Blawnox Community Garden hosting free produce giveaways

Blawnox residents are invited to a community produce stand on Wednesday where they can take home free veggies and herbs.

Items will be distributed from 6 to 7 p.m. at the War Monument on the corner of Freeport Road and North Avenue.

Zucchini, squash, kale, basil and collard greens are among the first crops being harvested from the garden planted earlier this spring along Center Avenue by the Best of Blawnox group.

“Our garden is flourishing,” said Dabney Schlea, co-chair of the event.

“There will be plenty more produce to distribute throughout the summer.”

Organizers got off to a hearty start at the community garden with help from GROW Pittsburgh. Funding and on-site guidance have helped fill 10 garden beds and three raised containers with tomatoes, zucchini, beans, cucumbers, peppers, lettuce, sweet potatoes, strawberries and herbs.

“A member of Grow Pittsburgh attends our weekly work days and really guides us through this first year of starting our garden,” Schlea said. “They have been an invaluable resource.”

Best of Blawnox member Diane Casile said the mission of the garden is to share food with residents who are in need and to offer a chance for socialization.

Volunteers are sought to help at weekly sessions, at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, when the gardens are pruned and maintained.

No gardening experience is necessary.

A handful of people usually turn up to weed the beds and water the plants, Schlea said.

“We have nine people on our core volunteer list who take turns watering the garden and doing most of the weekly work,” she said.

Many local groups have donated to the project as well, with tools, seeds and other items, she said.

Organizers said they’ll likely have free produce giveaways up to twice a month.

For more, or to be placed on the email list, visit blawnoxgarden.com.