Area residents are invited to take part in a community garden cleanup at the Parkesburg Library on Saturday, April 9, beginning at 11:30 a.m. The gardens at the library include a pollinator garden at the main entrance and floral beds along the side of the building, as well as raised garden beds located in a fenced-in area behind the library that are used to grow vegetables.

Attendees are asked to bring their own garden tools and gloves in preparation for pulling weeds and removing debris. "Right now (everything is) covered with leaves," said library board member Kathy Forrest. "The idea is to clean up the whole area, pick up trash and (complete) general maintenance."

The library offers limited raised bed spaces to community members on a first-come, first-served basis. The beds have already been claimed for the 2022 growing season. On the day of the cleanup, participants will be on-site preparing their gardens for spring planting. "Planting doesn't start until May. The rule of thumb is to plant (after) Mother's Day weekend," said Forrest.

Plants that have been grown in the raised beds include tomatoes, peppers, zucchini and lettuce. In past years, some vegetables grown in the garden have been shared with library patrons. "Each person is in charge of their bed and if they have too much (produce), they take it into the library," noted Forrest.

The library's community garden program began in 2014 when Penn State Master Gardener Dave Jones, assisted by his wife, Linda, established the pollinator garden, which includes petunias, dahlias, marigolds and hydrangeas - plants that are meant to attract birds, bees and butterflies. In August of 2016, the library's flowering garden was certified as a pollinator-friendly garden by the Penn State Extension Master Gardener program.

In addition to coming out for the cleanup day, the public is invited to participate in the garden program by donating supplies, such as soil and compost. Volunteers, including local carpenters, are also needed to help repair some of the existing raised beds or construct new ones.

Forrest said the library is making plans to host garden talks by Master Gardeners that will cover various topics. Garden workdays are also being planned.

"The library is the hub of the community. This is one way to (bring) people together," she said.

The Parkesburg Library is located at 105 West St., Parkesburg. For more information about the community garden program, contact the library at 610-857-5165.