A few weeks ago, I received the 2024 catalog from Rohrer Seeds. Established in 1919, Rohrer Seeds is the preference of avid gardener and Whitehall-Coplay Hunger Initiative treasurer Allen Handwerk.

More recently, I received an email from Burpee that its 2024 catalog was on the way. My mom buys her seeds from Burpee. Seed catalogs are like the Sears Christmas Wish Book for gardeners, and they prompt sugarplum visions of vegetable gardens in our heads.

For Christmas, my friend Alaina sent me The Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening 2024 calendar. On the cover, it claims to contain advice, folklore and gardening secrets - and boy, does it ever! In addition to the beautiful artwork, plant suggestions and general information every month, it contains a vegetable planting schedule, by planting zone, on one convenient page.

No more digging through seed packets to see when I should be planting. No more planting too late because I didn’t check the packet. No more excuses. The calendar, or at least a copy of the planting page, will be residing in the pantry garden shed for quick reference. What a thoughtful gift for a gardener!

Just before Christmas, I was walking the Ironton Rail Trail and noticed a beautiful new sign for a butterfly garden. It was near the creek, just below the pantry garden. Karen Poshefko, from Whitehall Township Environmental Advisory Council, told me that swamp milkweed has been planted in this area and that the plants were provided by the National Wildlife Federation’s Mayors’ Monarch Pledge Initiative. She also told me the beautiful sign, which can also be seen from the pantry garden, was handcrafted by her dad, advisory council member and volunteer Mario Spagnoletti.

I look forward to seeing the monarchs and other butterflies drawn to this area when I visit our pantry garden. We will do everything we can to plant vegetables and flowers that will attract and support these butterflies.

About a month ago, I saw a device advertised on TV called Lomi, a countertop electric food waste composter. I was immediately intrigued. Growing up in the country, my parents always had an active compost pile in our backyard near the woods. My mom added composted material to our garden, and she also used it to create landscape beds. Having an active compost pile or barrel in my backyard doesn’t seem like a very neighborly thing to do; however, Lomi, on the surface, seems to be a possible composting alternative.

For weeks, I looked at the website, read the reviews and pondered spending the money to purchase this device. Looking at all the food waste I threw into the trash week after week made me think more about the benefits of this device. Finally, Christmas morning I broke down and ordered the Lomi Classic. If it works as promised, I will be adding new compost to my garden and the pantry garden. Stay tuned to upcoming articles for my device review.

As you make plans for your own 2024 garden, why not consider adding to that plan by donating your time at our pantry garden? Itching for something to do before spring arrives? Consider expanding your in-person social network by donating your time at our food pantry.

Please reach out to Sylvia Lee, our volunteer coordinator, at volunteerme.lee@gmail.com for more information. You may also reach out to me at 610-379-6823 with any questions about volunteering at the pantry garden.

If you don’t currently have time to volunteer with us, check our website, tinyurl/wchi.org, for other ways to donate to Whitehall-Coplay Hunger Initiative. Every hour, every dollar, every item donated helps our food-insufficient neighbors more than you can possibly imagine.

I wish you a safe, healthy and happy 2024!

Editor’s note: This column was written by Gwen Herzog, Whitehall-Coplay Hunger Initiative vegetable garden chair.