Community Garden Report 2006

"Sharing is Caring," a concept realized by all individuals participating in The Neighbors' Place Community Garden program last summer. The garden, 12 acres of land divided into 40' X 40' plots, is donated to TNP by 3M.

Approximately 225 families benefited from the generosity of this land donation and program. Each family plants vegetable seeds of their choice, maintains the success of the garden, and harvests the crops for their own consumption.

The program requires that the sharing is passed on. Ten percent of each family's harvest is to be returned to the community.

Gene Jacobson, garden coordinator, weighs the produce, turned in by each family, and collects them for distribution.

Four out of five days, The Neighbors' Place receives produce for their food pantry which is open to everyone in need. On Fridays, however, Gene delivers fresh produce to The Salvation Army for their daily dinners. The Boys & Girls Club, of Wausau, receives cucumbers and peas upon its availability from the gardeners.

Impressively, the sharing goes even further. Two organizations, YWCA and Professional Services Group, benefit from the garden as well. "Buds and Sprouts," a program coordinated by the YWCA, gives young children the opportunity to have hands-on experience in gardening and sharing their harvests. Adolescents participating in a program, coordinated by the Professional Services Group, fulfill their community service by working in the garden.