WSIU InFocus Video Player

Would you love to plant a garden, but don't have the yard space to do it? For a $10.00 deposit, plus only $12.00 per year, Carbondale residents can buy a 20-foot by 20-foot plot in the community garden at Hickory Lodge, located at 1115 West Sycamore ($18.00 per year for non-residents). Although private citizens primarily use it, local organizations also maintain garden plots and donate much of their bounty to area food pantries, soup kitchens, and other charitable outlets. Private citizens also donate some of their crops, says Walter Kent of Carbondale, who donates extra potatoes, cucumbers, and tomatoes from his garden each year. After getting a tour of Kent's plot, WSIU's InFocus crew tag along with Aura and Enya Bennett while they weed their garden and pick a few vegetables. Jerry Bradley then takes us from his garden plot to make a delivery to the Good Samaritan Food Pantry where we meet coordinator Margie Parker and shopper Caroline Hawkins. To learn more about the community garden at Hickory Lodge, contact the Carbondale Park District. You can learn more about food issues in the southern Illinois region at the Local Matters blog.

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