What an amazing week we had at the Whitehall-Coplay Hunger Initiative garden! With the limited amount of rain recently, I was able to move the lawn mower deck down one notch and not stall out the mower. The groundhog reopened the giant hole, and once again, I was able to see it and avoid it. I refilled the hole with dirt, rocks and the scrapings from underneath the mower deck. It appears this critter has been feasting on our cauliflower and cabbage plants but, surprisingly, not the Brussels sprouts.

Earlier this year, we had a robin build a nest and lay eggs in one of the flower boxes on our garden shed. A couple of weeks back, the eggs hatched, and there were four babies. I have a fear of birds, but since the mama robin flew away to the fence whenever I got near, I felt comfortable observing these little ones close up. Recently, the nest was abandoned, so I want to believe the mama took her babies elsewhere with less activity. Look for photos of the hatchlings on our WCHI Facebook page.

Township Commissioner Jeff Warren pressure-washed the inside and outside of our water tank May 20. Late last summer, we experienced a small algae bloom, and the inside of the tank became badly discolored. Warren was committed to getting the tank looking good before it was filled this year. It took a lot of time and energy, but the tank looks great.

We were able to hold our first garden work night. Thanks to our volunteers, we were able to remove boards and cardboard, prep beds, plant, weed and water. Sue Butchinski planted the pepper, tomato and eggplant plants; Sylvia Lee and Jenn Dietz cleared beds and weeded; Tom Noctor rototilled; I planted zucchini and yellow squash seeds; and we all watered everything. Look for new garden photos on our Facebook page.

The next night, Hokendauqua Fire Station delivered water for our newly cleaned tank. Thank you to Mark Bilder and the entire department, now and in advance, for all the water they will deliver this year!

The May 30 garden work plan included planting the radish, red beet and carrot seedlings; preparing and planting additional beds; caging the tomato and pepper plants; planting sunflower and other flower seeds; weeding; and watering.

We welcome garden volunteers, but clearances are required. See tinyurl.com/WCHIforms for more details.

In May, WCHI’s pantry provided food for almost 1,000 Whitehall and Coplay neighbors. Many of our guests tell us of the meals they will prepare using the fresh produce they receive.

As you are planting your garden, why not plant an extra row or an extra plant and donate the vegetables to WCHI? All produce received will be distributed to our pantry guests and given to our guests attending our free community meals. You may drop your garden bounty at Shari Noctor’s Re/Max Unlimited office, 1080 Schadt Ave., Whitehall, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays.

WCHI is also accepting any extra vegetable plants you may have. Call or text me at 610-379-6823 to arrange for drop-off or pickup.

This week, we learned Noctor’s Re/Max office will also be a local drop-off site for Plant-A-Row Lehigh Valley, an organization that works throughout our local communities to help gardeners find a place to take extra produce.

Keep an eye out for our WCHI garden sign to be hung on our garden fence. You will be able to see it from the Ironton Rail Trail.

Written by Gwen Herzog, Whitehall-Coplay Hunger Initiative vegetable garden chair