Just like most gardeners, Cliff Sheehy is proud of his produce.

"Our watermelons are about this big now," he said. "The cantaloupe is just now taking off over here."

But, the growing pains that came with this garden are unlike what most face.

The hands that cultivate and harvest here don't have a home to call their own.

"I'm trying to get a job as a mechanic. But, it's been slow here. So, I've just been doing this to kill time."

The garden is the brain child of Kelly Ingram.

She's the director at the Salvation Army's Booth Center where homeless men, women and children stay.

"I was here in May when planting time came around, so my husband came down and tilled the garden."

Ingram is a gardener herself and decided this project would produce more than fruits and vegetables for the residents.

"It's been a great therapeutic activity for the residents. There have been several who have learned how to garden. We look at as hopefully we're teaching them how to fish."

About 30 residents have had a hand in the garden's success -- planting, weeding and harvesting.

Several businesses in St. Joseph also donated seeds, tools and time to make it happen.

"They just came out and worked it voluntarily. So it's been a great success."

Helping residents like Sheehy, find the fresh start they're looking for.

"When they're not out here weeding, they're looking for employment."

And, the fruits of their labor have proven to be worth the sweat.

The Salvation Army's Booth Center still need tools for gardening if you have any to donate.
  
They also need seeds that can be planted as fall approaches.