Mandatory Community Gardens Planning Session Feb. 11 at Klehm

By Cyndie Hall
Executive Director, Neighborhood Network

Spring Fever? We can help—let’s think about sun, gardens, ripe tomatoes, fresh lettuce and green beans.

Well, you don’t have to have a green thumb to have a community garden! It’s not too late to be a part of a great program—but you do need to attend the Mandatory Community Gardens Planning Session from 6 to 8:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 11, at Klehm Arboretum, 2715 S. Main St., Rockford.

The Rockford Department of Human Services, Neighborhood Network and University of Illinois Extension are working together for the “Roots Rock Community Gardening Program.” And to make it easier, the following will be available:

· Grant funding through the City of Rockford Human Services Department

· Technical assistance and workshops from the U of I Extension—Winnebago and Boone Counties and area Master Gardeners

· Help from area Master Gardeners from planning to planting to preserving

· Neighborhood Network support

Community gardens mean having access to locally-grown, nutritious food, working with others to make a difference, and perhaps getting a bit of exercise. We also will be asking groups to Plant-A-Row for the hungry, to share the harvest with area food pantries.

We can look at regular garden plots, raised beds, or even container gardens.

We do require that groups either be a part of a neighborhood organization or be willing to start one. We can help to actually create a group for any location that wants to garden that does not currently have a neighborhood association or watch. A neighborhood can be anything from one location, vertical housing, to many dwelling units in a more traditional street setting.

We also will need volunteers, anytime from April through October. Volunteers can help with planning, building beds, filling containers, planting, seeding, watering and of course, harvesting. A little or a lot—join the effort!

We’ve had our first planning sessions, but if you give me a call we can catch up pretty quickly. I can be reached at: (815) 987-5599 or via e-mail to Cyndie.hall@rockfordil.gov.