Our Lady of Perpetual Help Community Garden

The OLPH Community Garden was founded in 2008 with the mission of learning and building community in Highlands by coming together to grow fresh produce/flowers in support of the Highlands Food Pantry and for our gardeners' personal use.

The parish of Our lady of Perpetual Help in Highlands has allowed us to use the former school's athletic field for the garden. Formerly the main playing field for all school activities, the lot was abandoned when the school closed in 2006.

Last year's efforts were conducted by a small group of families with little experience in gardening. We cleaned, plowed and divided the lot. We planted a variety of seeds and plants, including lettuce, onions, radishes, tomatoes, several kinds of squash, cucumbers, potatoes,corn, beans and pumpkins. We regularly weeded and tended the garden, and harvested a surprising amount of vegetables. Each week throughout the summer and early fall, we provided fresh vegetables to our parish-operated food bank, as well as to our own family dinners. In our novice year, we learned many lessons about what grows well and what doesn't, what kinds of plants produce more vegetables than others, how to effectively tend the garden, and even what works best to sooth sore backs and tired shoulders. We worked hand and, at the same time, had fun. We are very proud of our initial efforts.

Going forward we must do more.

The highlands Food Pantry, the only food bank in our community, is open two days a week and currently serves about 70 families per week. Sadly, as a result of the economic turndown, that number is growing. We are determined to increase the amount and expand the variety of garden-fresh, healthy vegetables that we provide to our needy neighbors.

We have developed partnerships with Mothers Teresa Regional School, Henry Hudson Regional School and the OLPH Religious Education Program ton involve more of our area children in the garden project. Students are assisting with composting, raking and weeding, as well as planting flowers to attract bees and beautify the space.

Additionally, we are building a raised bed to encourage participation by senior citizens or handicapped individuals who truly want to be part of the community garden, but have difficulty bending over or kneeling down to work ground level rows.

Our volunteer group has increased in numbers for this year. The group now includes two certified master gardeners from the Rutgers education program who have offered their expertise. Our Master gardeners are providing guidance in the key areas of soil development and planting support - the areas where we need most the most help - and where the Dearborn Market Earth Day contest could really provide a boost to our efforts!

While the lot is a wonderful location for our garden, with full sun and a great fence to keep out the deer, the soil desperately needs nurturing and development. We have obtained some compost from the Middletown yard and are building our own composting area. However, we have only obtained a portion of what is needed to build a proper soil base for our developing garden. We are confident that if we can get materials to really nourish the land this year, we will be able to provide for ourselves in the future.

The OLPH Community Garden has no budget. We depend entirely on the donations of our members and other community friends.

The OLPH Community Garden feeds the hungry, teaches our children the value of community service, builds wonderful relationships, and encourages ( and makes accessible) participation by all members of our community. If you see fit to award us the $1,500.00 in garden materials, you can be sure it will be put to good use.

Thank you for your consideration of our Community garden project for your Earth day contest.