Planting Underway in Children's Garden at Lemont Library

The first crops — blueberries and strawberries — are in the ground in the children’s garden behind the , 50 E. Wend St.

Library director Sandra Pointon said the project, a first-time endeavor, is in keeping with First Lady Michelle Obama’s campaign of healthy eating and growing one’s own produce.

In March, Obama planted a White House garden for the third year with elementary school students from Washington, D.C.

Pointon said volunteer Judy Apke presented a plan to the library board for the garden, which will involve other adult volunteers and children in library programs.

“I thought, ‘Take that vast green lawn and turn it into something that produces something,’" Apke said. She added that the state of Illinois has asked that public agencies “go green.”

Apke has been taking care of the perennial beds in front of the library for the last two years, Pointon said.  Apke “has rearranged some things and the beds look better than ever.”  

The butterfly garden at the library was put in as an Eagle Scout project. The young man is in college now.

“His dad came by and said he was glad someone was taking care of it,” Apke said.

Apke, who planted the blueberries and strawberries last week with two boys who were at the library, said she has wanted to plant a victory garden for a long time.

Victory gardens were encouraged during World Wars I and II to supplement dwindling food supplies at home. If the crop is good, veggies and berries can be donated to a food pantry. Herbs will be planted next.

“I just love doing it. I hope I can pass that on,” said Apke, who began preparing the garden site last year with compost to enrich the soil. “We’ll try to do everything organically."

Apke said volunteers need no experience. “I’m learning something new all the time,” she said.

“Volunteers are needed for different things at different times,” said Apke, who added that she would like the children to do other things in the garden, such as an art project or writing poetry. "They won’t be just digging in the dirt.”

For more information on the children’s garden or to volunteer, call the library at 630-243-3500.