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A Community Garden: The origin of the garden concept began around 2015 with Diane Lehrman, a member of Our Saviour Lutheran Church on N. Progress Avenue, who thought that if every church, synagogue or mosque gave up a small piece of their property for a vegetable garden, world hunger would greatly be reduced. Diane shared her idea with Joan Tracy, Faculty Advisor to the Rotary Interact Club and Joan spearheaded the project and formed a partnership with the church, the Interact Club, the Manna Food Pantry and the Rotary Club of Susquehanna Township.
Joan and the Interact Club members oversaw all aspects of the project from determining the area to use for garden, cutting/removing sod, preparing soil, to planting, to harvesting, and delivering to food pantry. The church provided the land for garden and access to water, and our club helped initially with the Interact students with creation of the 20’x20’ garden and Rotarians have helped as needed with tilling, planting, weeding and watering. The planting season for 2020 was delayed due to the pandemic. Once the county was in Phase 3, club Rotarians and Interact students helped to prepare the soil, plant, water and weed the garden. The garden provides fresh produce, without cost, through the local food system to individuals and families in the community who are struggling with food insecurity.