Last summer, Girl Scout Shelby Kreger created the Parkesburg Community Garden as part of her Girl Scout Gold Award Project. The garden, located in North Park in the borough, yielded a harvest of tomatoes, green beans, herbs, cucumbers and more.

Now that Shelby is in school at Alvernia University, where she is majoring in biology, she hopes that others in the community will take over running the garden while she is away. "The garden has not been taken over yet," said Shelby. "Since I'm at college, it's hard for me to meet with people down at the garden and help, but my mom (Michelle Kreger) is willing to help and talk to locals while I'm away."

Community members are needed to start seedlings to get ready for the growing season, or they can grow their own plants in the raised beds. Volunteers are also needed to help tend the gardens throughout the spring, summer and fall by watering, weeding and harvesting the produce.

"I have a bunch of seeds that were donated when I started my project that I can still use, but I need help or volunteers to help me start the seedlings," said Shelby.

The garden consists of four raised bed gardens made from cinder or concrete blocks, which Shelby and her fellow Scouts painted and sealed. "The area is opening up for expanding the garden, too, for other Girl Scout or Boy Scout projects," said Shelby, noting that plans also call for adding a flower garden this year.

Shelby started seeds in the middle of April and the beginning of May, which resulted in seedlings that she planted in June. The plantings included different types of tomatoes, zucchini, summer squash, watermelon and herbs like basil, parsley, rosemary and oregano. The garden also featured a late harvest of radishes.

In July 2020, Shelby created a "Parkesburg Community Garden" Facebook page where she posted updates about the plants, and local residents could share information about the garden as well. The page also contains recipes and photos of how the harvested vegetables were prepared.

Throughout the summer, Shelby and her fellow troop members watered and weeded the garden. In September, during a weekend home from college, Shelby was able to visit the garden and harvest vegetables, including cherry tomatoes and green beans.

Shelby emphasized that the produce grown in the garden is meant for anyone. "Anyone can go pick and take what they want," she stated. "Last year everything was harvested by locals."

Shelby is a graduate of Bishop Shanahan High School and the Technical College High School - Brandywine Campus. "I am a lifetime member of Girl Scouts, so I still help and am a part of Girl Scouts," she added.

The community garden is located in North Park near the Parkesburg School Apartments and can be accessed from North Culvert Street and Rockland Avenue. For more information, search for "Parkesburg Community Garden" on Facebook. Those interested in volunteering are asked to message Shelby and her mother on the Facebook page.