Brandon Benedict and Hassani Muhiji are seen in the garden, accessing the growth of tomato plants.
(New Hartford, NY) Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County has been helping to guide residents at Utica Municipal Housing Authority Adrean Terrace Community Garden learn about vegetable gardening here in Central New York State. Community Garden serves all residents but targets the Somalian Bantu population.
Conservation students of the Future Farmers of America (FFA) club at the Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES in New Hartford stepped up to the plate to start tomato and pepper seedlings for the residents.
Keith Joslin and Rick Reid, conservation teachers, commented that this community seed starting project has given the students community service experience, which helps them to meet their FFA requirements. A handful of students were involved in sowing the seeds and caring for them over the early spring months, now the plants are ready to be distributed to members of the Community Garden.
Brandon Benedict, Dietetics student, a Rome resident, from SUNY Oneonta has been hired by the Adrean Matt Resident Association through the Oneida County College Student CORPS summer internship Program.
This project was made possible through Utica Municipal Housing Community Garden Resident Training program funding.