How a Garden Grows

By Claire Weesies, Guest Reporter, with additional reporting by Phoebe Sidebottom

Sophomore Molly Simmons is working with the Zionsville Parks Department to make inclusive garden beds and education tables at Heritage Trail Park as a part of her BSA Eagle Scout project.

After Boy Scouts of America began welcoming females to their program in February 2019, Simmons, a longtime Girl Scout, joined an all-girl BSA troop and set off on her journey to become an Eagle Scout. Mindy Murdock, Zionsville Parks Department Director of Recreation Services, gave Simmons an opportunity to work toward this goal.

“I reached out to Ms. Murdock and asked if she needed any help, or if she had anything she would like me to do,” Simmons said. “And she gave me this project.”

The “Enabling Gardens” project will include a Free Little Seed Library, which will be filled with native seeds and gardening books, disability-accessible gardening beds, along with a hoop house and tables for educational programming.

“I felt like the Zionsville community needed something to bring them all together,” Simmons said.

Heritage Trail Park, located on 875 E on the Zionsville Rail Trail, is currently undergoing a major upgrade, including a dog park, new playgrounds, and extended parking. There are already existing community gardens at the park, but the new raised garden beds will be easily accessible for people with disabilities.

“It’s one spot that people know that that’s a location for gardening,” Murdock said.

Simmons plans to make six of the raised beds with cut-outs on the side to allow wheelchair users to roll up easily. The taller garden beds will also make it easier for people who can’t bend down.

Murdock said that she knew from working with Simmons on previous merit badges, “she would do a fantastic job.”

Simmons has received help from her father, her troop, and the Howenstein couple. Simmons built a Free Little Seed Library to add to the park, similar to ones seen at local elementary schools. The library will have seeds and gardening books for the community to use and exchange, some of which will be donated by the Hussey Mayfield Public Library. The Howenstein’s have made little free libraries for the town before and shared their plans with Simmons.

Simmons totaled up the cost of her project and needs around $2,500. She has raised around $1,500 through summer jobs and reaching out to the community through Facebook and the Parks Department newsletter.

Simmons has had a hard time getting wood because of its’ scarcity and high prices during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“It did seem impossible at the start, but some things fell into place in my favor,” Simmons said.

The main structure of the community gardens is the hoop house. Murdock said she is most excited to see the hoop house up and completed. The three-season hoop house is a large structure covered in heavy plastic.

According to Murdock, the hoop house will be home to educational programing for schools and summer camps as well as beginning and master gardening classes.

“There’s a potential to bring in Master Gardeners through Boone Country Master Gardeners or through Indiana Native Plant Society to hold workshops,” Murdock said.

Simmons will build the six tables to be used inside the hoop house for the educational programs. Simmons is completing this project for her Gold Award (Girl Scouts) and her Eagle Scout Badge (BSA).

“There’s a joke in my troop that I’m always the overachiever,” Simmons said. “I take pride in it.”

Simmons’ goal is to earn all 135 BSA merit badges. She needs 21 badges to become an Eagle Scout; she currently has 115.

“Only four people a year [nationally] get all the merit badges,” Simmons said. “So I think it’d be pretty cool if I did.”

Simmons’ BSA troop is based in the central Indianapolis area and her mom is the Scoutmaster. According to Simmons, being surrounded by all females is empowering; however, Simmons and her troop sometimes experience stares and uncomfortable looks.

“Being a female Boy Scout we’re already going above and beyond what most people would have expected of us,” Simmons said, “without trying to have them bend backwards for us and trying to just do it like anyone else would.”

Simmons expects the project to wrap up in March 2022 when they will build the beds and tables on site.

Simmons used this project to grow her leadership skills, impact the community, and increase inclusivity in Zionsville. Simmons said she hopes she can set an example for youth, and particularly girls.

“If I can do it, you can do it too,” Simmons said.

One of Simmons’ completed bird “seed sheds.” photo submitted by Simmons