Rich Winslow works in his plot at the South Abington’s community garden recently.
Fred Adams | For Sunday Dispatch
Area residents taking advantage of South Abington community garden.
Bob Dillon, of Clark Summit, waters his plot at the South Abington’s community garden recently.
Fred Adams | For Sunday Dispatch
A gardener at the South Abington’s community garden picked ingredents to cook for her dinner.
Fred Adams | For Sunday Dispatch
A bucket full of mulch is brought to where the gardeners at the South Abington community garden will have easy access to.
Fred Adams | For Sunday Dispatch
Edye Schneider carries some cilantro from her garden plot at the South Abington community garden to take home.
Fred Adams | For Sunday Dispatch
Anthony Medici pulls out a garlic bulb from his plot at the South Abington community garden.
Fred Adams | For Sunday Dispatch
An English Sparrow perchs on the fence at the South Abington community garden.
Fred Adams | For Sunday Dispatch
SOUTH ABINGTON TWP. — Gardeners descending on South Abington’s community garden have opened the season, planting a variety of flowers and vegetables they will harvest later this year.
The South Abington Community Garden opened in 2008 with funding from businesses and individuals. There are now about 100 plots that fill the garden just off Winola Road, all of which are filled.
Rich Winslow became a gardener at the site, when he was looking for something to do during the pandemic.
He had previously gardened and was eager to get back to it.
He grows lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes and lettuce most of which grace his family table. But, he points out that should gardeners have an overage in their harvest, they often donate produce to area food pantries.
Winslow comes to the garden about three times a week, more if he needs to water.
For him, it provides a quiet time outdoors.
Anthony Medici said he has been growing produce for his “whole life,” and enjoys the opportunity for an open area for planting.
Medici’s preference in produce lean toward hot and spicy, and he has vast areas and varieties of garlic and hot peppers.
He’s always ready to share tips with other gardeners and to learn from them.
He enjoys eating much of his produce in the simplest way possible, for example, sliced tomatoes with olive oil and basil, with a side of Italian bread.
Carolyn Crowley, Community Garden Coordinator, said with the price of food skyrocketing, area residents appreciate the opportunity to grow their own food.
Crowley said people also enjoy the time outdoors with their neighbors.
“It really is a nice peaceful place,” she said.
As the summer moves forward, crops and colors change.
In August, for example, sunflowers rise above the other plants in a range of yellows.
In early autumn, pumpkins will mark the season with a variety of golden oranges.
The Abington Community Garden was built in 2008 with donations from community leaders, businesses and organizations.
It is a program of the Abington Area Joint Recreation Board and run by volunteers.
