From familiar garden favorites to a 50-inch bean grown from a mystery seed, a recent Community Connections program encouraged participants to try something new.

Special Needs Services of Ray County (SNS) Director Suzan Breen led the program at the Ray County Library, using produce from the organization’s community garden to demonstrate ways to prepare and preserve the harvest while introducing attendees to different varieties of fruits and vegetables.

The SNS community garden began at 4,225 square feet and has since expanded by about onethird. Breen said Stephen Arnold, an SNS affiliate who has taken the lead in tending the garden this year, planted a wide range of produce.

“One of the things we wanted to do was expose people to varieties that maybe they haven’t tried before,” said Breen.

That variety became the event’s focus after a planned cheesemaking demonstration was unexpectedly canceled. Produce from the garden was instead gathered to prepare and share with community members.

Attende…