HARDIN, KY – If you’ve been through Hardin recently you may have noticed the library has grown with the installation of a greenhouse. The structure, which was provided through matching funds from the Rotary International Foundation and the Marshall County Rotary Club, will be the site of a community agricultural project.
“The greenhouse will be used for library programming and outreach,” says Sara Dittman, Marshall County Public Library at Hardin Children’s Librarian and the greenhouse project supervisor. “We will use it to teach patrons of all ages to plant, maintain, and harvest fresh fruits and vegetables. The items we grow will be distributed to program participants at no cost to the patrons.”
Dittman notes that by giving patrons an opportunity to learn how to grow and harvest their own produce, they are giving them the means to provide nutritious food options for their families. She says programs will be hands-on, and volunteers, such as local Girl Scout troops, will be used to maintain the plants by composting, watering, and collecting the produce.
In addition to providing funding for the project, the Marshall County Rotary Club also took on the responsibility of constructing the greenhouse. Over the course of a few weeks in June, members of the club worked together with library staff to assemble the structure.
“We are thankful for everything the Rotary Club has done to make this project a reality,” says Dittman.
The library plans to begin hosting programs in the greenhouse this fall.