A troop of Tamaqua Girl Scouts and their leaders have transformed a vacant Tamaqua lot that was overgrown with weeds into a vegetable garden that hopefully will benefit many people.

On Saturday, Girl Scout Brownie Troop 33013 continued a project it started last August, planting various types of vegetables inside painted tires and planter boxes.

According to troop leader Meranda Hess, the project was kicked off last year as a “Task Action Project” in which a problem was identified and a solution was suggested.

The community garden, located along South Lehigh Street a few blocks from Tamaqua Middle School, addresses two problems.

Hess said, “Part was beautification and also a solution to people not having enough money to buy food.”

The lot was provided by Tamaqua Borough. Hess said it is one of three optional sites the borough offered to them.

It is on a site where a devastating fire destroyed four houses in July 2011. The houses were razed, creating the open space.

The project is also part of the girls earning “Journey” badges, designed to help them learn more about themselves as individuals and as part of the larger community.

A unique aspect of the garden is the inclusion of some knee-level beds at the western perimeter of the garden. These are handicapped accessible units, Hess said.

She said they were constructed for people who attend an adult day care, Access Services and CARES.

Hess expressed gratitude to the borough for not only allowing the use of the lot, but encouraging the Scouts through the project. The borough provided some water and soil for Saturday’s work.

One other component at the community garden will be a “Little Free Library,” Hess said.

She said this will be a waterproof container which will have books. People can trade books or take them without any obligation to return them.

“They can return them if they want to,” she said.