Green thumb; charitable heart

Tom Streenan, of Carson City, is using his plot at the Carson City Community Gardens to grow what he hopes will be a huge pumpkin.

As he waits for the gourd to grow, Streenan figured he'd spend his free-time benefiting the community that provided him his plot of land.

"I saw that some of the community plots needed watering and weeding so I figured I'd help out," Streenan said.

When the plants started producing squash, beans and tomatoes earlier this summer, Streenan harvested them and donated the produce to FISH. To date, more than 40 pounds have been donated from the community garden.

Streenan said he doesn't mind helping out, in fact that's part of the drive that has kept him gardening for more than 50 years.

"I started in San Diego and just kept doing it when I came here," Streenan said. "It's definitely a different climate here - you have to deal with the cold."

Streenan uses the community garden as a way to continue to tend for plants, grow vegetables and be around other gardeners.

"My wife is from England and they are big on community gardens over there, so I figured it might be good to do," Streenan said.

Streenan estimates that more than 80 pounds of produce could end up being donated, depending on how the plants produce and when the first freeze happens.

"The more you pick from them, the more the plants will produce," he said.

He is hoping the cold weather holds off as long as possible, giving his pumpkins an extended chance to grow.

When he does harvest it, the pumpkin will be donated to a local elementary school for Halloween.

• Contact reporter Jarid Shipley at jshipley@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.