CONTACT: Amy Bacigalupo, LSP, 320-269-2105 amyb@landstewardshipproject.org

5/15/06
WILLMAR, Minn. — An orientation meeting will be held to sign people up for a community garden in Willmar on Wednesday, May 24, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the Willmar Public Library, 410 5th Street SW. Since February, a group of committed citizens have been meeting in Willmar to plan a community garden. The garden is scheduled to open to gardeners on Memorial Day weekend. For more information, contact Amy Bacigalupo at 320-269-2105 or amyb@landstewardshipproject.org.

“There has been interest in a community garden for a while, but the idea started to become reality when Jerry Gesch made land available to the group,” said Bacigalupo, a community organizer with the Land Stewardship Project. “Now we have had a flood of interest and people stepping forward to help. For example, Stan Barker of Speedy Lawn Service has offered to till the ground into beds. It is really energizing to work with the community members who are a part of making this happen.”

The garden will be located east of the new Bremer Bank on less than a quarter-acre of land. Each gardener will be able to have a garden plot that is 10 feet long and 4 feet wide. There will be room for at least 50 plots. This first year there will be no charge for the use of the land, but people who have a plot will be asked to volunteer their time and resources to help keep the garden going. This will mean signing up for a volunteer role, either as a part of a task force or to do jobs such as hauling away weeds or helping other gardeners. Gardeners will also be responsible for paying utility costs such as water.

“The citizens organizing the garden hope that the garden is a place for diversity to flourish—diversity in what is planted, the people planting in the garden and what people take away from their experience,” said Bacigalupo.

Thirteen people have already contacted the planning committee asking for a plot. At least two youth groups have expressed interest in having a plot at the garden: Kid’s Castle and youth from the migrant school.

At the May 24 kick-off meeting, gardeners will be asked to fill out an application before they can start gardening. If you are not a gardener but would like to help with the community garden, here is a short list of the garden’s needs: a sign and gardener/visitor kiosk, a shade structure, plot markers, mulch (wood chips and straw), water hoses/connections and manure.

-30-

top