Working Together For Change in Hancock County
SICIM Email
In 2020, Vernon Township in Hancock County started a victory garden project to engage people seeking outdoor companionship in a healthy, green environment during the pandemic. They dug a plot next to the office with the help of a local farmer who was also a Township Board member, focusing on growing food to donate to F.A.R.M., the local food pantry. Early on they connected with Lais McCartney, Extension Educator at Hancock County Purdue Extension, and Patrick McCartney, leader of the Hancock County Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA). The focus was learning the basics of community gardens and Lais encouraged them to work with the Hancock County Master Gardeners (HCMG). Several gardeners signed up for a Community Gardening Training program to help structure their program, and a couple folks within the group became Master Gardeners themselves.
In 2021, they had the good fortune to move to a new office with 11+ acres. Their team saw the opportunity to expand from the donor and community garden projects to a larger vision: the Gardens of Vernon Township. Again, the McCartneys (Lais and Patrick) helped them with education programs for gardeners and staff. They also suggested soil testing, managing invasives, and to start planting native species.
Stephanie Schuck with the State of Indiana Cooperative Invasives Management (SICIM) visited the property for an invasive species survey and provided a management plan for getting rid of invasives, including the 12 Bradford pear trees directly in front of the building (that have been cut down!) and those in the natural area behind the building where the pear trees were spreading due to the seed production of the established trees in front.
While Stephanie got them focused and headed in the right direction for invasive removal, they worked with an Eagle Scout to convert a trash enclosure into a garden shed and a local muralist to paint a Gardens of Vernon Township mural. The community garden moved into raised beds and a local beekeeper established three hives on the property. Additionally, working with the HCMG they established two milkweed beds from winter sown starts. This led to certification as a Monarch Way Station later in the summer.
They planned a Weed Wrangle with the Hancock County CISMA for early November 2023. In mid-October they received a Community Foundation Grant to purchase 68 native trees and shrubs through the Hancock County Soil and Water Conservation District. Fortunately, 30 volunteers from HCMG, Purdue Extension, Hancock County CISMA, SICIM, and Mt. Vernon High School came together to make it all happen in one day. The students planted all 68 trees with expert instruction from Indiana Master Naturalist, Ruby Northcutt, and Patrick led the Weed Wrangle to help remove 50+ invasive honeysuckle bushes and Bradford pear trees. Burning bushes that were in the landscaping were previously removed and replaced with the native shrubs as well. What an amazing transformation!
Future Plans
They worked with a Ball State University landscaping class to brainstorm opportunities for the 4-acre garden design and hired Mader Landscapers to bring the ideas to life for a formal garden, youth garden, berries, a bee education center, pavilion and much more. They now have a general plan and are working on the water management infrastructure. It will take several years to get the gardens established but they will continue to expand as the budget allows. They’ve also started working with the Vernon Township Library on offering a seed library program.
This story is a perfect example of how partnerships can work to make change and engage the community, pooling together resources and knowledge to better the local community. Kudos to all the community members and organizations that came together to make all of this happen!
“We are so very grateful to the Hancock County CISMA, Purdue Extension, Hancock County Master Gardeners, and Hancock County Soil and Water Conservation District, and all those in this community who have helped us learn and grow!” - Flory May, Vernon Township Trustee