Haverhill Eagle Scout Leads Tattersall Farm Garden Project

Fifteen-year-old Eagle Scout Ryan Judkins of Haverhill recently led construction of a new wheelchair-accessible raised garden bed and an accessible workbench at the city-owned Tattersall Farm, 536 North Broadway.

Judkins, a member of Troop 82, North Andover, dedicated the addition to his late grandmother Kathleen (Cash) Murphy, a Haverhill native and wife of Brian Murphy. Murphy is also an Eagle Scout. The new garden boxes allow elderly and wheelchair-bound citizens to use and enjoy the community garden.

Nearly 40 volunteers from Haverhill and surrounding communities assisting in building and filling the new raised garden beds. These included more than 20 youth volunteers, including Judkins’ classmates from Central Catholic High School, Lawrence, as well as fellow Scouts. The team worked a combined total of more than 120 hours on the project.

Money was raised by Judkins through donations from family and friends. Moynihan Lumber of Plaistow provided discounted materials and the Haverhill Department of Public Works contributed compost to fill the garden boxes.

The fenced community garden, with space for 36 plots, was added last summer. Most of the spaces have already been reserved for planting this year.