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January 9, 2011

Andra Bryan Stefanoni: Garden volunteers have big plans for 2011

By Andra Bryan Stefanoni Globe Staff Writer

PITTSBURG, Kan. — Last summer, I wrote about Matt Troth, who was doing the lion’s share of the work planting, tending and harvesting thousands of pounds of produce at First Christian Church’s Community Garden.

Troth and a handful of volunteers hauled the vegetables and fruits to Wesley House, where Pastor Ellie Foster and the staff distributed them to families in need.

One morning, Troth delivered 120 pounds of cucumbers. The next day, they were gone. Every last one of them.

“They gave away one or maybe two per family, so that gives you an idea of the kind of numbers they’re seeing in a day,” said Troth.

Turns out Troth and his fellow gardeners weren’t satisfied with the status quo.

So this year, just as seed catalogs arrive in mailboxes across the country, the small crew has upped its goal. Having produced 3,200 pounds the first year, Troth now has his sights set on producing 10,000 pounds of produce.

In order to reach that, the garden needs more volunteers. Troth is setting up dates for different organizations and businesses to help. Those that wish to do so may contact him at 620-230-8036 or at mntroth@hotmail.com.

He also plans to get more involved in education, at both the elementary and adult levels. K-Kids, a youth version of Kiwanis, has committed to growing seeds for the garden. A local couple have offered to teach adults how to can, and assisted living centers and nursing homes are considering the possibility of residents participating in management of raised beds.

But it is improvements to the garden and access to it that remain top priorities for 2011. Beds that are accessible by the disabled were built by construction students from Pittsburg State University, but they still must be filled and have concrete poured around them for accessibility.

A drainage ditch must be improved to allow for better water flow after heavy rains.

And the crew wants to improve the driveway by adding more layers of rock and building a barrier to prevent it from washing out.

While most items on Troth’s wish list require time and people power, one item will require money: a tiller.

Local residents Ken Gordon and Jon White have aided the cause by lending their tractors for tilling, but Troth is trying to raise enough money for the garden’s own tiller.

The Rev. Kevin Arensman sees the project as the most basic form of what his church is all about.

“We’re feeding the hungry,” he said. “You can’t do better theology than that.”

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