O'Hara Eagle Scout leads construction of special bench at the Sharpsburg Community Garden

O’Hara teen Braden McCormick combined his mom’s passion for gardening and his desire to help feed the needy to earn his Eagle Scout rank from the Boy Scouts of America.

McCormick spent more than 43 hours constructing a potting bench for the Sharpsburg Community Garden, a Main Street spot that offers free produce weekly to residents.

A potting bench is a table about waist-high that’s used to start seedlings and perform garden chores. It’s especially helpful for senior citizens and people with limited physical abilities, according to garden coordinator Ruth Ann McGarry.

“I think that the free market really helps out the community,” said McCormick, 16. “It’s also educational for topics like healthy eating and growing produce. To be a part of that just felt pretty special.”

The potting bench is just more than 5 feet long. It will be used to mix soil, prepare organic fertilizers and store tools. McCormick, along with fellow scouts from Troop 173 of Etna, also built two movable benches for the site.

“I thought the volunteers could use them and it would build a more welcoming environment,” he said.

Eagle Scout is the highest rank in the Boy Scouts program. According to the group’s website, only 4% of scouts have earned the achievement since the program’s inception in 1911.

To qualify, Scouts have to earn at least 21 merit badges and demonstrate Scout Spirit, which is based on the Scout oath, service and leadership.

The Sharpsburg Community Garden grows in a lot just off Main Street. McGarry said it was started last year after petitioning borough council for use of the empty lot. Throughout the summer, there are tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, herbs, eggplant, beans and greens tended to by volunteers.

McGarry said there are about a dozen people that routinely visit the garden market for free produce each week. Leftover crops are delivered to the senior high-rise.

Plans include planting 10 additional beds next year, McGarry said, with hopes of feeding more people in need.

McCormick’s potting bench project will make the volunteers’ job easier, McGarry said.

“We can start our seedlings without bending over and then pot them as they grow larger,” she said. “We are so delighted with his work.”

McCormick said he’s relieved to have finished the construction project, but also said he’s found a new pastime in volunteering at the garden.

“I think I’ll continue to work here,” he said. “I’m pretty satisfied overall with the results and hope the benches service the garden for years to come.”