Otis Community Garden: August’s Abundant Harvest

By Margie Klein
August 2026

The garden is magnificent; the colors glow with a variety of vegetables to pick. This season has brought an abundant harvest. The garden is overflowing with fresh, healthy, organic vegetables. This is a reward for months of dedication and teamwork. The pantries are appreciative of the produce they receive. Families who may be struggling receive fresh, nutritious food, and our community grows stronger through generosity, compassion, and hard work. I go early now to the garden on Wednesday to pick for the Otis pantry. We pick and wash the produce then bag for the 9:00 am delivery time. We’ve been picking peas, lettuce, spinach, garlic scape, radishes, beets, and herbs, bok choy and rhubarb. More vegetables become available on a daily basis.

My salads have been delicious with wonderful, fresh, tender produce. The slugs are numerous and the squash beetles are challenging but our team of bug controllers have a great system. I guess slugs enjoy beer which we use to catch them. They are attracted to the smell and we are trying to figure out if they prefer IPA or Budweiser.

I have learned so much about planting a garden, and picking. We are a team of volunteers with great communication. Every day someone is checking on the garden and there is immediate feedback from emails as to what is happening and what needs attention. Our garden teaches us valuable lessons each year- patience, perseverance, gratitude, and the importance of helping one another. We realize how valuable the land is and how we need to take care of it. Happy gardening!"

Photo by Margie Klein

The main goal is healthy, delicious food … and you won’t be disappointed! You can pick up a form and sign up at the Otis Library or Town Hall, or you may join us by emailing Otismagarden@gmail.com.