CHARITY KEEPS ON GROWING

RODMAN — Crisp, crunchy charity is being homegrown in Rodman this summer.

An organic garden planted and tended by members of Watertown's Emmanuel Congregational Church is providing fresh vegetables for needy families in the area via local food pantries.

"It's amazingly easy to do this," said Lyle E. Pickert, who owns the garden property with his wife, Billie A. Pickert. The idea for the garden was conceived by Mrs. Pickert as a project for Emmanuel Congregational Church's Global Mission Team.

"People took it home and chewed on it for a week or so and everyone thought it was a great idea," Mr. Pickert said.

Once a week, a group of four to 10 church members of all ages comes to plant, mulch, weed and harvest the garden.

"I love the idea of helping folks out that might not have either the opportunity or the means to buy fresh vegetables," said Helen L. Smiley, one of the Global Mission Team members.

The Watertown resident said she enjoys the company when she works on the garden.

"I just like the group of people that we have at this church and in particular who are involved in this project," she said.

Carolyn L. Hettick of Watertown agreed: "We have a lot of camaraderie in our group, so I enjoy getting together with the people that are working in the garden."

Mr. Pickert said most of the Global Mission Team members don't have gardening experience, and for that reason he chose vegetables that are easy to grow: peas, carrots, beans, lettuce, spinach, squash, tomatoes, peppers, basil and beets. Twelve rows of sweet corn also are being grown for donation by James Warden on the Pickerts' property.

Several rotations of the crops have been planted at different times in a technique called succession planting, which ensures a near-continual harvest throughout the summer. Between donated seeds, tillers, manure and money, the out-of-pocket cost for the Pickerts was exactly $4.

"This is something from absolutely nothing," Mr. Pickert said.

Despite the attractiveness of the fresh food and the lack of a fence around the garden, Mr. Pickert said deer and rabbits thus far have stayed away from the vegetables. Marigolds planted throughout the garden help repel insects.

"We've never had any problem with pests," he said. "We're looking for some divine intervention here."

Several loads of early-season vegetables already have been harvested and donated to the Watertown Urban Mission and the Salvation Army's soup kitchen in Watertown.

"We'll probably spread it around some," Mr. Pickert said. "Any food pantry that's interested can contact us." The Pickerts' number is 232-4442.