San Joaquin County District 5 Supervisor Robert Rickman, center, made a stop in Escalon earlier this month to meet with representatives of Escalon Strong, the City of Escalon, and the Escalon Farmington Community Garden Club to present a check for $10,780 in discretionary District 5 funds to help cover costs of materials for the expansion of the Escalon Strong Community Garden. In 2022, Escalon Strong began the garden but they have only been able to develop 25 percent of the land made available to them. Now, Escalon Strong and the Escalon Farmington Community Garden Club have partnered in a project to develop the remaining 75 percent of the land, to increase availability of individual garden boxes, and to grow produce to be donated to the Escalon Strong Giving Pantry for distribution to area residents experiencing food insecurity. The one-time funds will be used to acquire materials to expedite the expansion of the garden.

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