WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAU) -- The Woodson YMCA is going to grow stronger families by growing vegetables. Aspirus YMCA Branch Director David Phelps says they are starting a community garden project at the Camp Phillips Road site.
Phelps says the efforts of the YMCA volunteers will help others in the community. “It’s going to be about a half an acre in size, and we’re going to grow vegetables in our garden, and donate all of the vegetables out to our local food pantries.”
The community garden project will involve several different age groups, and will be a good way to teach young people about raising food. “We’re going to have youth groups assist with certain aspects of the garden itself, and the goal in this whole process is going to be to educate folks on how to grow a garden as well as coming out and doing service to the community.”
Several different sponsors have helped get the project off the ground, including Thrivent Financial, Ace Hardware in Weston, and Charlies Hardware in Mosinee. The landowner next to the YMCA has donated the land for the garden and has tilled it already. Phelps says they still need donations of plants, seeds, and money.
He says volunteers will be needed because there’s a lot of work to do. “We’re going to have lots of different work days where we prepare seed beds and get them all ready to go, and they we’re actually going to be planting the seeds. We’re going to have a pretty simple irrigation system to keep everything watered, and we’re going to have opportunities to come out and harvest the vegetables.”
More information about the Woodson YMCA community garden project can call David Phelps or go to their website.
Aspirus YMCA Phone: 715-841-1855
David Phelps email address: dphelps@woodsonymca.com