The Garden is a “free” entity for New Cumberland citizens. There are twenty raised beds that are available to anyone who signs up at the garden in March, simply by signing the sheet posted in the garden. The “farmer” must take care of their bed from start to finish. If they decide to abandon it mid season they are asked to call us and let us know rather than let it go. They till, plant, weed, water (provided) and reap the harvest, then clean it all up.
Money has come from grants from the Northern Panhandle RC&D Council, donations from John Vulgamore for the shelter, New Cumberland City Council, several people have asked that donations be sent to the Garden in lieu of flowers at their funerals : John Vulgamore, Fred Vulgamore, Don Bowen, Pam Amos Smith, Ana Lundy, etc. Volunteers are the caretakers of the Garden, they include Diane and Bill Wells, George Hines, Maureen Vulgamore, Tom Kessel, but mostly Howard Vulgamore who works diligently to keep up with the
Mowing, weeding, planting.
Most years we have a teaching session for area children with master gardeners and others. On this day we have a hands on lesson, a craft and a small cookout. This year a local 4H group came and painted rocks for the rock garden. We are planning a Fall Kids Day for the harvest season with Master Gardener Shelly Anderson.
With the help of New Cumberland and Northern Panhandle RCD a six foot fence was erected with hopes to keep the deer out of our “salad bar”. It has worked so far but we’ll see!
We believe it is a positive and aesthetic attempt at making New Cumberland a nice place to live. We were hoping it would spark interest in others to do the same. Two boys who grew up here and loved their childhood here saw a need for improvement and actually did something about it, how about you?!
