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the voice of the abingtons abingtonsuburban.com | march 2, 2017
Middle schoolers were honored as students of the month |PAGE 4
Kids had a chance to learn about the business world |PAGE 4
The Lady Comets are tearing up the district tournament |PAGE 9
A GrowinG ConGrEGAtion
Waverly church preparing its community garden by Linda Scott
The garden produced several kinds of tomatoes, beans, zucchini, squash, pepSPEciaL to tHE abinGton SUbURban pers, eggplant among other vegetables. “We are a fairly small congregation The Waverly United Methodist and knew that we would be the primary Church is getting ready for the second leaders and doers the first year,” said pasyear of the community garden after a tor Michelle Whitlock. “We trusted in the very successful first year. vision God gave us for the community. The church, at 105 Church St. in We knew it’d take time for the commuWaverly Township, is hosting a free nity to catch the vison but it’s happening. country-themed chicken-and-biscuit We truly believe this is a mission of the dinner on Friday March 3, starting at 6 community and the congregation is just p.m. Donations will be accepted to supspreading the vision. It is exciting to see port the community garden. The fresh the vision catch around town.” produce benefits local food banks and Children from the Waverly Community shelters as well as senior centers. Chuck, the Waverly congregation’s giant friendly House’s Comm Kids after-school program came and got involved in the project. They chicken, will pose for photos. There will helped with weeding and harvesting. They be door prizes. also made scarecrows for the garden. The menu includes chicken and bis“We have continued to do things with cuits, mashed potatoes, peas, beverages the kids during the year and hope to inand dessert. “The community garden was amazing volve them in the garden even more this and very successful,” said Beth Kostelnik year,” Whitlock said. “We were thrilled with the response we a church member who helps with the received from the community and learned garden. “People came to the garden and a lot in the first year,” Whitlock said. “We interacted with each other. Vegetables are looking to include more volunteers were harvested well into October. They and improve our distribution system this were organically grown with no chemicals used. Everyone who helped with the year.” “We have partnered with the Waverly garden added their hand prints to a sign Baptist Church to improve our capabilifor the garden. The hands were turned ties for growing and harvesting,” said into butterflies, lady bugs and birds. I have a therapy service dog named Story. church leader Ron Hackman. “There seems to be much community support Everyone loves her. She put her footfor the garden project and we anticipate print on the sign.” building on last year’s success. “We plan to provide training and mentoring for those with less gardening experience. All ages are welcome. The goal is to have people sign up for a week or more of watering, weeding or harvesting TS_CNG/SUBURBAN/PAGES [S01] | 03/01/17
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Waverly United Methodist church members and volunteers worked hard on last year’s garden.
as their schedule allows,” Whitlock said. This year produce will be handed out at the church after services on Sunday from 10 a.m. to noon at no cost. There will be a farm stand display outside the church for people to stop by and pick up the produce. “The Waverly Community House has offered us the use of their greenhouse,”
Kostelnik said. “In the future, we would like to use that to start the produce from seeds. That’d save us a lot of money.” Anyone interested in volunteering to help with the garden is welcome to sign up on the Garden’s Facebook page: facebook.com/waverlygarden. Additional details will also be available by calling Waverly United Methodist Church.