To help celebrate USDA’s 150th anniversary which was on May 15th, USDA Rural Development employee Mike Boyle (left in photo) and community volunteer Josh Meier, planted special heirloom “Abraham Lincoln” tomatoes at Hardacre Community Garden in Tipton, Iowa.
Tipton’s Hardacre Community Garden was recognized as a USDA “People’s Garden” in 2009. The public is welcome to see this People’s Garden on Saturday, June 9th from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Last fall more than five tons of healthy, homegrown vegetables were harvested from the two-and–a-half acre garden and distributed throughout the community. Garden volunteers, who can be found working nearly every day at the garden, are hoping to produce even more food this season.
“At the Hardacre Community Garden we strive to be responsible land stewards through sustainable practices and organic farming,” said Boyle, who also is a certified master gardener. “We do not use pesticides. We also plant heirloom variety seed and use natural waste materials for fertilizer.”
Boyle said the fundamental ambition of everyone’s work at Hardacre Community Garden is to benefit people in need in Cedar County and surrounding areas. The majority of what is harvested from the garden is donated to area food pantries, care facilities, churches and other neighbors in need.
“We also provide a communal benefit by offering our garden as an educational resource and maintaining close ties to our horticultural heritage and local history,” Boyle added. “We indeed are making a difference in the lives of those who receive our fresh produce.”
Follow the progress of this year’s garden at www.facebook.com/HardacreGarden or http://hardacregarden.wordpress.com/.
