How does a casual conversation with a passionate gardener turn into a reliable soruce of organic food capable of producing 200 pounds of food in one month? We spoke with Sam Pearce, director of Helping Center in Marble Falls to learn how he did it.
How did the Helping Center get involved with the Highland Lakes Master Gardener Association?
“We refer to things like this as a God story; something that just happens,” says Sam Pearce, Director of Helping Center in Marble Falls. In a fortunate turn of events, the former President of the Highland Lakes Master Gardener Association met Martin (Judge) McLean, former director of the Helping Center. Upon meeting, Judge said, “We have this property that would be great for a garden!” It turned out the feelings were mutual, and the garden was born not long after! That was almost three years ago.
Do all the garden volunteers come from the Highland Lakes Master Gardener Association?
“We're a small facility, so we can really have so many volunteers inside. Any extra volunteers will generally be sent to the garden on Mondays, Wednesays and Fridays, our harvest days. A lot of the hard work put into the garden comes back from community service volunteers,” says Pearce.
How many volunteers help in the garden and what do they do?
There are generally 40 volunteers in the food pantry and 30 in the garden. They host classes, tours, and of course perform the physical but rewarding duties required to sustain a successful garden. “These guys are just dynamite,” Says Pearce. “The community really does take part in it.” In addition to volunteers, the community support they receive is unreal. Starbucks regularly donates coffee grounds for compost and fertilizer, Lowe’s donated a tractor trailer, and Home Depot regularly donates miscellaneous items as well!
So what’s growing in this garden?
Marigolds, garlic, peppers, onions, radishes, bush beans, cucumbers, squash, roma and cherry tomatoes, eggplants, black-eyed peas, potatoes and more. The Master Gardeners incorporate strategic features in the garden that enhance the environment for everything that grows and lives in it. For example, alpaca and turkey manure is used to grow squash, marigolds are planted near specific vegetables because they emit toxins that keep away pests, and earth worm hotels are built in the garden allowing worms to live underground away from the diatomaceous earth and perform their vital duties under the soil.
What do clients think about the food they are receiving from the Helping Center Garden?
“Well, we haven’t heard one complaint! I hear ‘better than the grocery store’ and on and on,” Says Pearce. “What we are harvesting is 100% organic, no chemicals used. It's really the highest quality produce.” Clients are taking advantage of these resources by showing up on harvest day mornings and receiving this produce straight from the garden.
Helping Center harvested 200 pounds of food in April. It is amazing to see how much has been given back to the community because of the meeting of two passionate individuals.
