Mike Schmidt, 64, of Butler, weeds Monday around plants at the community garden in Butler Township. Retired, Schmidt has helped grow vegetables here for two years. Penn State Extension offers the plots for county residents to use during the summer. Cary Shaffer/Butler Eagle

Plants and produce of many different varieties can be found every year at the community garden situated on county property in Butler Township.

The Penn State Extension allows anyone to adopt a plot at the garden, which is located Center and Morton avenues. The garden begins its season in May and lasts through October, and those plots can be planted with anything, as long as they are maintained.

Jen McIntire, administrative assistant for Penn State Extension, said there are still seven of 54 plots available at the garden, and all it costs is a little bit of a green thumb.

“We just ask that they maintain their garden space through the season,” McIntire said. “Some people will take one plot, some will take multiple. They grow things from corn, broccoli, parsley, pumpkin; whatever they want to use.”

McIntire said some organizations have adopted plots, including Butler County 4-H and the GFWC Junior Women's Club of Butler, but a majority of the plots are adopted by individuals.

The garden is operated by Butler County, so McIntire said people just have to clean up after themselves as the season winds to a close.

“It’s their crops to pick,” McIntire said. “At the end of the season we just ask that they clean up their garden, remove anything we can’t mow over or plow back into the field, and county maintenance will mow over them.”

Anyone interested in adopting a garden plot can call the Penn State Extension office at 724-287-4761