- Author: Cheryl A Potts
Two and a half years ago I wrote a blog regarding Mark's Growing Center, a program which is designed to provide individuals with developmental disabilities community access, the learning of life skills and employment. One of the aspects of that program is the preparation, planting , maintaining, harvesting, and selling of vegetables and herbs, grown without pesticides, to local restaurants. The large garden providing these delectable eatables is found on Leisure Town Road (the part found behind Camping World) in front of a home called Hope House. Also. participating in the Mark's Growing Center project are individuals that live in a home in more urban Vacaville called Mustard Seed. A group of volunteers assist individuals work the garden and take the veggies to town to be bought by some of Vacaville's finest eateries.
The program is still in existence, but has grown little.
We have two volunteers (each of whom are Master Gardeners) who assist individuals plant, weed, water, pick, weigh, box, and sell. We would love to have more participation. I personally only spend about one hour per week at the garden, added to the time it takes me to make strawberry jam one time per year from the berries grown in the garden, then which is later sold. Anyone having some time to give would be so welcome to come out and give us a hand.
We have two young men with special needs who are on our regular crew. We would love to have more. If you know of someone who would like to work outside and experience the satisfaction of seeing his or her hard work turn into beautiful vegetables, please let us know.
We use a lot of good compost donated from the City of Vacaville. We use plants donated by Color Spot. The water is donated. If you have any extra seeds, plants, money, and/or time, please contact me and I will help you get involved in a very wonderful, worthwhile, and rewarding program.
Funds raised through this project are used for activities and trips for the homes' residents.
Just a quick note of interest. Those vegetables that are not quite up to restaurant quality are shared by the garden's participants as well as The Father's Storehouse (free food distribution program), and Opportunity House (Vacaville's homeless shelter).