Pottstown, PA – I was given a tour of the new Community Garden on Chestnut Street yesterday by Katy Jackson. The garden was formerly a broken down playground full of weeds, drug dealers and hookers. The school district and the borough worked with Mosaic to make this project happen. It is now a source of pride and a stabilizing factor in the neighborhood.
The large space was cleared and has been subdivided into 34 individual plots that people are using to grow their own vegetables. There is also a flower garden near the front entrance, a patio area and a common gathering area in the rear. An amphitheater is being constructed for lectures and programs. There is a shed full of tools, three hoses for water and several adult and child picnic tables. In addition, there is a composter in the rear of the property that will be brought back into working order so that gardeners can all contribute to the communal composter.
There is an educational component to the garden as well as the ability to grow one’s own food. There is art programming at the garden this summer in conjunction with the Olivet Boys & Girls Club/Ricketts Center. 20-25 children are attending. The children have painted the benches the past three Thursday mornings and this Thursday they are gathering at the garden to paint bird houses.
There is special kids pizza garden and a middle school garden.
People are harvesting green beans, lettuce, yellow squash and tomatoes.
This Saturday, July 14th, there is a composting workshop at the garden. Lectures will be given on traditional composting and worm composting. This workshop runs from 9am to 11am. The presenters will be Laura Washington and Scott Winter.
Future plans include selling produce grown from the garden and additional community garden sites being added in Pottstown. There are many volunteers who have put hours of sweat equity into making this garden a huge success. They should all be commended!
For more information about the tremendous project, click here: http://pottstownclt.wordpress.com/
Roy's Rants - For Your Information 
Roy, this is exciting!! Thank you so much for spending the afternoon/evening with us. Tomorrow’s compost workshop is much anticipated. Lovely article kiddo!!!
What a WONDERFUL thing! We need so much MORE of this in Pottstown!!! Thanks for sharing!