Ritzville community garden shares crop

With two acres of land under his care Jud Prescott was able to deliver over 24,000 pounds of squash to Second Harvest as well as three containers estimated at 800 pounds each to the Ritzville Food Pantry with this years harvest.

The ground, located between Dogwood and Elm, yielded more than just squash. He was able to produce corn, watermelon, cantaloupe, green beans, pumpkins, sunflowers and numerous other fresh produce items to supply to Ritzville Food Pantry patrons this year. Patrons were able to participate in a “you pick” gathering of the other crops grown at the garden.

What is equally impressive is Prescott does not fertilize nor does he use herbicides or insecticides. In fact he would be able to certify the crop as organic if weren’t for the use of city water and the free nitrogen that is deposited from the nearby wheat fields.

Prescott has worked as a wilderness ranger in Idaho for 23 year and for eight years he has commuted to Ritzville in his spare time to work the two-acre plot.

He is also currently working with the city of Ritzville to expand and hopes to have about 40-acres of empty lots that are between the current garden and the Wheat Land Communities’ Fairgrounds put to use.

One of the benefits of using the ground for gardens, Prescott said, was it helps sequester the free nitrogen that runs of from nearby wheat fields before it can leach into the ground water near one of the well sites.

Another is the beautification of Ritzville. Instead of a lot the had an abandoned building that was a public safety problem and an eye sore; there are now neat rows of crops which are tended by community members.

He hopes to eventually partner with the local FFA and have students who are interested in producing field crops work some portions of the ground if the city approves the expansion. Currently a committee of the Ritzville City Council is examining the possibility of the garden expanding to the vacant lots in question.

He said the city of Ritzville has been very helpful with the operation of the garden, often keeping an eye on the lot when he is away. The McGregor Company and the Soil Conservation District have also provided Prescott with crop and soil management advice free of charge.

Even with the large amount of squash being donated to Second Harvest there is still produce in the fields. Prescott said community members are free to glean the fields before he has to till them for the winter.