Community gardens expanding at Women's Help Center

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – As the Center for Population Health’s community gardens program gets underway for the year, new gardens have been developed for the Women’s Help Center.

The two organizations worked together recently to build raised garden beds for the Women’s Help Center residents to help address food insecurity as a social determinant of health.

The green space behind the Napoleon Street location has approximately 80 cubic feet of growing space and has had garden beds in the past. Crews got together and cleaned up the area for new gardens.

“We looked at the planter beds every year and would get overwhelmed with the work needed to bring them back into use,” Women’s Help Center Executive Director Roxann Tyger said. “So many of our residents asked for usable garden space to grow herbs, vegetables and fruits.”

Women’s Help Center residents who wish to volunteer will be able to assist in preparing the garden beds, planting vegetables and maintaining the area. The residents also provided input on what types of vegetables will be planted – tomatoes, zucchini and cucumbers.

“The residents are excited to do something with the garden,” Local Food Systems Coordinator Nan McNinney said.

The planting day is noon Wednesday. Volunteers should contact McNinney at nmcninney@centerforpophealth.org.

Gardens and other outdoor improvements are also coming to the Women’s Help Center’s transitional housing apartments in Hornerstown.

The adjacent empty lot will be fenced in and have six 12-foot raised garden beds installed. A gazebo and space for outdoor activities will be constructed.

“The residents at our McMillen Street apartments had no usable green space,” Tyger said. “Many were asking for a garden to grow some of their own food, a space to unwind outdoors and a safe place for pets. This project is going to deliver on all of that.”