Garden Talk: Thriving year for food bank garden

By: Maggie Counihan, food bank garden coordinator,Washington Conservation Corps, Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction Program

Summer squash growing fast and furious

The changing seasons concluded another great year in 2014 for the Food Bank Garden at Ecology’s Lacey Building. My predecessor, Kate Nagel, did a wonderful job coordinating more than 150 volunteers throughout the year. The volunteers — mostly Ecology employees — donated more than 200 hours.

They harvested 1,849 pounds of food, including squash, tomatoes and corn, which was donated to the Thurston County Food Bank. A WCC crew constructed a compost bin last January, which continues to churn out compost. The annual Earth Day plant sale last April was very successful and raised funds for the continued operation of the garden.

Bundles of garlic drying after harvesting

Ecology’s Food Bank Garden has been in operation since 2011. Since it started, there have been more than 500 volunteers from Ecology and local schools. The garden has produced more than  8,500 pounds of produce, all of which has been donated to the Thurston County Food Bank, and helped to expose people to gardening and community service.

Congratulations to all the volunteers on another successful year! Thank you for all the time and hard work you put into the garden. Without your continued support, the garden would not be what it is today.  As the new coordinator, I am excited to help nurture such an abundant garden.

Corn, tomatoes and sunflowers ready for delivery to the food bank

We’re looking forward to another productive season.  Work parties will resume in the spring.

To be added to the volunteer list email: maggie.counihan@ecy.wa.gov