Salvation Army plants veggies for community
By Kirsten Ballard
Published in News on April 15, 2015 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Bre Floyd, 7, hands her grandfather Sam Jones a petunia that he will plant at the community garden behind the Salvation Army Thursday.
Joi Floyd did not mind getting dirty.
The 12-year-old plunged her hands into the soil and dug a hole.
Her sister, Bre, filled the hole with a petunia.
Their grandfather, Sam Jones, and Salvation Army employee Dennis Sims, helped the girls with the planting and spacing of the flowers.
They sat back and appreciated their handiwork, the patterned grid of white, purple and yellow flowers that filled the flower bed under the sunny sign for the community garden.
Spring has sprung at the Salvation Army Community Garden on Holly Street.
Employees and volunteers planted petunias in the roadside garden bed on March 26.
Marisa Benzle from CEFS donated lettuce seedlings for the garden. She also brought seeds for rutabaga, turnips, beets and carrots. She explained planting and care of the seeds to Sims.
Lt. Kenny Igleheart of the Salvation Army describes the gardens as a fellowship.
"It's more about the fellowship than the food," he said. "Get out and know your neighbors."
Those interested in the project can work in the gardens every Thursday at 5 p.m.
To get a plot of land in the field behind the Salvation Army, Igleheart asks for a $40 donation. This covers the dirt, watering and railroad ties required to make the raised bed.
"You can do whatever you want with it," he said. "It's your food."
Last year was a trial year for the gardens. Igleheart says they learned some lessons, especially in pesticides and compost.
"There was a learning curve," he laughed.
This year, he handed the project off to his congregation.
He hopes the sign generates awareness and interest in the project.
"Come out and join us," he said.
Jones, called Bam-Bam, took ownership of the community gardens. His grandchildren helped him with the planting on Thursday.
"We'd like to have other folks helping out," he said, but he was optimistic for the growing season ahead.
Last year, the beets and cucumbers did not do well in the garden, but they saw a lot of success with romaine lettuce, squash and tomatoes.
"We plan on having a lot more out here this year," Jones said.