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People's Garden in Lancaster, New Hampshire
MaryEllen Cannon, of the NRCS Lancaster field office has been working
with student volunteers from the North Country Charter Academy, the Academy's
administrator and lead teacher, Scott Kleinschrodt, as well as Earth Team
volunteer, Kelly Eggleston, from the Student Conservation Association, to build
a "People's Garden" at the USDA Service Center. Thanks go to Bob Every,
the owner of the property who allowed and supported the project on his land.
The NRCS donated some funding to purchase materials. The group coordinated
with Myra Emerson of the Methodist Church Food Pantry to accept food donations.
Other USDA employees who helped with the garden were Paulette McKeeman, Justin
Brown, and Irene Schmidt.
The North Country Charter Academy is an alternative school to help students
earn high school diplomas located in the basement of the USDA building. Scott
Kleinschrodt and Debra Ryder, the assistant teacher, very much wanted to offer
students an opportunity to get up from computers and get their hands dirty. The
garden fits within the overall national goals of helping students get more
exercise as well as eating wholesome foods to lead healthy lives. The
three students working on the project expressed admiration for Secretary of
Agriculture Vilsack's goal.
Because of the short growing season in northern New Hampshire, the students
were close to the end of school year at the start of the project. They began
without any monetary support, not wanting to wait until it was too late to
plant. Boards for the garden bed were donated by Dana Southworth of
Garland Mill Timber in Lancaster, NH. Compost and seeds were donated by
MaryEllen Cannon. Steve Turag, Coos County Extension Ag. Educator, donated
some interesting flour corn seeds to the project. Steve also offered advice as
did other FSA staff who are avid gardeners. The harvest consisted of squash,
pumpkins, carrots, onions, corn, and sunflowers.
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