KEYSER, W.Va. — There’s a Neighborhood Backyard on the market ready to be planted.
Its first harvest was final yr and the folks in cost already are digging up volunteers in anticipation of the 2023 rising season.
Positioned on the Potomac State School farm, simply off Parkview Drive on the west finish of Keyser, and constructed by PSC employees, the Neighborhood Backyard challenge is being funded by a grant administered by means of WVU Medication Potomac Valley Hospital.
Patricia Barbarito, director of Preventive Medication at PVH, heads up the Neighborhood Backyard challenge with assist from different nurses, together with Ellen Bernard, group well being employee, with the objective to enlighten folks about higher diet present in homegrown greens.
Barbarito additionally enlists folks from the group with gardening experience to share their data.
Pam Rose and Nancy Starcher, members of the Mineral County Grasp Gardeners, attended a gathering with the nurses final week on the Mineral County Well being Division providing their help for the Neighborhood Backyard challenge.
“We wish to get folks who don’t have a backyard, both as a result of they stay in an residence, or simply don’t know tips on how to do it,” Rose mentioned.
Stacie Huffman, Mineral County Extension agent, supplied her ideas in the course of the assembly. “What are the limitations? What’s stopping folks from working a backyard?” Huffman mentioned, citing value, house, time and know-how as attainable hindrances.
Together with in search of volunteers to work within the precise backyard, various courses related to the Neighborhood Backyard are being deliberate, in response to Barbarito.
Courses are to incorporate Backyard Planning and Soil Prep, Feb. 16; Seed Beginning/Insect and Plant Illness, March 9; Container Planting/Plant A Salad, April 13: Prep and Plant the Backyard, Might 18 at 8:30 a.m. on the Neighborhood Backyard web site; Plant and Paint, June 15; Freezing and Dehydrating, July 13; Canning, Aug. 10; and Backyard to Desk Cooking, Sept. 14. Aside from the precise planting, all courses will likely be held at 5:30 p.m. at a location but to be determined.
Fliers quickly will likely be distributed for show in downtown companies and public services, utilizing the slogan “Let’s Develop Collectively … Plant and Eat the Rainbow.”
Anybody thinking about collaborating within the Neighborhood Backyard challenge might name 304-597-3566 or 304-597-3702.