Scout’s garden in its teens and ‘growing’ strong

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Scouts work in garden at Klotz’s. (Photo: J.D. Pooley/Sentinel-Tribune)

Scouting helps in the formation of young men and women in a wide variety of
areas.For the last 13 years Cub Scout Pack 345 from St. Mark’s Church has cooperated with Klotz Flower Farm
to have a small garden behind the Napoleon Road business. Many former Scouts still return to assist the
young boys with the gardening tasks.George Nicholson, the former Scout master remains involved and touts the
garden project as incorporating many aspects of Scouting including God, country, family and self-esteem.
"It’s all right there," he said gesturing toward the garden.This year’s garden features more than
20 types of vegetables including 10-15 different varieties of tomatoes.When the Sentinel-Tribune visited on
Monday, the young gardeners had just assisted in doing some weeding, planting sweet potatoes and harvesting
some radishes to eat.Elijah Kendrick, 10, surprised those around, especially his father, when he answered
what he liked best about the garden."Mostly the work," Elijah said. "I like how it uses up
the time. You can’t think of what (other things) you have to do."He later said he also likes planting
and harvesting with carrots being his favorite crop.His younger brother, 7-year-old Jonas, said he likes
harvesting the corn.The brothers have helped in the garden in previous years.Eddie Eschedor, 8, is in his
first year of assisting and this he said was his first time.He said they did some weeding and fertilizing
the vegetables."I only like to pick radishes. I don’t eat them, I think they are hot and spicy,"
Eddie said.Providing assistance to the Scouts was Gene Klotz and the Allis Chalmers B tractor dating back to
the 1950s.The tractor is now operated by the fourth generation of the Klotz family. And on Monday, Klotz’
grandsons, Ethan and Ryan were the fifth generation to sit atop the vintage machine.This tractor was
purchased by Merle Klotz, a second generation operator of the farm, in the mid 1950s. It was used for a
variety of operations on the farm.Gene Klotz provided information about his father noting how he was
"active at Klotz’s until the time of his death" at age 90 in 2004. "He was able to get up on
the tractor and loved to plow the garden and the lot where pumpkins were planned along Napoleon
Road."Klotz indicated he used to use the tractor while he was growing up to make money by plowing
neighborhood gardens for residents in the Fourth Ward. The gardens he plowed are now gone and replaced by
apartment complexes.His sister, Nancy Klotz Germann, would tie sleds to the back of the tractor and give the
children rides in the winter by pulling them around in the snow.Merle’s grandson Eric Klotz now uses the
tractor at the business to pull trailers load with plants around the grounds.The Scouts use much of the
produce for their own families with extra being "sold" for donations at Pagliai’s on South Main
Street, Nicholson’s business.He said when produce is available, he puts it out at the pizza restaurant. He
expects to have corn, potatoes and other fresh vegetables in July. People can offer donations to pick up
some of the produce with all monies going to the Scout pack.The Klotz family and the Scouts know the many
benefits of gardening.

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