First-ever community garden for Seneca Falls

After months of planning Seneca Falls is home to the first community garden in Seneca County. The garden is located behind Ferrara Lumber canal side and includes nine raised beds -approximately 960 square feet of vegetables and later herbs. Currently there is zucchini, squash, tomatoes, and peppers in the ground. The produce grown will support local food pantries, the backpack program and garden members. The garden is maintained by members and volunteers. Members agree to maintain the physical garden weekly and educate new members on how to garden. The community garden is a result of a collaborated effort among human service organizations, local food pantries, private businesses, and concerned individuals. Community partners are proud to assist in organizing this caring effort and they include Seneca County Cornell Cooperative Extension, The Seneca County House of Concern, Zuzu’s Café and United Way of Seneca County. The soil was generously donated by Mr. and Mrs. Al Yanke of Waterloo. Ferrara Lumber donated materials to make the raised beds. Many other community partners have joined in including the new Seneca Falls Volunteer Fire Department who recently helped solve a watering problem by filling large trash cans with water. In addition to supporting the food pantries with locally-grown produce, the Seneca County Community Garden members will offer additional education and programming. Zuzu’s Cafe will offer classes about food preservation and canning. After renovations are complete in the house next door, healthy eating kitchen demonstrations will be offered through the Seneca County House of Concern, The group is making plans to eventually expand the community garden within Seneca County to cover both the northern and southern ends. Individuals interested in becoming a member or volunteering in the garden are encouraged to contact Diane Draheim, Seneca County House of Concern Executive Director at (315) 568-2433. Financial contributions or in-kind donations of gardening supplies are also being accepted by the House of Concern.