North Liberty community garden seeking volunteers

IOWA CITY - With the weather feeling more like spring and the growing season rapidly approaching, organizers with North Liberty's community garden are getting prepared.

The Gardening for Health Project will soon begin construction on a rainwater collection system and concrete patio to be located near the 9,600-square-foot garden.

Planting is expected to start once the time is right, said Ilsa DeWald, North Liberty Community Pantry garden coordinator.

'We've definitely spent a lot of these months planning what exactly the timeline was going to be,” DeWald said. 'It's more exciting for people when we actually have things going into the ground.”

First they will need volunteers, DeWald said. The hope is to have about 20 core members and a larger group of volunteers interested in participating when time allows. Gardening experience is not required to volunteer, DeWald said.

The first volunteer orientation event is planned between 6 and 8 p.m. Tuesday at the pantry at 89 N. Jones Blvd. From 1 to 3 p.m. April 25, a tree planting and ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at the nearby garden. Winners for the garden's naming process will be announced.

Garden officials plan to host six main events this year including programs on container gardens, pollinators, seed saving and healthy cooking and a harvest dinner.

Plans for the garden, located next to the pantry, were first announced last year when residents began raising money to receive The Wellmark Foundation's full match grant of $38,500.

While the garden aims to offer green thumb enthusiasts opportunities to grow crops and a chance for residents to learn more about gardens and growing produce, the Gardening for Health Project also will provide another source of fresh produce for the pantry and its clients.

Tina DuBois, pantry director, said the average family that visited the pantry last year between July and December received 2.1 pounds of produce without cost, achieving the pantry's goal of providing at least 2 pounds per visitor.

'That is a lot for a food pantry,” DuBois said.

On top of added produce for the pantry and an educational outlet for the community, any quality garden offers an opportunity for social gathering and officials hope North Liberty's community garden will be no different.

'We really want to bring everyone together, we want this to be a place where people interact,” DuBois said.

Volunteer orientation

What: Gardening for Health Project volunteer orientation event

When: 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday

Where: North Liberty Community Pantry, 89 N. Jones Blvd.

Ribbon-cutting

What: Ribbon-cutting ceremony and tree planting for the community garden

When: 1 to 3 p.m. April 25

Where: Community garden next to the North Liberty Community Pantry

Details: Winners for the garden's naming process also will be announced