Working Together

 Somers Historical Society and Somers Library Seed Lending Library are collaborating with local businesses to establish a garden at the Wright Reis Homestead this year with herbs, flowers and produce being donated to the St. Luke's Church Food Pantry initiative. Heirloom seeds donated from Somers Seed Lending Library, as well as heirloom plants donated by Katonah Nursery, Somers Historical Society and Somers Seed Lending Library volunteers, are being cultivated in a dedicated garden at the Homestead. Volunteers will install, tend to the garden and make deliveries to St. Luke's Food Pantry. At the end of the gardening season, seeds will be harvested from the heirloom plants to return to the Somers Seed Lending Library. Supplies and labor for the project, initiated by Somers Seed Lending Library and Somers Historical Society, have been donated by Katonah Nursery, Lawton Adams, Somers Historical Society and Somers Seed Lending Library. The Wright Reis Homestead was chosen as the site of the garden because it represents an extension of the familial relationship between the Wright family of Somers, Somers Library, Somers Historical Society and St. Luke's Church. The Wright family of Somers has been an integral part of town history for generations. The last surviving member of the family, Caroline Wright Reis, operated her farm, now known as Reis Park, until the mid- 20th century. The 84-acre farm was bequest to the Town of Somers in the late 1960's and is now home to Somers Library, of which Caroline was an original trustee. The property's farmhouse and outbuildings, the Wright Reis Homestead, as well as the Wright family's collections and archives, are cared for jointly by Somers Historical Society and Town of Somers Historic Properties Board. Caroline's grandfather, Charles Wright, was one of the first vestrymen of St. Luke's Church, as well as being the first lion tamer in America.

Initially, gardeners will meet Tuesdays (11am & 6pm) and Fridays (12:30pm) at the Wright Reis Homestead. Anyone is invited to participate. For more information, contact: Somers Library Seed Lending Library ((914)232-5717; email vherman@wlsmail.org) or Somers Historical Society (914)277-4977; email somershistoricalsoc@yahoo.com.

Initially, gardeners will meet Tuesdays (11am & 6pm) and Fridays (12:30pm) at the Wright Reis Homestead. Anyone is invited to participate. For more information, contact: Somers Library Seed Lending Library ((914)232-5717; email vherman@wlsmail.org or Somers Historical Society (914)277-4977; email somershistoricalsoc@yahoo.com