March 8, 2013 – With Spring just around the corner, twenty-two volunteers from the Rotary Club of Smith Mountain Lake, Franklin County Master Gardeners and the community joined together to get the “Giving Garden” located at Booker T. Washington National Monument ready for early spring planting. Their work involved rebuilding the initial 12 six inch high plots with twelve inch boards and adding peat moss, compost manure, and top soil to all plots.
The “Giving Garden”, formerly referred to as the Community Garden, is part of Rotary’s Tackling Hunger and Nutrition Project which is designed to provide fresh organic produce to the local food pantry at Lake Christian Ministries. The project is a collaborative partnership with the Rotary Club of Smith Mountain Lake, the Booker T. Washington National Monument, the Franklin County Master Gardeners, Hot Shots Entertainment Center and includes dedicated volunteers from the local Democratic Club and community in general.
The name was changed from the Community Garden to the Giving Garden to emphasize the point that all produce is given to those in need in our own community through Lake Christian Ministries and none is grown for the personal use of those who volunteer. The Giving Garden, now starting its fifth year of operation, uses principles of Square Foot Gardening to maximize the amount of produce grown in the equivalent of forty-four 4 foot x 8 foot raised beds. Thanks to the many hours put in by dedicated volunteers, over 2400 pounds of fruits and vegetables were sent to the Lake Christian Ministries food pantry.
Everyone in the community who have family gardens or farms are encouraged to grow an extra row and donate these fruits and/or vegetables by dropping them off at Hot Shots Entertainment Center located at 13360 Booker T. Washington Highway (next to Capps). They will be picked up and delivered to Lake Christian Ministries.
Those interested in learning more about square foot gardening, the plant a row program, or in joining the team of dedicated volunteers are encouraged to contact De English at 483-0123.
Picture captions: Volunteers from the Rotary Club of SML, Franklin County Master Gardeners, and the SML community work to prepare the “Giving Garden” located at Booker T. Washington National Monument for this season’s plantings of fruits and vegetables.
