I asked the garden workers and volunteers to provide some feedback on the garden by answering these three questions:
What was your favorite part about the garden?
What would you like to see happen differently?
If PCC's garden was granted a large sum of money (say, $50,000), what would you want it to go toward?
Ryan
I always would say more perennials! Added educational opportunities with families about growing and preparing food. Maybe some food preservation tools? Solar dehydrator, solar cooker...and a wash station might be helpful!
McLean
Jamee and Matthew
"We really loved how food got sent home to the families. We also liked how that seemed to encourage the kids and parents to eat well, and that hopefully transcends more than just the produce you give them."
Eva
"Personally, my favorite aspect about the community garden was it’s functional diversity. The Penacook Community Garden functioned as a food source for many in the Penacook community, as a space for those interested in farming and Permaculture to gain practical hands-on experience, and as a tool for environmental education of the young in the local community. I was able to learn about Permaculture/gardening, grow food for others to eat, and also engaged with community members young and old. My experience in the garden was socially and experientially dynamic.
"I would like to see a better organization of food distribution by the Penacook Community Center, as well as an expansion of the Jump and Sprout program. I think that getting the kids in the garden has incredible potential to not only show them where their food comes from, but also make it apparent to them at a young age that gardeners/farmers are not only necessary to our country’s food system, but it can be a meaningful and rewarding life’s work.
"I think that a grant of [$50,000] could be appropriated toward increased variety of seeds, new/more efficient gardening tools and watering system, more environmental education programming, and greater advertisement campaigns for all that goes on in the garden. There is so much potential with the garden space, I think it definitely has the growing capacity, if not that then definitely the social capacity to reach others via work with PCC, the Penacook Farmers Market, and also other avenues of local advertisement to bring in more volunteers and events to the garden (pickling workshops on site, foraging tours of the weeds that grow, etc.)."
Geri
The Penacook Community Center Garden offered a “pleasure with purpose” opportunity for me during the summer of 2014. This “donation” garden not only provided hundreds of pounds of fresh vegetables for the community, but also confronted and addressed some basic food insecurities of the underserved population in the Penacook area. (This aspect was very rewarding for me). In addition, the PCC Garden presented a unique opportunity to teach and enhance the experience of the PCC children engaged in the program to understand and embrace the importance of a healthier diet and the value of eating locally in support of our farmers. I am proud to have been a part of this community garden in defense of this multi-faceted mission.
As the growing year of 2014 has come to a close, I would encourage the Penacook Community Center Garden Program to expand the participation of the Center’s youth to include more weekly visits and expanded hands-on participation and instruction in the work needed in the garden which will in turn foster and build a sense of stewardship and responsibility. I would also advocate for an enhanced curriculum at the Community Center based on age to address math and science initiatives which are both essential as children move forward in their educational experiences.
The mission of the Penacook Community Center Garden certainly deserves the support, both financially and in volunteer hours to secure its viability for the years to come. The first investment should address access to water. An established water system and meter on the property along with an irrigation plan is absolutely necessary in the garden’s continued success. In addition, providing an adequate plan to build a sustainable Permaculture garden will require funds to establish raised garden beds which will in turn lead to more efficient use of water, better soil conditions and weed control and ultimately increase production. Ongoing expenses should also always account for fresh seed, soil amendments, tools and event/activity space to further engage the community.