By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

Jennifer Sawyer is taking a tip from victory gardens during World Wars I and II — but her garden is because of the war against COVID-19.

Her entire front yard on Main St. just east of Central Park has been prepared, and parts of it already planted, to grow vegetables and an assortment of medicinal plants.

Arbors over the sidewalk to the front porch will support climbing vegetable plants.

There will be onions, tomatoes, beans, watermelons, cantaloupes, zucchini, yellow squash, Italian squash, cucumbers, and other food-producing plants.

Worried that it could become hard to buy enough food, she planned and planted.

“It’s my victory garden,” Sawyer said. “We need that right now.”

Her son, Nile Sawyer, has helped with the heavy work because a health condition makes hard physical work difficult for Sawyer. She also must avoid chemicals in her garden.

Nile built up the front yard, built compost bins in the back yard, and is working to get a portable chicken coop for the back so the family can raise chickens.

“We’re getting laying hens,” she said.

Several of the plants she selected are heirloom varieties. She likes the idea of saving seeds for the following year.

The family will dehydrate and can garden produce for winter.

She enjoys canning and bought a new canner for the project.