New Northfield Community Garden Seeds Planted

While many gardeners are planning their seed orders and planting seeds indoors for a summer harvest, Greg Flom is hoping to grow not just new plants, but a new garden in Northfield this year. 

Flom is one of about 20 local gardeners who are working to start a new community garden on the city’s south side. Community gardens are public spaces that gardeners can rent for a season. Often those who live in apartments or townhouses or who have too much shade in their yards to grow vegetables rent a community garden.

This would be the second community garden in Northfield—the first is located on the property of Greenvale Elementary School—and would likely be sited on undeveloped city land south of the soccer fields at Spring Creek Park.

“We’re in the design phase of the process,” said Flom.

The South Side Garden Club hopes to break ground on the garden next fall with planting in spring of 2012, but it has much to accomplish before then.

Seeking Funding, Approval

In addition to developing a site plan for the garden, the group is seeking funding for startup costs.

Through the Rice County Health Department, it has submitted a grant proposal to the Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) for $2,000, which would be used to purchase a water tank, community tools, trellises and cover other startup costs. The group will hear by March 18 whether it has received the grant.

The plan for the space also must be approved by the city, which last year created an ordinance encouraging community gardens and laying out a process by which new gardens can be approved. Flom estimates it will be eight weeks before the group will be able to apply to the city for approval.

Plans currently call for 20 10-by-20 foot garden plots at the new garden, Flom said. These could be farmed by a single family or individual, or be divided into smaller plots.

Before the garden opens, plots would have to be tilled; a soil test would also need to be done on the land and fencing and paths would need to be installed. In addition to plans for vegetable gardens, the group has discussed adding fruit trees, flower gardens, and other amenities to make the site attractive.

A Growing Trend

Gardening, especially vegetable gardening, has been growing in popularity in recent years. The increase has been attributed to economic issues as well as concerns about food safety and quality.

The Garden Media Group estimates that 20 percent more Americans will garden in 2011 than in 2010, and by some estimates, one in three Americans grow at least some of their own vegetables.

In Northfield, the Greenvale Community Garden, which has room for about 30 gardeners, has had a waiting list each of the four years it has existed. This year, the list is shorter than in the past, said Sheryl Joy, who is part of the leadership team for the garden. There is still time for people to get on the waiting list. At Greenvale, gardeners pay rent of $25 or $15 per season, depending on plot size.

Joy hopes the city will eventually have a string of community gardens.

“Our over-arching goal has been to have a community garden within walking or biking distance of everyone in Northfield,” said Joy, who has been active with the Greenvale Community Garden since its beginning in 2007. 

Flom said that the group is looking for more people to be involved in planning and volunteering for the garden. If you are interested, contact Sheryl Joy at 507-649-0707.