Greater Somerset County YMCA Plants New Giving Gardens

Press release from the Greater Somerset County YMCA:

June 11 2020

Basking Ridge, N.J. – Greater Somerset County YMCA is now planting Giving Gardens at several of its branches as a fresh way to help families and individuals suffering from food insecurity.

The Giving Gardens are part of the Y’s ongoing food security project launched during the COVID-19 crisis. The gardens are places where people can grow fresh produce to help those who are struggling to feed themselves and their families. Throughout May, staff and board members and community volunteers worked in shifts to plant vegetables such as cucumbers, Romaine lettuce, spinach, beets, green beans and a variety of herbs such as basil and thyme.

Giving Gardens are located at Somerset Hills YMCA, Hillsborough YMCA and Somerville YMCA.

Led by Y staff members experienced in gardening, each volunteer gardener spent about two hours per shift building flower and vegetable boxes, planting seeds and adding new soil.

The plants will take about 40 to 90 days to grow and will then be given to those in need once a week at each branch. Somerville YMCA will have a Pop-Up Produce Pantry located next its Little Free Pantry on N. Bridge Street in the summer.

Volunteers did not need to have a green thumb to lend a helping hand- just the desire to support the community.

The Giving Gardens are part of the Y’s ongoing food security project to help those in the community suffering the economic effects of COVID-19.

Materials for the project were donated by local residents and organizations including Hionis Greenhouses based in Whitehouse Station, local Girl Scouts and Rotary clubs.

For more information this and other Y food security projects, please visit gscymca.org.

This press release was produced by the Greater Somerset County YMCA. The views expressed here are the author’s own.