POTTSTOWN >> The Mosaic Community Land Trust is showing that gardens are for growing and enjoying with Sunset Fridays this month.
This Friday and next, area residents are invited to drink, eat and be merry at the Pottstown community gardens. This Friday’s sunset event will be held at 615 Chestnut St. from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Then the event will happen again next week but at the community garden located in front of Barth Elementary School. The address is 467 W. Walnut St.
Laura Washington, Mosaic community garden manager, said the evening activities will have food and music She said it’s not just for garden members or those interested in planting. At last week’s Sunset Friday event there were volunteers and a cub scout group in addition to community gardeners.
“It’s just a way of bringing people together and highlighting the gardens,” Washington said.
She said it’s also a great opportunity for people to learn more about what the community gardens are all about. The gardens are there for people to enjoy the scenery not just for those who are planting, Washington said. The gardens will also have a market stand later this season to sell surplus produce and food from local farms.
Those who can’t wait to taste the fresh offerings of the gardens can visit the permaculture garden at 301 Walnut St. A permaculture garden is one that works with the natural environment. Washington said the area has a lot of native plants. The Walnut Street garden also has gooseberry bushes and cherry trees that people are welcome to pick and eat.
“It’s in full bloom,” she said. “The garden is open to the public and it’s open for everyone to enjoy.”
Mosaic is taking some of its activities outside the garden this summer. The organization is working with Genesis Housing to provide families with a fun field day. The event will have music, healthy food samplings and plenty of fitness activities. The field day will be held at the block of Chestnut and Washington Streets intersection Aug. 27 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Washington said the idea came from noticing that people really enjoyed the active opportunities during their National Night Out events.
“We noticed that the activities like jump roping, hula hoops and throwing a football were pretty popular with families and especially with kids,” she said.
The field day will have 12 to 17 activity stations that will last about five minutes each. Everyone will have an opportunity to try each activity. The DJ will signal when it’s time for families to switch. Washington said after people complete each station then they’ll receive a token. Participants that complete 10 stations with equates to 45 minutes of exercise will get a free gift.
Washington said the tokens will also be used to determine how many hours families that attended participated in physical fitness. If a child does at least 12 stations then that will mean they did 60 minutes of exercise which is the daily recommended amount for kids.
As of now, CustomFit Training, the Pottstown Athletic Club, Art Fusion 1964, and The Hill School will have volunteers managing activity stations. There will also be general activities like jump roping.
Washington said she is still looking for additional vendors to organize a station as well as vendors who would just like to do an information table at the event. Organizations and businesses that donate or become a vendor will have their name advertised in social media outlets and printed materials. For more information about the Aug. 27 field day event or if interested in being a vendor, contact Washington at the email wash500@msn.com. For more about the community gardens or Genesis Housing, visit the Mosaic website at mosaicclt.org.
The Mercury is engaged in a long-term effort, Fit for Life, designed to promote healthy living. In addition to articles in the newspaper and on our website, Fit for Life features a blog with recipes, health tips such as getting fit without breaking the bank and other tools all available free online. Visit the website at pottsmercfit4life.wordpress.com, like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MercFit4Life and follow our efforts on Twitter @MercFit4Life.
Michilea Patterson is the Fit for Life reporter and is funded in part by the Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation.
