Revitalizing a Community Garden in Lebanon County

Penn State Extension chose to include Lebanon County in the WCC efforts due to the poor health outcomes seen in the community as well as a life expectancy well below the national average. Together, in partnership with community leaders, Penn State Extension is working to establish a community action plan to help effect positive change around the health challenges facing the community.

From the perspective of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and 4-H National, WCC is a long term (10 year) effort that involves changing the way Extension views partnerships. The project demands Extension teams work collaboratively as a system. Rather than delivering a program or a curriculum, Extension Educators are asked to develop their approaches holistically with the community and not for the community. National program leadership places a strong emphasis on the policy systems and environmental change efforts of WCC.

While still early in the project, Penn State Extension Food, Families & Health (FFH) Educator, Katie Greenawalt, and Master Gardener Coordinator, Casey Clauser, have been collaborating with community leaders to transform a community garden in Lebanon City. The garden, which is located behind the Lebanon County YCMA, was originally built a few years ago to be utilized as part of a weekly farmer's market in Lebanon City. However, initial plans did not come to fruition due to a lack of horticulture expertise and funding. Unfortunately, the garden became overgrown and the space was unused. Casey, with his expertise in horticulture and urban gardening experience from his previous position in Pittsburg, PA, was able to enlist the help of several master gardener volunteers and lead the creation of a committee and develop a plan to renovate the garden space. Casey hopes to use his previous experiences to create an inviting garden where all community members feel welcome.

"During my time in Pittsburgh, I worked for Bible Center Church and their community outreach arm, The Oasis Project, located in the east end neighborhood of Homewood", says Casey. "Homewood is considered a food desert with limited access to healthy produce. One of my roles with the Oasis Project was the Farm Manager of the Oasis Farm and Fishery… a small urban farm with a focus on growing local produce and educating Youth and families on how to grow and prepare their own healthy meals" says Casey.

"It is clear that Casey is extremely passionate about this type of community work, and with his leadership, the garden is being transformed from an overgrown, unusable space, to green and fertile, with tremendous potential," says Katie Greenawalt, Extension Educator.

Members of the community garden planning committee hope that it will be a source of healthy food, a space to gain physical activity for community members, as well as a gateway for improved mental health. The team envisions that the garden will encourage community members to develop an interest in gardening and growing fresh produce in the City of Lebanon. Working together, Penn State Extension and community leaders plan to organize training opportunities for volunteers and community members on proper garden care and maintenance as well as develop events, programs, and activities in the garden this summer and fall. Additionally, with the Well Connected Communities Project's strong focus on raising the voice of youth, team members hope to find opportunities for the space to be utilized by the YMCA youth programming as well as Extension's 4-H programming.