PALERMO: Community Garden gives back

Group seeks donations for seed money

by Connie Bellet

Although 350 pounds of vegetables may not sound like a lot, the fact that most of these freshly-picked, organic veggies are greens that do not weigh a lot translates into loads of nutrition for people in our communities. Every growing season, the volunteers at the Palermo Community Garden carefully tend 30 raised beds, weeding, washing, and sorting the radishes, kales, tomatoes, lettuces, peas, summer squash, beans, herbs, and many more varieties that are donated to the Palermo Food Pantry. Last winter, the Garden lost three bearing trees in the severe cold snap, so they need to be replaced. And, of course, many of the seeds need to be purchased, above and beyond those that have been saved.

The Community Garden is sponsored by the Living Communities Foundation, but funding has been generously supplied by SeedMoney.org, a Maine nonprofit, who has offered us a Challenge Grant. We have requested $900, and have until December 15 to raise that much through their crowdfunding program. They are over a third of the way to their goal, and need your help to get over the top to be eligible for a grant. They believe in the good that can be done in a Community Garden, that not only provides food, but gives people a chance to work the soil together, socialize in the grape arbor, and connect with literal roots. Please donate now by going to: https://donate.seedmoney.org/8834/palermo-community-garden.