We need the community's help in raising seed money. The Extension Master Gardener℠ Volunteer Association of Carteret County is enthusiastic about working with the WIC program in cooperation with the Carteret County Health Department to benefit low-income, women, infants and children. The funds raised will help us provide educational programming on horticultural techniques used to raise vegetables in our area and the vegetables and herbs grown in the garden will be donated to the Storehouse Food Pantry in Morehead City.

Our garden consists of 6 raised beds that were inherited from another program. Due to neglect these beds are in desperate need of more rooting depth and better soil. Volunteers are available to do the much-needed maintenance on the beds and the soil, however, we need donations from the community to purchase supplies for renovation and new construction at the site also located in Morehead City.

Our goal for these beds is to produce fresh seasonal vegetables and herbs year-round that will be donated to the Storehouse Food Pantry. Because of needs at the panty and ability to maintain the plants in the garden for harvest specific items will be planted for best results. These include: in the spring (peas, strawberries, lettuce, spinach, carrots, kale, cabbage, onions, dill and parsley), in the summer (tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, green beans, squash, mint, and basil), and in the fall (collards, spinach, lettuce, beets, and carrots).

Along with donating the produce to the pantry, we also want to use this garden as an educational garden. To accomplish this, we will be making some short videos on tips to make gardening easier, how to extend the gardening season, and preventing pests and diseases from destroying the garden. With this information we can educate the community with science-based horticultural techniques and offer free gardening advice throughout the county and also share on the N.C. Cooperative Extension of Carteret County website (under the Master Gardener Volunteer tab) and also on social media.

Your donation will help us grow produce throughout the year, share our harvest, and educate future and current gardeners in Carteret County! We have the volunteers, now we just need the funds to make our goals a reality.

Thank you in advance for your donation large or small to fund our Goodness Garden. If you would like additional information, please contact Shawn Banks.