Van Wert County Juvenile Court Judge Kevin Taylor poses with two student volunteers holding produce from the St. In addition to learning about hard work and responsibility, the probationers also developed pride and ownership in the garden. Marigold flowers and sunflower seeds were also planted, with all the plants doing well except the peas - which saw only one plant survive. Planting then began, with probationers planting tomatoes, peppers, kohlrabi, cabbage, parsley, zucchini, two kinds of squash, pumpkins, cucumbers, peas, and pole beans.

Ream and probationers later installed the cattle panel/arbor for pole beans and a gate to support tomato plants and students were taught how to use basic garden tools: hoes, a manual tiller, a rotating cultivator, rakes, hand trowels, and shovels. The boys were also allowed to use an electric drill after being taught basic safety rules. The program started with preparing the garden for planting, including repairing wooden bed rails, with Ream and two boys on probation dismantling and replacing old boards.

Ace Hardware donated lumber for the beds, Tractor Supply Company provided wire and a metal cattle panel used as an arbor to support pole beams, Rural King donated chicken wire and tools, and Laurie’s Naturescapes offered both free and discounted plants and fertilizer. Probation Officer Matt Ream said the garden’s beds were falling apart when staffers first visited the garden, so the department looked for resources to help get the garden in shape.

Mark’s, approached the probation department earlier this year to see if staffers were interested is taking over the garden as a community service project for juveniles on probation. Dave Mosier/Van Wert independentĪccording to Probation Officer Nancy Sparks, who oversees some of the probationers who work in the garden, said Judge Kevin Taylor, who is a member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church’s community garden on North Washington Street. Van Wert County Juvenile Court probationers Edward (left) and Kobe check out the sunflower plants at St.

Starting Over by Nance Sparks