Penn State Extension United
Posted: July 20, 2011
At Harambe Baptist Church, Eldridge Ragsdale, one of our lead Penn State Extension Master Gardeners, has been teaching the summer camper youth how to transplant herbs and tomato plants from containers into the ground. The group will also be growing pumpkins and creating a decorative area using tri-colored chard.
Mr. Ragsdale is a retired United States Army Staff Sergeant with 25 years of service. He is a member of the Awbury Arboretum community garden, a coordinator, grower, and committee member for the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s (PHS) City Harvest Program, and a yearly volunteer for the Philadelphia Flower Show.
Harambe Baptist Church summer camp is located in the Germantown section of the city. After only two weeks of volunteering, Mr. Ragsdale’s expertise already on display with the additions he has already to the grounds. The herbs and tomato plants fill the spaces between the mature Hostas signifying the program’s intent to introduce healthy foods to the church community.
