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Community Corner

Girl Scouts Grow Food and Goodwill

Fruits and vegetables will go to local food banks.

Since May 2009, Girl Scout troops in Nassau County have been dedicating their time once a week to planting, watering and harvesting their gardens at Syosset's Farm at Oyster Bay. They planted string beans, cucumbers, watermelons, cantaloupes, grapes and tomatoes that are 100 percent organic and sustainable.

The girls celebrated their efforts with a Harvest Festival at the farm last Sunday. Troop members harvested potatoes, sampled vegetables, collected seeds to be stored for use in the garden next season, built a scarecrow and painted a garden scene mural.  

"The girls absolutely love doing this," said Pat Paluszek, a program specialist with Girl Scouts of Nassau County (GSNC). "Not only is this a great opportunity for them to be outdoors and learn about nature, but they are also feeding families."

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Throughout the project, the girls remained enthusiastic and committed.

"They exceeded our expectations in every single way," said GSNC's Patte Conway. "In the beginning, some of them were hesitant to dig their hands in the dirt, and to see them now. They are excited to dig and plant seeds and be a part of the harvesting process."

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Farm at Oyster Bay caretaker Amanda Roberts is thrilled with the girls' willingness to support such a worthy cause.

"The girls are wonderful," she said. "They work together well and they are learning so much on this farm."  

In addition to the Girl Scouts, the farm also received support from the youth at Our Lady of Mercy Church. 

Situated on 26 acres of land, the farm has three ponds, and the property dates back to pre-Revolutionary War times. The food donations will go to Our Lady of Mercy Food Pantry and Long Island Harvest.

Volunteer Jay Litzman appreciates the troop members lending a helping hand.

"It's a great joy to be with the kids and see the joy in their faces," Litzman said. "They go 'Wow!' when they see how the vegetables grow from these little seeds. They enjoy the wonderment of it all."

For Litzman, it's a win-win situation.

"Giving to people who don't have and teaching young people that a whole lot can come from a tiny seed is a wonderful combination," he said.

For more information, visit www.gsnc.org.

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