I was recently given the opportunity to help with a Raised Bed Garden Project at the Whitley County Health Department. Our local health department wanted to provide community members a chance to see fresh, local produce being grown at their office location. After contacting several community leaders and local businesses I was able to provide the materials to construct six (6) different Raised Bed Gardens, including the soil and plants to grow inside them. 

     With the help of our Horticulture Assistant as well as workers from the Whitley County Health Department we were able to successfully construct, plant, and run irrigation lines to all the Raised Beds. These beds are in full-swing growing, currently. They also have provided a great learning opportunity to folks in our community. Community members and workers at our health department have been working diligently maintaining and working all of these beds through the heat of the summer. Folks have learned how to grow their own produce, they have learned how to maintain and keep these beds weed free as well as how to scout for insects and disease pressure. The irrigation lines have cut down the time it takes to make sure these plants are receiving the adequate amount of water and keeping the plants healthy through the recent droughts we've experienced. These raised beds have also provided fresh produce to numerous community members who do not have access to fresh produce regularly. 

      As a horticulture agent it makes me proud to see people in my home community in the garden getting their hands dirty and successfully growing beautiful, fresh produce. I believe working in gardens is great form of stress relief and therapy for folks. I have heard numerous comments on what a great job the Health Department is doing. I look forward to continuing our work together and continuing to make these Raised Beds gardens even more successful for years to come.