The Counseling Center Inc. and its clients, with the help of local volunteers, have established a Victory Garden in Portsmouth. The clients get the opportunity to gain gardening skills while at the same time growing food.
Staff members say they believe in miracles because they have seen them up close and personal as many clients turn their lives around and start their lives afresh and anew.
And it’s not always some expensive and complicated program that clicks to move people to change their lifestyles and enjoy their new ones. Sometimes it’s something as simple as a Victory Garden.
That sounds like shades of World War II days of the 1940s, but that’s how staff and clients alike refer to the patch of potato, tomato, bean, corn and other vegetables growing between the houses where recovering clients live, between Second and Third streets, just east of the Shawnee State University campus.
“Back there we have the Stepping Stone house for women, three other houses where grownups live, the Bridges Adolescent Program house for young women, and the St. Luci House for Women where the Episcopalian and Presbyterian churches help maintain a place for women to stay while undergoing residential treatment,” said Beth Perry, executive secretary at the Counseling Center office at 1316 Third St.
She said Ray Gibson, a certified master gardner, works with the Counseling Center on the project.
“He planted the garden and is showing residents of the houses how to fertilize and hoe and make things grow,” Perry said. “Our clients stay busy learning gardening skills, and we’re seeing one of our little miracles”
“Our board of directors thought the garden wold be a good idea and a good tool to use in recovery,” said Susan McComas, resource development coordinator at the center’s main office, 1634 11th St. “Our clients not only get gardening skills, but they’ll harvest an abundance of healthy food.”
She said Gibson has planted leaf lettuce, green onions, beets, potatoes, two kinds of corn, beans, cauliflower, cabbage and tomatoes. He’s getting read to plant green peppers.
“He comes once a week to talk to clients about the whys and hows of gardening, how you don’t walk in the garden when it’s really wet, different ways to hoe to aerate the soil and keep the weeds under control, and how to tie up tomato plants. Our clients added some beauty by planting flowers around the edges of the garden.”
McComas said Portsmouth Feed & Supply, 240 Second St., donated seeds and plants for the garden, while Wagner Rental & Supply, 3400 Rhodes Ave., New Boston, donated equipment to help with plowing and furrowing. Phil Gibson of Wagner donated his time to use it.
“They’re all jumping in and lending a hand with it,” said Ray Gibson. “They’re first-timers, but they’re very interested in it, especially as they see some of the harvest coming in for the tables. They’re harvesting some radishes now. This is really one of the best-looking gardens in Portsmouth, even if I do have to say so.”
Kelly Watson, a client, said she welcomed the gardening session with Gibson.
“I have never done a garden myself. Now I have actually learned about taking my time, how to apply fertilizer. It’s a good experience,” Watson said.
Both she and another client living in the nearby houses, Sarah Gregory, likened the growing of the garden to how they hope to see their own lives progress.
“Watching the vegetables grow to harvest is the same way I want to be growing,” Watson said.
To which Gregory added, “I’ve discovered that life is a garden. You have to dig it, cultivate it.”
G. SAM PIATT can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 236.
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