LINCOLN, R.I (WJAR) — A Lincoln man with a passion for gardening has been sharing the fruits of his labors with his neighbors for years.
Michael Ricard, 60, moved to the ‘Manville Manor’ almost ten years ago. It’s a part of Lincoln Housing Authority.
“I had a brain aneurysm in 2015 and I moved here because I was disabled,” he said. “I needed a hobby. They told me I couldn’t work after the brain aneurysm, and I’m not the type of person to sit down and watch TV all day.”
Below his apartment was a large grassy backyard perfect for a garden.
The front, he said, needed some flowers so he asked maintenance if he could plant some.
“They said yes, then the following year maintenance asked me to expand with vegetables, it started small and then with the success of that I was asked to do a bigger garden which was half the size of what you see now,” said Ricard. “Each year they asked me to expand and I tripled the size of it this year.”
Ricard preps his garden for each season. In the off-months, he grows all of his produce from seeds accumulated from harvest the previous year.
He has an entire setup inside of the Housing Authority’s Community Center building.
Once the seeds start to grow, he transplants them into his outdoor garden.
“We have eggplants, I’m just finishing on peppers. This trellis is going to be for the cucumbers, that for the tomatoes. I have garlic growing. I started in November so it’s been a process to get it to this point, I’m also doing zucchini, pumpkins, melons, lettuce,” he said. “I try to put at least three hours a day in.”
With such great garden success, Ricard shares with his neighbors.
He donates all of the vegetables to those who need it.
“Last year I estimated about 500 pounds of produce. My goal this year is 1,000,” he said. “I try to harvest so I can get produce out on Wednesdays and Fridays.”
Ricard puts all of the produce on a table inside of the Community Room.
He said his neighbors know the drill, typically it’s all gone within the hour.
The gesture is very helpful to those living on a fixed income.
“It’s a great feeling and people really appreciate it,” he said. “If it defers a couple of dollars off of their grocery bills that’s great. That’s what I’m hoping to do.”
To help offset any costs for the garden, Ricard started a small project on-site. The town of Lincoln gave him recycle barrels. “I started a can redemption project two years ago that helps defer the cost quite a bit. Housing themselves has given me grant money, and Mary Ann Shallcross Smith was made aware of the garden this year and I’m expecting a grant from the state.”
Ricard keeps an eye on the garden at all times. He tries to keep the animals away with his homemade fencing.
His goal is to eventually work with local schools to help promote gardening programs for students, while still helping his neighbors.
“It’s a win-win situation all around,” he said.