Rad Razberries celebrate season of abundance

MILFORD — Hannah Williams is getting to know the fauna along with the flora.
She said rabbits and gophers visit the Rad Razzberries' garden and munch on some of their crops. Thankfully, she said, the chipmunks don't seem to bother.
But their biggest scare came from the Colorado cucumber beetle, which Hannah said just eats and eats and eats. They had to remove a planting of potatoes after the beetle feasted on their veggies and then multiplied wildly.
But she takes it all in stride.
"Gardening is a fun way to get outside," Hannah said. "There are too many rocks in my backyard, so this is how I get to garden."
The Rad Razberries are part of the 4H Club, sponsored by the Pike County Cooperative Extension. Its members spend happy times learning about gardening and working plots in the Smith-Harker Community Garden on Wilson Hill Road. Everything is growing great now that the beetles are (almost) history. To do this they need special skills: 4H Master Gardener Angela Williams said they use no pesticides, plant no GMO seeds, and are strictly organic.
The young gardeners spend some time at a picnic table as a class, tackling new challenges in growing food. On July 26, they learned which fruits and vegetables grow on vines, on the ground, in trees, and underground. They sampled cucumber pickle spears, the result of the hard work. Then they harvested the overgrown zucchini that hide so expertly under their leaves.
The Rad Razberries keep Williams busy as they work several abundant plots. The township board partners with the Penn State Cooperative Extension.
Carol Padalino established the garden in 2002. She also maintains Marie Zimmerman's garden near the Zimmerman House.
The Smith-Harker Community Garden is the former garden of the Smith family, prominent local farmers. Kitty Harker farmed a modest family homestead on land cleared by her grandparents in 1842. Today the public garden consists of a perennial border, where flowers return faithfully year after year.
The garden boasts a thriving herb patch. The butterfly garden attracts many species of butterflies, providing them with nectar and larval food.
Local residents and groups garden in 10-by-12 plots.
The vegetable area was planted in 2005, with additional areas added each year. In spring 2009, a state grant made an additional section possible.
This year, 20 plots are yielding fresh vegetables for dinner and flowers for the table. Bon appetit, and to your health!
Editor's note: The Courier apologizes for the editing error that messed up the group's name: they're the Rad Razberries (not Red) — a much better name, we think.