From March through the end of June, Oceana County 4-H youth grew more than just a garden. Through the Growing Across Generations 4-H Gardening Club, members developed gardening skills, built relationships with senior volunteers, and gave back to their community while helping cultivate one of the largest gardens the Oceana County Council on Aging (OCCOA) has had in recent years.
Made possible through the Michigan 4-H Foundation Educational Gardening Grant, the club met several Mondays throughout the spring and early summer, bringing together youth and senior volunteers in the OCCOA Community Garden. The project gave youth the opportunity to experience every stage of gardening, from starting seeds indoors to transplanting seedlings and maintaining a thriving community garden.
Members began the season by starting seeds before transplanting them into the garden. Weesies Brothers Garden Center in Hart was utilized to purchase additional vegetable and flower plants. Weesies Brothers Garden Center generously donated three flats of plants to the project, helping the club expand the garden even further. Together, the youth and senior volunteers planted more than 20 flats of vegetables along with a variety of flowers, creating a vibrant and productive garden. The group also established several perennial crops that will provide harvests for years to come, including blueberries, raspberries, and asparagus.
Throughout the 15-week program, youth learned about pollinators and the important role they play in food production, identified common garden pests, practiced routine garden maintenance, learned proper harvesting techniques, created garden art and discovered how planning, teamwork, and healthy soil all contribute to a successful garden. Beyond gardening skills, members gained valuable experience in community service while working alongside volunteers from another generation.
On June 29, the club celebrated an exciting milestone by harvesting its first peppers of the season, officially kicking off this year's garden harvest. Throughout the summer, fresh produce from the garden will help stock the OCCOA while also being available for seniors who participate in programs and activities at the center to take home and enjoy.
Although the official SPIN Club has concluded, several youth members plan to continue volunteering in the community garden throughout the growing season. They are also encouraged to showcase what they have learned by exhibiting produce at the Oceana County Fair or through the Michigan State Fair 4-H Virtual Showcase.
Oceana County 4-H extends its sincere appreciation to the Michigan 4-H Foundation for providing the Educational Gardening Grant, Weesies Brothers Garden Center for their generous donation of plants, and the OCCOA staff and dedicated garden volunteers for sharing their time, knowledge, and passion throughout the project.
The success of the Growing Across Generations 4-H Gardening Club has laid the foundation for future community service opportunities. Next year, Oceana County 4-H hopes to expand volunteer efforts by inviting additional youth groups to participate in the OCCOA Community Garden. Members of this year's gardening club will help lead those efforts by serving as mentors and assisting with volunteer coordination. Youth organizations interested in participating are encouraged to contact the OCCOA or the Oceana County MSU Extension office to learn more.
