Neil Brantley, our Urban Greening Coordinator, worked with the Glenside Boys and Girls Club and Berks County's YMCA in Reading to create a garden program for camp participants(boys and girls aged 12 to 16) this summer.

• Garden Plot Project
  This demonstrated the space-saving techniques employed in a small community garden plot. The kids participated in all phases of the project which included constructing a raised bed garden box and planting seeds and seedlings.
  
• Edible and Useful Herb Landscaping
  The kids grew various vegetables and herbs which can provide nutritional benefits. The location of the project was an unused strip of land directly in front of the Glenside Community Center. The objective was to have the kids participate in a project where what they learned can directly benefit the wider community.
  
• Solar Oven Project
  Neil demonstrated the importance of using renewable energy sources to ensure a green and sustainable future. Using the vegetables and herbs from the garden a team of kids made a highly tasteful vegetable stew to be cooked in a portable solar oven. A second team made a banana bread recipe to demonstrate the powerful qualities of the suns rays to assist in many beneficial uses.

This program was made possible through a generous grant from the Youth Advisory Committee of the Berks County Community Foundation. To learn more about these community garden projects, you can contact Neil at 610-372-4992 ext. 108 or neil@berks-conservancy.org or visit our website at www.berks-conservancy.org.