Fresh food for the table!

The Pine River-Backus Community Garden Project is well underway, as evidenced by this report submitted by Genna Strauss, Local Food System Specialist with Minnesota GreenCorps. There's some valuable information in here, in case you'd like to start your own community garden.

The Community Garden project was formed as a result of a community visioning event. This event was a part of the Greater Pine River Area Healthy Green Communities Partnership (HGCP), a program sponsored by the Initiative Foundation. Community members created a task force, which explored different sites and sought community input on how the garden would function.

After working with the Pine River-Backus (PRB) school board, a site was approved near the school forest. The site will host 40+ individual/family plots of 15’x15’. In addition, a community plot of nearly 40’x 70’ will be managed by volunteers, with produce being donated to the area food shelf and Pine River-Backus school lunch program. The garden will be fenced, have water available on site, and provide access to some gardening tools. In hopes of creating a highly successful first growing season, we will be providing guidance for those who seek it on the basics of gardening.

Following our Service Day on May 10th, gardeners can begin planting. Registration to participate in the PRB Community Garden is being facilitated by PRB Community Education. A rental fee of $10 for a plot can be exchanged for 'sweat equity,' making the garden affordable and accessible to all.

Additional volunteers are being sought to support the garden board, help in the community plot, donate tools, pledge financial support, and lend a hand at the service day on May 10th.
• For details visit Pine River GreenSteps.
• To sign up for a plot call PRB Community Education at (218) 587-8020. For any other questions or concerns contact Strauss at (218) 587-5001 or gennas@pinerivergreensteps.org.

There's nothing like fresh food right out of the garden—especially if you grew it yourself!