By Matthew K. Roy
Staff writer
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PEABODY — The modest garden behind a parking lot in downtown Peabody is, admittedly, not yet what it will be.
"It wasn't planted at an ideal time so the quality of the plants aren't all that wonderful," said Betsy Leeman, Citizens for Adequate Housing's director of development.
But with attentive care and patience, a necessary virtue for any gardener, the three raised beds should realize their potential. Not only will they produce fresh fruits and vegetables, but Leeman is hoping they will provide valuable lessons in healthy living for the homeless families her organization serves.
Fourteen families live at Inn Transition at 40 Washington St. Each evening, one of them is responsible for cooking dinner for everyone, and soon they will have fresh tomatoes, peppers or eggplant at their disposal. The ingredients will be a marked upgrade over the canned produce they might have encountered at other shelters.
The garden, installed three weeks ago by city and shelter workers and planted this week by Leeman, was first imagined during a conversation between Nancy Crowder, executive director of Citizens for Adequate Housing; Leeman; and Mayor Michael Bonfanti.
"Nancy mentioned that we wanted to have a garden," Leeman said.
The suggestion led to the expansion of the city's Gardening Project, which involved the planting last year of raised gardens at four elementary schools and Higgins Middle School.
The new garden at Inn Transition was aided by a $6,900 grant from the Lahey Clinic/JB Thomas Foundation. Northeast Nurseries donated all the loam, and the plants came from the city-run Brooksby Farm.
"It was a whole community effort throughout the city," Leeman said.
Volunteers from the Peabody Garden Club will assist shelter clients with planning, planting and maintaining the garden. Nutrition experts will also hold on-site meal-planning and nutrition seminars.
"I think people are surprised at how easy it can be to garden in an urban area," Peabody Public Health Director Sharon Cameron said.
The garden not only promotes healthy eating, Cameron said, but it also offers a physical activity to help keep shelter clients active.
"It's a good skill that they can take with them," she said.
The positive benefits of gardening have been championed by first lady Michelle Obama. Her organic garden on the White House's South Lawn is designed to highlight healthy eating habits at a time when childhood obesity is a national dilemma.
In Peabody, Leeman plans to plant strawberries for children to pick. The pumpkins should be ready by the fall and Halloween.
Studies show, Cameron said, that kids are more likely to eat vegetables if they had a role in growing them. And if they try them, it might spark a lifelong love affair.
