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Participants dig into summer gardens tour
By LINDA M. LINONIS
YOUNGSTOWN
Eric Barrett wants to plant correct information in the minds of gardeners and weed out the myths.
He is an Ohio State University Extension educator, assistant professor and director of Mahoning County Extension. Barrett recently led a tour of Fairgreen Neighborhood Garden, 230 Fairgreen Ave. The garden on the corner is one of nine on the Growing Local Foods: Urban Farmers and Gardens Summer Tour Series sponsored by the extension office.
The goal of the summer garden tour is to dig into correct growing practices, soils, plants, helpful tips, moisture requirements, sun and shade needs, diseases and insects. The series began June 13 and continues Mondays through Aug. 15.
“The program focuses on touring gardens to see what other gardeners are growing and how they are doing,” Barrett said. “Gardening gives you a sense of accomplishment. It opens up a new world.”
“Building up soil is the most important thing,” he said, noting that is needed because of clay soil in Ohio. Clay is hard and doesn’t provide a good growing medium.
Fairgreen Neighborhood Garden has a compost pile that gardeners use to improve the soil. Barrett said the compost pile must reach 170 degrees inside to kill weed seeds, and it must be turned over regularly to produce the proper compost.
Barrett started the tour by pruning an apple tree in the garden. He showed participants what branches to trim in order to nurture a healthier and stronger tree.
“I am seeing some issues with plants and moisture,” Barrett said. That gave him the opportunity to discuss methods of watering gardens. Most important, he said, is to make sure the roots are watered.
The garden has a corn plot that is doing well. Barrett said the square planting design promotes pollination.
He noticed an ashtray with cigarette butts in it and pointed out if gardeners don’t thoroughly wash their hands or wear gloves before they handle plants, the plants may get tobacco mosaic virus. If there’s mottling on plant leaves, it’s a sign of the disease.
In the tomato section, Barrett said golden hairs were a sign of healthy plants. He said too many leaves on a plant create humidity and lead to fungus. The garden also includes herbs and hops.
Adult leaders of gardens participated in the tour.
Hattie Wilkins of Fairgreen Girls and Vicinity Garden Group said she started her group about six years ago. Seven children age 10 and older along with two young adults are involved; adults and Youngstown State University students volunteer.
“I love the land and want to teach them that,” Wilkins said. “There’s a lot gardeners need to know, and seeing other gardens teaches them something.”
Wilkins said she has been gardening all her life. She wants to share the “feeling of freedom” she has from being in a garden. “I like to sit in the garden and see what I have done and see what nature has done for me.”
She said the children have planted a variety of plants.
This year, she got a grant from Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp., and Youngstown Councilman Nate Pinkard, D-3rd, gave $250 for T-shirts for the group.
On Saturday, state Rep. Michele Lepore-Hagan of Youngstown, D-58th, who has visited the garden, will host a pizza party for participants.
The extension office sponsors the Good Natured Garden Partners Program, which promotes gardening to children. Carole Conatser coordinates Hope for Newport Community Garden, an activity in the Bondage Busters program at Martin Luther Lutheran Church, 420 Clearmount Drive. The garden involves 40 children. The garden started last year, and the group won a 4-H ribbon.
“Eric and the extension staff are our gurus,” Conatser said. “He has the experience and knowledge.”
Valeria Goncalves, a master gardener since 2012, leads Grandma’s Garden in Brier Hill on Harvard Street.
“It’s good activity to keep kids busy. It teaches them where food comes from ... they’re amazed,” Goncalves said.
She said about six children participate, and there are adult volunteers. Their gardens include tomatoes, turnips, sunflowers, collard greens, kale, broccoli and peppers.
Goncalves said while children learn the basics of gardening, she feels they also get something more. “They’re learning from experienced gardeners and having conversations with adults,” she said. “They’re making a connection ... it’s a sharing thing.”