Chaffee community garden nearing harvest time

The Chaffee Community Garden will be ready to harvest soon, and patrons of the Chaffee Nutrition Center are ready for the fresh vegetables.

The community garden is in its third season and is managed by Chaffee resident Aaron Horrell.

"I do the work because I want to inspire others to help their fellow man and simply because I can," Horrell said. "I am physically able to do the work, as long as I am able I will continue to do it," he said.

The garden is located near Frisco Park on city property that was donated to be used as the community garden. It is 100 feet wide by 100 feet long, and this year is producing sweet corn, peppers, tomatoes, gourds and pumpkins.

When produce ripens Horrell picks and delivers the produce to the Chaffee Nutrition Center where they are prepared for the seniors. The center serves approximately 235 meals per day and the donated vegetables help the center keep their grocery bills down.

"We are funded by the Older Americans Act and through donations so these fresh vegetables really help out with our budget," said center director Susie Pobst.

"We use what vegetables we can each day, then sell the rest to residents of Chaffee," said Pobst. The money raised from selling the produce goes back to Horrell to be put in the Community Garden Fund at the Chaffee Banking Center.

The garden is also funded by donations and the community has been generous thus far, but Horrell has an added vision for the garden fund. Horrell envisions a scholarship or charitable fund when the fund is large enough.

"When the account reaches a sizable amount to make a difference we will decide how often and how to give the money out," said Horrell.

But planting and maintaining a garden of this size isn't cheap said Horrell, so donations are appreciated.

"Fencing, seed, posts and wire are all expensive," said Horrell who planted 36 rows of sweet corn, 82 tomato plants, 28 pepper plants and a row of gourds and pumpkins.

Horrell spends about 10 hours each week tending the garden, but getting the garden started in the spring is a task taken on by several. Danny Loucks of Chaffee donates his time and equipment to plow up the land, making the soil fit for planting. Eric Eftink of Chaffee then uses his planter to plant the corn. Horrell then makes his daily trips to the garden to begin planting other vegetables, making tomato cages and fencing.

"It can be hard work tilling and driving posts, but it's not so bad if you pace yourself," said Horrell.

Horrell said the local Girl Scout troop volunteered time to help last year and encourages others to get involved.