraced the garden and were also eager to not only sample, but learn about cooking, the various herbs and vegetables,” he said.
Matthews said the children were amazed at how quickly zucchini grew and became experts on the best time to pluck a ripened tomato. They also enjoyed sampling herbs, including spearmint, and watching watermelon grow to various sizes and shapes.
“This garden continues to grow bigger annually and reflect our community’s neighborhood spirit. We applaud the efforts and dedication of all who have nurtured its success,” said Mayor Michael Clark.
The garden also produced bell, jalapeno and sweet peppers; eggplant, summer squash, cantaloupe and an abundance of herbs, all of which were distributed at both the Martin Luther King Center and the Ms. Vera Smith Food Pantry in the Whitesboro School.
“I want to thank Robert and the kids from Rainbow Summer Camp for their hard work in nurturing and harvesting the garden this summer” Committeeman Tim Donohue said. “Their efforts to help put local, healthy produce on the tables of the needy families that visit the food pantry defines the spirit of community.”
For more information on the Middle Township Community Garden, call Matthews at 609-465-8732.