Thanks to the hard work of Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Health Services Dietitian Lesley McKeen, there is now a community garden located at the Mashpee Wampanoag Community and Government Center.

Lesley is very excited about growing healthy habits among the community with the new garden. “I’ve been working on developing a community garden for several months and we’re finally ready to plant,” said Lesley. “We’re now looking to schedule a planting day where everyone can come and plant a seed.”

The community garden also has special sections for specific groups within the Tribe. “It has been agreed that the children will have control of on of the beds and the adults and elders will work the others,” said Lesley.

Lesley also said the recovery group will be involved with a medicinal garden.

The gardens consist of 5 cedar-raised beds, a circular medicinal garden and a perennial flower garden. The goal is to promote socialization, physical activity, nutrition and plant education as well as plant harvest.

“We hope to include indigenous pants and herbs that will help foster the education between the adults and the young on traditional crops, there benefits and how they were and continue to be used,” added Lesley.

For more information you may contact Lesley McKeen at 508-539-6917.