Discovering Dirt
Published 7:11 pm Sunday, June 2, 2013
Bob Gosney checks the soil in one of the garden beds planned for Woodland youth. Looking on are, from left, Carita Hall-Reynolds, Anne Outland, Barbara Gosney, Autrey Jenkins, J’Khari Jones and Sam Golson. Staff Photo by Amanda VanDerBroek
WOODLAND – As Barbara Gosney stands by raised gardens filled with barren topsoil, she hopes this summer—with a little hard work from local children—the dirt will turn into a bountiful garden where the kids can learn about nature and the food they eat.
On Thursday, Gosney along with her husband, Bob, organized an interest meeting for a Children’s Community Garden, located near the entrance of the Woodland Cemetery.
Gosney, a retired Kindergarten teacher, said she had the idea to create a Children’s Community Garden for the last year.
“My joy of teaching was through the sense of discovery, a sense of wonderment of the world the children had—that meant a lot,” she said.
Gosney also noticed there was not much for children to do in the summer time in the area.
She said the garden will be for elementary children, ages 6-10, who live within the corporate limits of the town. Those involved will help plant vegetables and herbs, tend to them as they grow and harvest what is produced.
“I’d like to have tasting parties with the food that is grown so that the children can be active in the gardening and the preparation of the food,” she said.
Gosney noted the project could also bring together the adults—those that are new to town and those that are natives—in the community.
In coordinating the garden, the Gosneys received permission from the Cedar Grove Friends Meetinghouse to place the four raise beds on the church’s property. The Friends Meeting also provided lumber for the beds which were constructed by the Gosneys.
The couple also went to the Town of Woodland to check on any zoning issues that might arise as the garden is located in a right-of-way area for the cemetery maintained by the town.
The Woodland Town Board of Commissioners gave their consent and Commissioner David Cooper donated topsoil for the gardens. Autrey Jenkins also donated mulch to the project.
At the first meeting, the Gosneys met with four adults and one teenager who expressed interest in helping to work with children on the garden.
Barbara Gosney said the next step will be to get children in town involved.
At 7 p.m. on June 4 (next Tuesday), Gosney is planning to have another meeting.
For more information about the Children’s Community Garden contact Barbara Gosney at 587-2571.
