Ryan Craig speaks at the dedication of his Eagle Scout Project, the Meditation Garden, in Hamersville.

Ryan Craig, of Hamersville Boy Scout Troop 629, recently completed a meditation garden in Hamersville.

Craig designed and built the garden for his Eagle Scout Project, which is one part of achieving the rank of Eagle Scout.

Craig chose the meditation garden because he wanted to do something for his church and charter organization Bible Chapel, United Church of Christ that would also benefit the community of Hamersville.

“I thought that a garden would be the best transformation of the empty lot since it would beautify the area and give church and community members an outdoor place of prayer, quiet meditation and reflection,” Craig said.

More than 30 volunteers from his troop, church, school and community turned out for his work day. Many local businesses helped with donations and discounts of materials, supplies and plants. He received encouragement throughout his project from the church and many in the community. At the time of the garden dedication, more than 320 volunteer hours had been put towards the garden.

Craig also preserved the history of the site. Georgetown Marble and Granite Company mounted the historical marker previously erected on the old store by the Brown County Historical Society. The site was once the Hamersville Stagecoach Deport and home to Albert Nelson Marquis until 1875. Marquis published “Who’s Who in America” from 1900 to 1941.

An Eagle Scout Project consists of planning, developing and giving leadership to others in a service project that is helpful to any religious institution, school or the community. A project proposal must be approved by the organization benefiting from the effort, the unit leader and committee and the council or district before the project is started.