Free MC garden space offered

In today’s stunted economy, community and home gardens are flourishing across the country.

But even those Madison County residents who lack the land to grow their own fruits and vegetables can take part in the “recession garden” trend.
A new local organization – Madison Farm to Table – is offering free garden plots for local residents and groups interested in growing their own food or donating the produce to those in need.

“I think it would be significant in terms of easing a family budget,” Madison Farm to Table member Jan Richter said of the amount of food a family could produce using the available plots. The organization is offering different size plots that provide about 200-400 square feet of gardening space, which Richter says could possibly produce about $500 worth of food, depending on what types of plants are grown.

“I think it is cost effective but what’s more important is you’re going to have your family eating better and having your kids eating real good, fresh food,” said Richter, who lives in Pratts.

The idea behind the organization started out as an effort to expand local foods offered on the county’s school lunch menus and then evolved into an opportunity to get more young people growing their own food themselves, according to Criglersville resident Khalil Hassan, another member of the new group.
Madison Farm to Table is made up of residents with various goals in the community – including local gardeners, those interested in preserving the county’s agricultural nature and citizens concerned about nutrition.

Participating in the gardening project can help parents who are struggling to get their children to eat a decent amount of vegetables, according to Richter.
“Kids like ‘white’ food,” often passing over the more colorful sources of energy, like fruits and vegetables, that contain the most nutrients, she said.
But “when kids grow their own vegetables, they try them,” the Pratts resident said.

The community garden also provides an opportunity for those who’ve never gardened before to learn the basics as group members – including Madison County gardeners Mayo Yowell and Jean Kane – will be available to provide growing tips.

The gardens will be located on a piece of Yowell’s property off the northbound lane of U.S. 29 just south of Lam Brothers furniture outlet.

The Madison County resident has plowed several plots that will be available for families, individuals and groups to grow a “substantial” amount of food – including items such as lettuce, beans, herbs, broccoli, tomatoes and cucumbers. There will also be a separate larger plot available for all participants to jointly grow vegetables that take up more space such as corn, pumpkins and melons, according to Richter.

Hassan is unsure of exactly how many plots are available but says there is plenty of space.

“Even if 100 people show up we could probably accommodate them,” he said. “The more, the merrier.”

Although no fees will be charged for use of the land, participation will require some time.

“People shouldn’t expect they can put a seed in the ground and come back in five weeks with cucumbers,” Richter said. “It takes maintenance.”

Depending on the season’s weather, maintaining the garden – including planting, weeding and harvesting – will require about an hour or two every two to three days, she said. But those with full-time jobs shouldn’t be turned off, gardening can be done in the early morning or late evening so can be completed either before or after regular business hours.

In addition, these chores can be divided up among multiple people if a group – such as a local club or church – decides to reserve a plot.

The project is only open to those interested in growing food for non-profit purposes – including, consuming it themselves, giving it away for free or selling the food and then using the profits to either cover the costs of their gardening activities or donating the money to a non-profit organization, according to Richter.
Although the Madison Farm to Table garden will not be “organic only,” group members are hoping to create a setup that protects organic growers from contact with chemical fertilizer or insecticides and herbicides will be prohibited altogether.

“The idea is that some people will want to be strictly organic so we want to garden in a way that is respectful of the soil and doesn’t interfere with neighbors,” she said.

Participants in the community garden may need to purchase their own seeds and seedlings although there may be some available for free that have been donated to the group, Richter said. However, seeds are relatively inexpensive and a family or a group should be able to purchase seeds for their entire plot for about $10-$15, she said.

The group is accepting donations to help support their efforts, items needed include:

*Seeds and seedlings.

*Garden tools and rakes.

*Hoses and watering cans.

*Buckets.

Madison Farm to Table will host an organizational meeting – set for 7 p.m. Thursday, April 9 at the Madison County Cooperative Extension Service office on the second floor of the War Memorial Building on Main Street in downtown Madison – which will provide time to learn about the gardening guidelines and sign up for a plot.

Those who can’t make the meeting can come directly to the farm – located at 3885 S. Seminole Trail (U.S. 29) just south of Lam’s Furniture off the northbound lane – from 3:30-5 p.m. Saturday, April 11 to pick out a plot.

For information, contact Jan Richter by calling (240) 418-3500 or e-mailing janisrichter@msn.com or Mary Grace by calling (540) 948-6328 or e-mailing peacekindness@yahoo.com.