We folks at the Community Garden are so proud. After a long and cool spring when everything was discouragingly slow, the pace picked up during the summer. We proudly announce that the garden produced 1,470 pounds of fresh produce to this area’s community food banks. The garden supplied veggies to the Wahkiakum Food Bank in Cathlamet and the West End Food Pantry at Johnson Park in Rosburg.

Much has happened at the garden this year. With funding procured through the Health and Human Services Food and Nutrition staff, Heather Odum and Julie Johnston, the garden has a new, larger hoop house with electricity to run the heat mats for seed germination and seedling growth. (Thanks to electrification project management by volunteers Chris Holmes, and Mark, who brought his excavator and did all trenching and backfill. Also help from Dave McNally’s Town of Cathlamet crew Troy and Michael.) In addition several new pieces of equipment and gardening supplies have been acquired. Several more raised beds are being constructed.

Our dedicated volunteers have achieved much. In addition to helping with the planting, watering and harvesting, Denise Doughty and Roger Kavan contributed a new netting structure for the blueberry bushes. Sue Docker has been busy laying down fabric on the pathways which neatens up the garden and deters weeds. Chris Holmes is our “go to” guy for anything that requires sawing and hammering and measuring. Laurel Check, an experienced gardener in her own right, has been a big help with watering, harvesting and filling in when others were away and always has good gardening ideas. The three of us WSU Master Gardeners, Joyce Orr, Kim Sharp and Winnie Lowsma appreciated all their help, we couldn’t do without them.

Gardeners with individual plots also had a very good year. By summer the garden was verdant and lush.

Plans are being made for the next season of gardening. Joyce Orr organizes the individual plots, If you are interested in a plot contact her for information at her email: joyceaorr@gmail.com.