Left to right, Kalyn Strahley, Estee Miller and Chantal Monnier.
Food for All: Community Garden
Last summer, members from the Paulding FFA Chapter traveled to Washington D.C. to attend the Washington Leadership Conference (WLC). During the five-day event, attendees learned how to become effective leaders by learning their purpose, how to value people, how to take action and how to serve others. FFA members left WLC with the knowledge and the confidence to act in ways that help their schools, community and their country.
One challenge the students were offered was to return to their local communities and develop a “Living to Serve” plan. Once returning home Paulding FFA members wanted to put their plan into action. The Paulding FFA members developed a plan to create a community garden for Paulding, with food donations going to the Paulding Food Pantry and to the NOCAC Summer Food Program for children. Since then, the members have been working on organizing the garden and getting ready for the planting season. They presented their idea to the board at St. Paul Lutheran Church and received permission to have the garden located on their property. Since that time, students have applied for, and received, funding from 3 different organizations. A $400 grant was received through the National FFA Foundation, $1000 was received from TSC Grants for Growing and another $1000 from Paulding Putnam Round Up grant.
Several agencies have agreed to partner up with the FFA chapter to help make the most out of the garden. The agencies include NOCAC Summer Food Program, Ann’s Bright Beginnings, Caring and Sharing Food Pantry, Paulding FFA Alumni, and St. Paul Lutheran Church, as well as community volunteers. Once the produce is harvested, it will be donated to the Caring and Sharing Food Pantry in Paulding. Members are planning to grow corn, tomatoes, peppers, beans, onions, carrots, broccoli, eggplant and lettuce. Recipes and nutritional brochures will be provided for the families at the Caring and Sharing Food Pantry.
The Paulding FFA members and volunteers will help maintain the garden throughout the summer, but community members are also welcome to help with the garden. Community members are encouraged to become involved. Anyone can donate used garden tools, compost, manure, as well as join us for upcoming work days or volunteer to be a weekly gardener. Weekly gardeners will be responsible for watering, gardening and delivering produce for their assigned week. Two work days will be held to complete the garden design and plant the 32’ x 40’ garden. The first work day will be held May 29 from 9:00 a.m. – noon and again on June 6 from 4-7 pm. If you have any questions about the garden or are interested in volunteering, please contact Susan Farr at 419-399-7507.
