Let It Grow
By Tammy Thornton
Perhaps you are familiar with the historic Somers Mansion high on the hill in Somers Point, Atlantic County’s oldest historic house. But have you ever ventured to the colonial-inspired gardens in the back of the historic house? The Green Thumb Garden Club of Somers Point plants, maintains, and harvests the raised beds of the Mansion’s kitchen garden. Recently they put the call out for help preparing the beds for spring planting. On Wednesday, March 30, volunteers from the community and Garden Club answered the call with an overwhelming response, bearing shovels, wheelbarrows, and elbow grease.
Rosemary Evans, Publicity Chair of the Garden Club, said that the citizen volunteers and Garden Club members “worked as a team, and it was a beautiful thing to behold.” The volunteers included Somers Point council members, members of the Somers Point Economic Development Commission (EDAC), Garden Club members, and citizen volunteers. Evans went on to tell Shore Local News that the volunteers prepared the ten raised garden beds and moved five cubic yards of compost garden soil purchased from Distinctive Lawns, Inc. of Egg Harbor Township.
Plans for the various raised beds include planting a “Three Sisters” garden based on a garden method taught to the colonials by the Lenni Lenape Native Americans. In this method of planting, the Three Sisters—-corn, beans, and squash—are planted together for their symbiotic relationship that gardeners today refer to as companion planting. The corn serves as a trellis for the beans. In turn, the beans provide nutrients to the corn and squash by fixing nitrogen in the soil. The large leaves of the squash plant help suppress weeds.
The Garden Club also plans to plant one of the front garden beds with sunflowers, Ukraine’s national flower. Evans said the garden will be planted in Ukraine’s honor “like a prayer for peace.” The Green Thumb Garden Club also plans to sell mammoth sunflowers and “peas for peace” with miniature Ukrainian flags at this year’s Bayfest in Somers Point.
In addition to the Somers Mansion garden, the Green Thumb Garden Club participates in various beautification projects throughout Somers Point including planters at the four corners leading to the Ocean City bridge, containers at the Gateway Playhouse, gardens at the Somers Point Library, and the butterfly garden at JFK park. For more information about the garden club, contact: Heidi Hibbs, President, at (609) 703-9170 or Rosemary Evans, Publicity Chair, at (609) 214-6967.
Tammy Thornton is a mom of four, a substitute teacher, and a Sunday school teacher. She is passionate about gardening and cooking, and loves the beach.
