Atlantic Beach village garden harvesting more than edibles and flora

Nestled between the Atlantic Beach Tennis Center building and its courts is an area that encompasses a variety of plants and vegetables that would make the city’s botanical gardens proud.

The Atlantic Beach Village Garden was hustling and bustling with activity on the last day of June. Laura Hagan, Stacy Mizrahi, Kathy O’Leary, Fran Rosenberg and Suzy Schneider tended to the community garden and readied its weekly food donation to the Long Beach Soup Kitchen.

Begun four years ago, the garden grows 500 plants, Schneider said that not only helps to feed people but also supplies the garden’s annual Mother’s Day plant sale that helps supports its efforts.

“It is a learning garden,” Schneider said as she showed a reporter around the flora oasis. “We grow to learn, we grow to show and we grow to enjoy.” Schneider is the garden’s chairwoman.

Open to all Atlantic Beach residents, anyone from any age or ability can volunteer. Schneider made it a point to note that Bonnie Brady, Anita Geier, Sharon Izzo, Kevin Kelley, Joanne Piscione, Marjorie and Andrew Rubin and Carole Slavin also help frequently, and Mayor George Pappas is a strong supporter of the garden. Andrew is a village trustee.

Basil, beets, brussels sprouts, assorted herbs, garlic, oregano, parsley and tine are part of the garden. An herb spiral allows the gardeners to plant a lot of herbs in a small space. There is also chives, kale, googootz a cucumber-shaped vegetable, sage and scallions.

The gardeners do what they can to raise health plants and vegetables by using organic pesticides and understanding the difference between invasive species and good pollinators. “It is a wonderful place to build community,” Hajan said as she watered several of the plants and vegetables.

Girl Scout Troops 717 and 737 built a monarch butterfly way station as a place for those insects to stop on their way migrating to Mexico. The garden has also served as a classroom for schools.

Schneider made it a point to highlight a sign attached to a garden fence that explains how people can “rewild” at home by growing native plants that use less water to grow, provides food and shelter for wildlife and a native habitat for bees, birds, and butterflies.

A garlic shallot festival is being planned for the end of July, Schneider said, adding they are in the garden every Sunday morning and volunteers are always welcome.