What do you get when you combine women and children at a homeless shelter, a small backyard downtown and a college student with a passion for the outdoors?

Tomatoes, strawberries, beans and children who sometimes like to water the plants in the new garden — a little too much.

A year ago, Clare House was searching for ways to be more holistic in preparing residents for moving to permanent housing, while also looking to go green.

When Millersville University student Nanette Raczka heard about the house at a volunteer fair and offered to teach the women to grow their own fruits and vegetables in a backyard garden, the shelter saw the opportunity to educate residents about nutrition while becoming more sustainable.

Clare House director Jennifer Powell said she thinks the process of growing plants parallels the women's process in the house, where they live for up to six months.

"Hopefully they will blossom and be able to learn some of the tools and resources so they can be self-sufficient," she said.

Raczka, 21, said she has been coming to the house since March to till and plant the garden as part of her interest in gardening and sustainability.

"My family's always been really into gardening. It's a big thing for us," said Raczka, an environmental biology major entering her senior year in the fall.

When she came to Millersville, she said it was hard living in a downtown after growing up outside of Lancaster. She thought maybe other women would be interested in getting outside, too.

"It brings some happiness — seeing things grow and helping to have it grow," she said.

She said she hopes to keep coming back every summer to continue the project.

Wednesday evening, Raczka helped some of the women and children tie the tomato plants to supporting sticks with twine.

Minyah, 8, said she has learned the tomatoes need support "because when they grow, they get really heavy."

She said she has enjoyed watering and pulling weeds over the past few weeks and can't wait for the tomatoes.

"So now we don't have to go to the store every day," she said. "We really love it, and we also want to take care of it."

Raczka said she is learning from some of the residents too, especially Cyndie, who grew up on a farm and revealed a family secret — coffee grounds are the best fertilizer for tomatoes.

"I'm thrilled," Cyndie said. "I come from a farm, so being here in the city, to have some vegetables … I just really think it's a good idea."

Case manager Breck Artz said one of the biggest challenges has been curbing the children's enthusiasm about watering.

They're learning "when to water so we don't kill it," she smiled.

Colette, 30, said her 3-year-old loves to water, but she's excited for the cantaloupe.

"You have pride in something when you grow it," she said.

jlebersole@lnpnews.com