Let It Grow
By Tammy Thornton
Mainland Regional High School sophomore, Geoffrey Lovett, of Somers Point has been hard at work to earn the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest achievement attainable in the Scouting America organization. Among additional requirements to attain the Eagle Scout rank, a Boy Scout must progress through six ranks, earn 21 merit badges, serve six months in a troop leadership position, and plan and develop a service project for the community. Lovett, a member of Boy Scout Troop 55, said he always wanted to find a project that would be a help to the town where he lives and where his troop meets.
After many months of planning, Lovett chose a project that would work with the Green Thumb Garden Club of Somers Point. He said it was all the more special because his grandmother, Mary Sue Lovett, was a member of the garden club. On Saturday, March 1, the future Eagle Scout conducted a work day at Somers Mansion in Somers Point. Lovett’s project consisted of removing eight older raised beds behind Somers Mansion and replacing them with new two-foot-high raised beds, which were built on-site.
This was truly a community project. Somers Point Lumber donated the wood for the boxes. Tim Lenzsch, “The Tree Man”, donated wood chips, which were added to the base of the new planting boxes, and the Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA) donated “eco-soil”, which was used to fill the boxes. Lovett supervised the flurry of activity as friends, family, and fellow Boy Scouts rolled wheelbarrows of wood chips and soil to fill the boxes. Though Lovett was leading the project, he also got his hands dirty and led by example as he worked tirelessly to finish the project.
Members of the Green Thumb Garden Club were on hand looking forward to planting peas, tomatoes, sunflowers, carrots and strawberries in the new garden beds, as well as the corn, beans and squash in the “Three Sisters” garden.
Lovett hopes to earn his rank of Eagle Scout before he turns 16 in three months. He truly demonstrates the Boy Scout spirit. We applaud his hard work and enthusiasm and wish him the best of luck in achieving his goal.
Tammy Thornton lives with her husband, children, and crazy pets while enjoying a life of gardening, cooking, and going to the beach.
