Liberty and Ella O’Brien work with library volunteer Vicki Pecenka on May 17 to plant the library’s new raised beds. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

TRAER – The Traer Public Library gained a backyard garden recently thanks to the efforts of several local individuals and organizations spearheaded by program librarian and Tama Co. Master Gardener-candidate Laurie Schafer.

“In a nutshell, I am working towards being a Tama County Master Gardener. I am also a Traer Lions Club member. As the program librarian at the Traer Public Library, I am always looking for program ideas,” Schafer explained in a recent email to the Telegraph.

Sensing a way to thread her many community roles together, Schafer asked the local Lions Club if the organization might be willing to donate the materials to build a couple of raised beds for the library’s programming this year – the organization was indeed interested and the rest is a “winning” history, in the words of Schafer.

“[The Lions Club] would also be helping me as I could use the raised beds for programs for the library – win! – [which in turn] would help me get the hours I need in fulfilling my Master Gardener volunteer hours – win!” Schafer further explained. “Lastly, the community of Traer would benefit because the produce grown in the library’s raised beds would be donated to the Giving Table.”

Each year during harvest season, the Traer Public Library hosts a ‘Giving Table’ at the library entrance where the public can donate overabundant garden vegetables. The donated produce is then available to those in need, no questions asked.

Tomato plants wait to be slipped into the soil of one of two raised garden beds at the Traer Public Library on May 17. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

As Schafer worked to plan the three-part raised garden bed program this past spring with help from her friend and fellow Master Gardener candidate Stephenie Bellwood, she received word that fellow Lions Club member Linda Peters had arranged for Home Depot to be part of the collaboration as well.

“Home Depot donated a pallet of seeds and a pallet of organic garden soil,” Schafer said. “[A]nd the library had several seed giveaways [as a result]. Another win! Five wins in a small town is something to get excited about.”

On May 17, Schafer and Bellwood wrapped up the three-part series by planting the beds with seedlings that had been propagated by volunteer Vicki Pecenka using the seeds donated by Home Depot.

Under a mostly blue sky that Wednesday afternoon, Schafer, Bellwood, Pecenka, and seven-year-old twins Ella and Liberty O’Brien – under the watchful eye of their mother, Sarah – set about planting the two raised beds.

“We’ve built them, we’ve filled them, and now we’re going to plant them,” Schafer excitedly told the young sisters who showed up sporting pink floral gardening gloves and a couple of sweet smiles.

Traer Public Library program librarian — and Tama Co. Master Gardener candidate — Laurie Schafer explains how the library’s new garden beds will be planted during a program held behind the library on May 17. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

As the girls worked alongside Pecenka to plant tomato plants in one of the two beds, Schafer further explained to the Telegraph that anyone from the community is welcome to visit the gardens this summer to weed and eventually harvest – just as long as whatever is picked is placed on the Giving Table.

Between the two beds, Schafer and Bellwood erected a wire arch that they hope pumpkin plants will vine across this summer.

“The pumpkins will hopefully crawl over and then you can sit underneath and read a book,” Schafer explained to Ella and Liberty.

Another win it seems for patrons visiting the library later this summer.

“I just knew it was a great story because so many organizations are coming together to help with food insecurity.”

Program participants including sisters Liberty and Ella O’Brien, center, work to plant Traer Public Library’s new raised beds on May 17 while program librarian Laurie Schafer, right, and library director Diane Panfil, left, observe. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

The Traer Public Library is located in downtown Traer and is open six days a week including Mondays from 1-7 p.m., Tuesdays and Fridays from 1-5 p.m., Wednesdays from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Thursdays from 10 a.m.-7 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon.

The library’s new garden plot is located behind the building – just follow the sidewalk south between the main doors and the Jack and the Beanstalk mural.

Liberty, left, and Ella O’Brien work to break up the soil of Traer Public Library’s new raised beds during a program held on May 17. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Liberty and Ella O’Brien, center, work alongside volunteer Vicki Pecenka, left, and their mother Sarah O’Brien, right, to plant a raised bed located behind the Traer Public Library during a recent library program. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Participants in Traer Public Library’s gardening program smile for a photo on May 17 including (l-r) Sarah O’Brien, Stephenie Bellwood, Laurie Schafer (librarian), Ella and Liberty O’Brien, and Vicki Pecenka. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER