A woman involved in the Northern Dauphin Human Services community garden, a predecessor to Northern Dauphin Library’s new Mary’s Garden, once said that she “buried her depression in the garden.”

That’s why Penn State Health has launched its Community Gardens Initiative and has enthusiastically partnered with Mary’s Garden and the Lend & Tend Seed Library at Northern Dauphin Library.

“The beauty of these community gardens is the ‘community’ piece,” said Penn State Health Community Health Director Ashley Visco.

“We know that loneliness and not feeling a part of community actually impacts health in a significant way. A recent study shows that loneliness is just as unhealthy as smoking cigarettes,’’ Visco said. “Our thoughts with these gardens is that not only are we teaching. We’re providing health access at these locations, and we’re bringing a sense of community, which heals trauma and brings people together.”

Northern Dauphin Library’s gardening programs were well underway when Penn State Health offered funding through the Rite Aid Healthy Futures grant and, critically, guidance in keeping the garden viable and operational for many years to come. Visco and her colleague, Program Manager Laurie Crawford, shared their enthusiasm about incorporating Northern Dauphin Library into the Community Garden Initiative.

What makes The Library a good fit for The Community Garden Initiative?

Laurie Crawford: Dauphin County Library System is a beautiful place to create a sustainability plan because The Library will always exist, will always serve community members, and will provide an education component.

How does the Lend & Tend Seed Library fit into the idea of community gardens?

Ashley Visco: I love the seed library. What a perfect idea. You go to the library, and you can check out a book. Now you can go to The Library, and you can check out seeds, and you can create your own garden. You have this sense of community. Many libraries are becoming small social service locations. To me, a library system, in and of itself, is such an integral part of any community, and the more we can uplift it and get more people to engage, the better.  

Have you seen the impact of Mary’s Garden?

Ashley Visco: When we were doing the community garden, a gentleman riding his bike said he’d help us plant. We told him, “This is a community garden. You can come back any time and plant.” He jumped right in, got gloves, and just started.

What are your hopes for the Northern Dauphin Library gardening initiative?

Laurie Crawford: I think the seed library can grow robust with people who have successful gardens and enhance the seed library with their own varieties. Some people have such amazing stories around the things that they grow. “I’ve been growing this tomato because my grandfather grew it.”

I would love for the seed library to grow like that, with people coming back year to year and sharing their knowledge with the community garden and their neighbors. The garden is a place where you feel accepted and get outside. The Library is so perfect for adding the music, the art, the books, and just growing through education.