Cape Cod Junior Medical Reserve Corps Explorer Program Vegetable Garden Grown from Seed for Local Food Pantries Explorers: MRC Volunteers: MRC Director: Max Arvidson, Austin Baacke, Lara Bokanovich, Olivia Dean, Liam Doherty, Catherine Etienne, Tim Losi, Nicole Mellor, Esther Rei, and Max Sharpton Juliet and Gerry Tierney Jean Roma With support from the Barnstable County Department of Health & Environment and the Department of Human Services Mass In Motion initiative in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Thank you to Caroline Conena, Summer Intern in the Department of Human Services for helping to write this narrative and to Jean Roma, Program Director of the Cape Cod Medical Reserve Corps for the wonderful photos of the garden, which is located at the Barnstable County Complex in Barnstable Village. The Cape Cod Junior Medical Reserve Corps is a group of young adults between the ages of 14 and 19 interested in medical professions. In addition to learning about emergency preparedness, they aim to help build healthy resilient communities. What better way to do that than build a garden to feed community members in need? Volunteering at a garden is one thing, but building one from scratch and raising plants from seeds for the sole reason of giving back to food pantries that s public health kicked into gear! The day I spoke with Jean Roma, Program Director of the Cape Cod Medical Reserve Corps, was the day after her hot wash a reflective meeting about the garden during which the Explorers brainstormed positive results and potential improvements. Although there were a few challenges with the project, such as maintaining the garden in the summer with summer jobs and limited transportation, the Explorers reflections were deservedly positive. We started from seeds in February and March. We helped people. People had healthy food options. We saved people money. We planned it ourselves. We did it as a team. We had overwhelming gratitude from the pantries. All of the vegetables grown in the Explorer Garden cucumbers to bok choy to Swiss chard were donated to Christ the King Food Pantry in Mashpee and St. Francis Food Pantry in Hyannis. Jean Roma described how excited pantry volunteers were to redistribute the fresh produce to eager clients. The garden had its beginning in a wintertime conversation Christine Stein, Department of Human Services, had with Jean and the Explorers about helping with a Barnstable County Mass In Motion initiative to help put healthy food on pantry shelves. Within a week, the Explorers had a plan and began planting seeds to grow veggies from scratch. In April, construction began on a barren piece of land in the Barnstable County Complex. Garden tools were brought from home. Beds were made from scrap pieces of buildings and a few purchased items. One Explorer owned a horse and provided manure to make the garden all organic. Another had a dad who installed irrigation systems. Soil was donated, fences went up, and skills were learned on the spot. The Explorers grew a green thumb and a sense of social responsibility. They could give people healthier choices. They had to work hard to nourish what they built. They could plan, build, and grow community programs with their hands. Next year, the Explorers have bigger plans. They want to plant early, grow herbs, make more beds, have a garden grid and a work schedule, provide recipes and do cooking demos with the veggies. The Explorers have seen the benefit of their contribution and they are committed to making the garden even better next season! (Photos on the next page.)
Explorer Team Members
Amazing Produce!
Grown From Seeds
Taking Shape