CHA Staff team with community children, Urban Tree Connection and Swarthmore students at Community Garden

The Chester Housing Authority’s community garden underwent major preparation for next year’s harvest over the weekend.

Children from the community joined with CHA staff, the Urban Tree Connection and students from Swarthmore College’s Lang Center for Civic and Social Responsibility to build the final of 50 raised planting beds in the community garden at Ruth L. Bennett Homes. 

Helpers included very young residents of Bennett Homes.

“Aside from not needing to stoop when planting, caring for and harvesting, the beds will allow us to get a head start on the planting season because in the spring the elevated soil heats up sooner than the ground,” said CHA Executive Director Steven Fischer.  “We have moved gradually over the past five years with our garden but we think building and seeding additional beds is going to take us to a new higher level in the spring and summer.”

This is all part of a long-term plan to teach children how to garden, produce food right here in the community, and to market.