On August 19, the final harvest of the Bookworm Friendship Garden brought children and adult gardeners together to pick a variety of vegetables and flowers, and to water the plants. 

A wheelbarrow was filled with around 70 tomatoes, pole beans, cucumbers, zucchini, eggplants and pumpkins. Flowers were cut from giant sunflower plants and zinnias. Each child received a large bag of vegetables, followed by a picnic lunch, a bean-bag toss game and prizes.

Children said they were excited about picking vegetables and liked tasting what they had grown. Also, parents commented that some of their children had become more venturesome in trying different vegetables, such as beans, cucumbers and zucchini. Children and adults enjoyed interacting with one another and making new friends. 

Also, in July, garlic was harvested from the garden, and on October 10 at noon, garlic will be planted for next year. The rain date will be October 11 at noon, and the event is open to families with children.

The garden is a joint program with the Hawley Public Library and The Country Gardeners (TCG). It teaches gardening skills and how to grow their own food to children and adults with disabilities from the Human Resources Center of Pike County.