Hand, fingerprints sought for new sign at Tarentum community garden

The growing season is starting to wind down at Tarentum’s Greg Blythe Friendship Garden, and children and families are being invited to the garden this weekend.

In addition to a work day on Saturday, children and families will be able to contribute their finger and handprints for a new, permanent sign for the garden.

The sign will be 3 feet by 8 feet and should be completed within a week, said the Rev. Phil Beck, one of the garden’s organizers. It will replace the chalkboard sign now there.

The artist, Blythe’s niece, Emily Whitco, will incorporate the handprints and fingerprints into vegetables and flowers on the sign, Beck said. Anyone can contribute to it, but they particularly want to get prints from children, he said.

The prints will be collected between noon and 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The work day is set for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Beck said.

A highlight will be seeing if any potatoes grew in a wooden potato bin at the garden this year, he said.

Other work will include pulling tomato plants that are done, adding compost, and replacing a couple of the garden’s beds.

Those interested in helping at the garden for the work day are advised to bring their own tools, gloves and water.

Things currently available at the garden include tomatoes, beans, herbs, blackberries and peppers, Beck said. There is still some time left for a few fall plantings of things that come up quickly, such as lettuce, spinach and radishes.

Another work day is set to start at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 3, Beck said.