Cornelius Boy Scouts sow seeds of good will at garden

Boy Scouts from Troop 72 recently planted vegetables at the community garden across from Bethel Church in Cornelius.

Photos courtesy of Lori Owens

The church charters the troop.

The troop has been tending the garden for the past three years, and gives its produce to Loaves & Fishes food pantries in Davidson and Huntersville, and Angels & Sparrows and Bread of Life soup kitchens, said Lori Owens, the communications director for the troop.

Owens said that for the past two years, the troop has produced about 4,500 pounds of produce each year. This spring, the scouts planted tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, zucchini, cantaloupe, corn, watermelon and okra. There's also an area for herbs on the quarter-acre plot. 

And at the request of soup kitchens, the scouts learned how to grow garlic last fall, which they'll harvest in this month and in June.

The troop also participates in the annual Scouting for Food drive, which helps local Loaves & Fishes pantries. 

The troop, along with Cub Scout Pack 72, collected more than 11,000 pounds of canned food this past February for the drive.