What do you get when you connect 10-16 boy scouts with a flood plain? A community garden, of course. Troop 326 of Clyde accepted the challenge by invitation of the Haywood Gleaners to plant a community garden on unused land.
Haywood County Recreation and Parks director Claire Carleton’s advisory board forwarded the troop’s request to develop the garden to the county commissioners/manager and with their approval the scouts were good to go. And go they did!
After months of preparation work which included weekly sessions in the garden, the scouts have to date harvested (gleaned) over 1,000 squash which they donated to the Canton Community Table’s soup kitchen as well as other Haywood Gleaning distribution sites. Their merit badge counselor Josh Francis stated that they will continue to work the garden with high hopes of harvesting more produce throughout the season that will also be donated.
Josh’s son Justin, who is working on his Eagle Scout certification, continues to provide the troop with inspirational leadership in this good cause.
This is the first time that the three year old Haywood Gleaners’ volunteer organization has partnered with a scout troop to provide ongoing seasonal gleans for those facing food insecurity.
We encourage more scout troops as well as church and other groups to work with us to develop plots that are currently available for community gardening.
Congratulations, Troop 326!
For more information regarding gleaning/gardening opportunities please contact HG at haywoodgleaners@gmail.com or Jim Geenen at jamesgeenen@yahoo.com.
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- Boy Scout Glean
