John Harty helps to prepare parts of his backyard so his wife can began planting foods for the summer and fall season. He does all preparations of the frames of wood in which his wife, Karen, plants her vegetables.

A Lehigh Acres woman who enjoys gardening in her back yard would like to get others with the same interests to come together and form a group where they can talk to each other about the successes and the problems some may have in raising food on their property.

Karen Harty even has a blog and has gone on the Internet on Craig’s List to find people who may be interested in forming such a group.

“I enjoy gardening. I find it lots of fun and I know the food is safe because I don’t use pesticides or any other chemicals on my plants,” she said.

Karen Harty and her husband, John Harty moved to Lehigh just a few years ago and she saw it as an opportunity to do what she has always wanted to do, raise fruits and vegetables. Up north, they lived in a subdivision where growing food in your yard was prohibited.

She is a free-lanced commercial artist and the couple is from Allentown, Pa.

Both John and Karen Harty are shown at the end of a plat of ground in which a variety of vegetables are planted. Photos by Mel Toadvine

John does all the digging for his wife and he has also built several wooden frames to divide the plants.

She had plants over the spring including lettuce, beans spinach and peppers.

“You have to get the food off by June or it will rot in summer, she said.

One thing she said she discovered when she moved here is that Southwest Florida does have some cold weather. The area is referred to as Zone 10, a sub-tropical area, but she said it is more of a Zone 9B due to the frost which will kill plants.

Producing your own food saves on the grocery bill and she cans and freezes much of what she raises.

Shown are banana plants in Karen Harty’s yard. The photo is on her blog in which she discusses growing your own food without using pesticides and chemicals. You can go to her blog at: lehighacresediblegardeningexchange.blogspot.com.

And her husband says his wife is an excellent cook and makes her own loaves of bread.

She would love to share her passion with others who are also interested.

“We could get to together and talk about what works for some and what doesn’t work. I think it would be great fun for those of us who like to grow some of our own food.

“We’re not talking about farming … but just small areas in the yard where you can plant things you like and you don’t have to worry about the chemicals that are sprayed on produced you buy at the store.

Her husband picks up mulch from the county and she also saves as much as she can to produce her own compost.

If you’re interested in getting together with Harty, you can email her at ILoveLehighAcres@gmail.com or you can call her at 239-206-3373.

“I have just begun a blog, too, and people who want to see it can go on the Internet to: lehighacresediblegardeningexchange.blogspot.com.

In fact, that is what she would to call the group. She has planted some fruit trees in the yard and has planted banana plants. There are still strawberry plants in the back and some peppers waiting to be plucked.

In the front, she has planted beautifully scented herbs which she uses in her cooking.

” think a Lehigh Acres Edible Gardening Exchange would really be of interest to those of us who like to grow some of our own food. If people can grow chickens, we can grow our own food to eat,” she said.

She even envisions competition of a sorts such as The Garden of the Month, only these gardens would be filled with plants and beautiful and tasty fruits and vegetables.

Some years ago there was a Garden of the Month group in Lehigh which promoted landscaping, but Harty says this would be different inasmuch as what you planted, you could heat and feel good about what you’ve raised.

“It’s a no pesticides thing. It’s really organic gardening for sure because you know what is on your food because you have the pleasure of growing it yourself.”