Norwich – The Broad Street Community Garden will have a VIP digger Saturday, when U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney joins sailors from the Naval Submarine School in Groton at the kickoff work day at the garden.

The work party is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the garden, located on Broad Street between Broadway and Washington Street behind St. Mark’s Lutheran Church on Broadway.

The sailors will work with volunteers from St. Mark Lutheran Church to make the planting beds and do other heavy gardening chores.

The garden, in its fifth year, is tended by members of St. Mark and local volunteers.  During its first four growing seasons, the volunteers harvested more than 6,000 pounds of fresh vegetables. All of the vegetables are given to St. Vincent De Paul Place soup kitchen and to the Norwich Clergy Association Food Locker for distribution to their patrons.

Courtney will be at the garden in the morning to learn about the project and work with the volunteers.

Other volunteers, including children over age 10 accompanied by adults, are invited to join the work party. No gardening experience is necessary.

For information, call Broad Street Community Garden coordinator Joe Churney at (860) 537-5910.