Youth Garden Groundbreaking a Success

What a fabulous day we had at the groundbreaking of the Tolland Youth Garden Project at Crandall’s Park on Saturday, October 22. The Youth Garden committee, a newly created body of the Tolland Garden Paths, had heard from people from all kinds of directions, and knew that word of the project had gotten out surprisingly well. 

Even so, one never knows until it happens how many will actually turn out to participate, watch, help and play.

Those of us on the committee were there early, of course, so we anxiously awaited the arrival of our first visitors. At right about 10 a.m. we heard the chug of a small tractor and were delighted to see some of the Piston Pushers rolling across the footbridge and followed by members of the Lions Club. It was great that the Lions Club president Brett Jones and member Len Bach got to make a grand entrance, because they were offering more than moral support; they presented a $300 check to help us put fencing around the garden. 

The Piston Pushers are members of Tolland 4-H who learn to restore, repair and use small tractors. They tilled the soil under some of the garden beds. Hugh Jeffries, 16 and the Piston Pusher I talked to the most, is more than likely a “future leader of America.” Without any prodding, he expressed his satisfaction in seeing groups get together for mutual benefit. He knows the garden project needs their help, and that the Piston Pushers benefit from increased exposure. “It’s good to see people out there,” he said. “It’s good to get kids to do stuff with their hands.”  Increasing awareness of the Piston Pushers’ activities will help bring out more people to the events in which they participate, which increases interest among youth, and around it goes.

Plenty of people had already stepped up to get the project started. Naming just a few examples here: Youth Garden committee Chair Sandie Benjamin, her husband Dave, and Heather Freeman loaded and delivered a LOT of gorgeous compost given to us by Marsha and Irv Fuller and Mike DeHetre. Karen Moran, president of the Tolland Elementary PTO, helped publicize. Marilee Beebe gave us manure. My fellow Youth Garden committee members -- Sheila Ciccone, Fran Maynard, Carol Zerio, Paula Robinson, Debbie Kupfer ran around publicizing, soliciting, and procuring materials, tools and helpers.

Before breaking ground on Saturday networking had begun with ideas to: work with the Department of Parks and Recreation to offer programs in 2012; Girl and Boy Scouts troops for badge programs; potential partnerships with preschool through high school youth programs and community hour opportunities.

Tolland Resident Christine Browning and her 8-year-old Julia helped with the “lasagna” beds. The beds that weren’t tilled were layered with a recipe that consisted of materials – cardboard, manure, straw, newspapers, mulch -- layered and intended to supply fertile ground after composting over the fall, winter and spring months.  “She thought it was something like a pizza garden, which we grew last year,” Christine said of Julia. “She’d never seen me make lasagna, so I had to explain to her about the layers.”

Ande Bloom, Health Education Program Coordinator for the Eastern Highlands Health District, came by to see what we had going on. She said that Tolland was recently added to her list of towns. What a great first impression we must have made!

Sue Moriarty, the mother of a Piston Pusher who was unable to attend because “he had too much homework,” she said, was there to help the Youth Garden Project with her daughter Kathleen. Sue is obviously an enthusiastic supporter of things local and organic. She was pleased that the Youth Garden project ties in well with other healthful, outdoor youth activities like the 4-H Club and Piston Pushers.  After enjoying what she called “a Tolland Breakfast”, which included locally-raised pork and eggs, Sue helped Hugh and the others transport a tractor, as well as pitching in with the garden. “All of us parents just try to help each other out,” she said, on behalf of the kids. “They’re keeping this machinery alive, and this interest alive. Their leader likes to bring in stuff and say, ‘Make it run’ – and they do!”

I loved watching my grandpa and uncles operate machinery. I’ve played in many a sand pit, climbed onto and dug into piles of dirt, eaten vegetables grown by my mom, Grandpa, Grandma and Nana and Gramps. When my mom let me have some space in her veggie garden, I only grew a few carrots. So while I’ve got plenty of practice getting dirty, my vegetable gardening experience was virtually non-existent until last year, at the tender young age of 42.

My friend Sarah thinks it was not a coincidence that the items I used as trellises – for my peas and cucumbers – were pieces from two old cribs. “They’re your babies!” she insisted. I love watching my “babies” grow. After planting my pea seeds, I check on them at least twice a day.

So those youngsters – and adults -- who are doing this kind of thing for the first time are in good company! Heather Freeman and her daughters enjoyed helping.  Five-year-old Zoe asked her mom, “Is it alright to get dirty?”

Her sister Bailey, age 8, replied, “That’s what it’s all about!”

I’ll bet they’ll be back to check on things in the spring.

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