Community Garden Planned in Port Chester

The Port Chester Community Health Project is planning a community garden to be located at the Weber Drive development of the Port Chester Housing Authority (PCHA). In an effort to reach a stated goal for residents to have access to fresh, nutritious and affordable food, the group will build a 22-bed “Weber Community Garden” where residents who have expressed interest will help in building, planting and maintaining the garden. Groundbreaking is expected to take place in Spring of 2016.

To get residents motivated, a planting workshop was held recently to demonstrate how easy starting a garden can be. Another workshop is planned on Saturday, June 27 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. Whole Foods, which is a co-sponsor of the workshop will donate 40 assorted annuals flowers and 20 assorted herb and vegetable seedlings.

Bob Vyskocil, is executive director at PCHA. He’s very happy to be partnering with the Port Chester Community Health Project, Whole Foods, and all of the generous sponsors. He went on to say, “It’s great that there is a real effort to provide our Weber Drive and PCHA tenants with this opportunity to participate in a fun, healthy and educational activity that will help to better our community and provide access to affordable, sustainable and nutritious food. At the same time our residents will gain an increased sense of pride and ownership from their efforts.”

The Port Chester Community Health Project is an initiative of Healthier Port Chester, a committee of Port Chester Cares, which envisions an entire community mobilized around healthy living, and where residents take responsibility for their own well-being. It also envisions residents to have access to comprehensive health care, nutritious and affordable food and safe places for active recreation and socializing. Their mission is to be the catalyst for this change.

Alex Payan, coordinator for Port Chester Cares, said, “We have been extremely fortunate to have the support from the Port Chester Housing Authority and its residents, however in order to make this project a reality we need the help from all sectors of the community to not only co-sponsor this initiative but to help us financially.” The estimated start-up and operating cost for the project is $20,000. The fencing of the garden will be the most expensive factor of this project. Payan went on to say, “We are hoping someone or an organization from the community would be willing to donate different things like fencing. We are asking all community members to make a pledge to donate $20, $50, $100 or more to this great cause.”

For more information or to donate or volunteer, contact Port Chester Cares Coordinator Alex Payan at 914-255-4856 or send an email to apayan@fsw.org

In the photo: Grace Young, Rita Paige, and Sheila Oliver show off their potted peppers at a workshop promoting a community garden in Port Chester.

Photo credit: Joan Grangenois-Thomas