September 15, 2004
Shane Polk tests a bean pod for pickability.
Story and photos by Sarah Pearson
The Bethel Youth Center had its third year of successful gardening in conjunction with the Diabetes Prevention and Control Program at YKHC.
"Each year there is improvement in the garden as a whole. Our vegetables seem to have grown better every year," said Betty Twitchell, Bethel Youth Center Program Specialist.
This year the garden crop consisted of beets, kohlrabi, lettuce, snow peas, green beans, broccoli, potatoes, chives, tomatoes, carrots, squash, and zucchini. As with any garden, some types thrived while some squeaked in with one plant.
Kilbuck School was able to start seeds for early planting, which helped get things going. Thanks go out to those teachers and students who put hard work into those starts. Also many, many donations came in from the community to help stock the garden as well as add some beautiful colorful flowers to the mix. Thanks to those who donated countless seedlings!
Next year, Betty would like to plant a wider variety of vegetables as well as things that the children will be able to harvest in the short summer growing season.
The children were able to enter kohlrabi, beets, beet greens, green beans, snow peas, homemade bread, fry bread, peach, plum, and nectarine jam in the District Fair on August 20 to celebrate the end of summer and the beginning of fall.
The kohlrabi won a blue ribbon (First Place) in the garden vegetable category. The bread received a red ribbon (Second Place) and the jams had a score of wonderful comments.
"The children get very excited to pick things from the garden and enter them in the fair. It's been a very neat and educational experience for the children," Twitchell said.