Daily Newsletters
Account
Washington Evening Journal
111 North Marion Avenue
Washington, IA 52353
319-653-2191
PLANT Washington hosts first Harvest Party
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
WASHINGTON — Community members gathered this past Saturday, Oct. 18 at the gardens of PLANT Washington for the organization’s inaugural Harvest Party, celebrating the close of a successful first season and planting the roots for what organizers describe as an ongoing effort to grow food, relationships and knowledge in the city.
From garden bed tours and seed-making workshops to a surprise goat visit and a scavenger hunt, the Harvest Party brought together hands-on experiences and reflection on how far the project has come. The event served three purposes: marking the end of the season, showcasing program highlights, and building stronger community ties through time spent together in the garden environment.
Holly Beinhart, who attended the party, called the afternoon “fun and informative.”
Adults and children filled the community garden space as they learned from guest speakers and got up close and personal with nature.
Among the featured activities, naturalist Addie Pacha spoke with attendees about monarch butterflies, beneficial insects and pollinator gardens; orchard-keepers Deb Seale and William Seale discussed the preservation of heirloom fruit trees.Farmer and Pawpaw-cultivator Tucker Manning didn’t hesitate to get dirty as he led a hands-on planting-seedling demonstration.
Kids also did not shy away from getting messy as they happily painted rocks, pet Olivia Pacha’s goat and enjoyed the time outdoors.
Support from Big Grove for Good made the day possible at little or no cost to attendees. PLANT Washington board member Kerrie Willis expressed special thanks to Big Grove “for generously sponsoring this event.”
While the PLANT Washington community celebrated a successful season, the work, and fun, are still far from over.
Indeed, the board has already rolled up its sleeves. Willis said the organization recently purchased more than $2,000 in lumber and ordered an additional $1,000 in premium soil to build more raised beds thanks to a grant from the Washington County Riverboat Foundation. A partnership with the high-school construction class of Washington High School will help assemble the beds next spring.
When spring does roll around, PLANT Washington looks forward to using the gardens and orchard for children as outdoor classrooms, grow community herb and cut flower gardens and support the community that makes it all possible with donation gardens designed to give food to those in need.
Situated on city-owned land at Boot Hill between Washington High School and Woodlawn Cemetery. tThe project now features orchard trees planted in 2024 and a growing number of raised beds in which community members can reserve plots, perhaps to plant seeds gathered at this year’s harvest party.
Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com
