The story of the Penn State Extension's new Adopt-a-Pantry program and the participating local community gardens is one of fertility, living off the land and helping others.

A 35-year-old resident of Lititz, Andro Hollander is a Master Gardener and a liaison, a connector between the Lancaster County office of the Penn State Extension and a few dedicated local souls who grow produce and plants at the Lititz Community Garden. Hollander is also a knowledgeable keeper and teller of gardens and their stories.

"Central Pennsylvania is very agricultural heavy," said Hollander, who completed Penn State Extension's Master Gardener program two years ago. "Where we live is special. We live in the most fertile part of the country. I think a lot of people take it for granted. The things you can grow here are magical."

Located on land behind St. Paul Lutheran Church, 200 W. Orange St., Lititz, the Lititz Community Garden is a series of 13 raised garden beds planted, cultivated and maintained by mostly Lititz residents who enjoy the art and science of gardening. What they grow is up to them, and crops range from potatoes, onions, cantaloupes, tomatoes, zucchini, peppers and arugula to herbs, spices, teas and flowers.

"They are just everyday Lititz folks who have an interest in gardening, and they show up, which is really important," said Hollander of the community gardeners. "These are people who care and care deeply. (All the people who are) participating in the community garden are just great people. They may not have the education to be a Master Gardener, but people who are Master Gardeners have not mastered gardening. There's always something to be learned."

In past seasons, some of the surplus produce grown at the Lititz Community Garden has been donated to local organizations like the Lititz Senior Center at the growers' discretion. The recently established Adopt-a-Pantry Program is Penn State Extension's way of raising awareness about similar produce donations.

"Adopt-a-Pantry is a new program," Hollander said. "(Penn State Extension) is trying to get community gardens to participate. They're trying to get people involved in the program. They're asking people to donate what they're not going to use, and people are cool with that. I think donations are something we're going to do more of next year."

Begun just four years ago itself, the Lititz Community Garden currently has a waiting list for residents looking to use the raised beds for growing. Hollander said there have been discussions with officials at St. Paul about expanding the garden.

Residents do not pay to access the Lititz Community Garden.

"There's only 13 beds, and there could absolutely be more," said Hollander. "There is absolutely a demand. At its broadest, a community garden is a space set aside for people to exercise their own visions when it comes to gardening. They're given boundaries to exercise that vision."

For additional information on the Lancaster County office of the Penn State Extension, go to http://www.extension.psu.edu/lancaster-county.