Free plants from Jeannette gardener
I’ve been friends with John Wassel of Jeannette in Westmoreland County for quite a while now. He wants to help people and loves to grow plants. He’s got way more than he can use.
This is one of the reasons I love gardeners, they have big hearts. John donates most of his plants to lots of worthy causes. He grows thousands of seedlings in his greenhouse. “95 percent of what I grow is heirlooms,” he told me. Some were actually brought from Italy.
I wrote about John back in 2018 when I was still with Everybody Gardens. He told a wonderful story about Uncle Punzo, who taught him to garden. You can read the original story here.
John wants to share some of his plants and knowledge, especially with new gardeners. “You don’t need a 20 by 20 foot garden, he says, you can plant next to the house or on the patio.”
He’s got tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, other greens and much more, but wants the plants to go to gardeners who need them. “I’ll leave them out for them, with their names on the plants in April or May,” he added.
This season he spent $180 on seeds and asks people who are able to help his seed fund with a small donation if possible. “I don’t want people to think I’m selling plants though,” he says. “I just want to make new gardeners happy.” Be honest, if you need the plants and can’t donate, no problem, but if you have a little extra, John is an honorable person and will use the money the right way.
Contact John Wassel at [email protected] to find out what plants he has and which varieties you’d be interested in.
“I want to be able to inspire people to garden. For them to have a fresh tomato, lettuce, or a frying pepper.”