COMMUNITY GARDEN IDEA MOVES FORWARD
Monday, May 4th, 2009 -- 12:15 PM
A number of groups are working to start the area?s first community garden.Neillsville Schools will host the garden, but will work together with U-W Extension, the Master Gardeners and Food Preservers and the Clark County Nutritional Coalition.
"We had talked about doing some strawberries and also doing some apple trees," says UW-Extension Family Living agent Julie Simek, "those can be used for a variety of classroom demonstrations. We're also planning to do carrots and lettuce; some items the school can use on their salad bar."
The produce will be used in a number of ways. "The first year, it will primarily supply the Neillsville School district with some fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as the WIC program and the local food pantries. The second year, it will get to be even larger," Simek explains.
"Community organizations can go have a plot at the garden and help take care of it and use the fresh fruit and vegetables for their business," she says.
Teachers will be able to work the garden into their curriculum. They?re still working on finding a site. They plan to start small?maybe 200 square-fee?but could expand it in the future, Simek explains.
The groups have received a $4,000 donation from the Listeman Foundation to erect a fence around the garden, and they will do some soil preparation this summer with planting planned for next Spring.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.