Free gardening plots plowed at Sunnyview
BUTLER TWP — More than 50 garden plots that can be used for free by county residents with a green thumb are available near the Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center off Morton Avenue.
Butler County Commissioner Kim Geyer said the 30-by-40-foot plots, which total about an acre, were plowed and disked Saturday by the Western Pennsylvania Garden Tractor Association.
“Those four volunteers used their own resources, which included time, fuel and tractors, to plow these fields for the benefit of those who plan to garden this summer at the county's gardens,” Geyer said.
Duane Mahoney, WPGTA member, took part in the project aboard his late model Massey Ferguson garden tractor. He and his wife have used four plots at the Sunnyview site to grow corn, beans, tomatoes, zucchini and other crops.
“We've had them for at least 10 years,” Mahoney said of his plots.
Saturday marked the first time he has helped plow at the Sunnyview complex.
“It was a nice day and Mrs. Geyer was very gracious to us,” Mahoney said. “She bought us lunch.”
He said the garden tractor club plows each year on the Beacon Hotel property and at Marburger Dairy, both in Forward Township. Many of the association's members have antique tractors, and tractor pulls are held at the Beacon Hotel property and Marburger Dairy.
“We just have a good time doing it,” Mahoney said.
Justin Brackenrich, agronomy educator at the Penn State Extension office in the Sunnyview complex, said the four separate garden plot areas are near the new 911 dispatch center.
He said 20 plots are spoken for, however, many are still available.
Those interested in reserving a garden plot can call the extension office at 724-287-4761, Brackenrich said.
“People want to produce their own crops and I think it's great that the county gives them the opportunity to do that,” Brackenrich said.
