The Brownwood Master Gardeners’ “Vacation Garden School” is underway this week at the Brownwood Community Garden, located behind the Central Texas Opportunity office at Brownwood’s Park Homes. Community Garden Coordinator Daniel Graham is joined by Garden President Mary Green Engle and Carrie Perrin, Executive Director for Keep Brownwood Beautiful, as they teach school age children the benefits of gardening, and applying many of those principles to everyday living.

Instruction includes starting garden plants, transplantation, growing, feeding, controlling the soil quality, garden pests, addressing horticultural issues, and harvesting the bounty. Engle says about half of the annual garden produce goes to benefit area food pantries and the Salvation Army Loaves & Fishes Program.

The Brownwood Community Garden encompasses almost 22,000 square feet, and is divided into drip-irrigated twenty foot raised-bed gardens that are leased annually by local residents. The garden also includes composting areas.

Students attending the Vacation Garden School include Macy Hays, Celise Lemons, Bryan Lopez, Ethan Palcich, Jacob Palcich, and Shaylor Teague. Vacation Garden School runs this week at the Brownwood Community Garden.

Pictured above, Master Gardener and Garden Coordinator Daniel Graham with students Ethan Palcich and Macy Hays.  Below the Vacation Garden School class checks tomato plants.