Mandan Community Gardens New members can contact either Buckley at 667-3340, or Sue Balcom at 667-0122, to reserve a spot or for more information. The garden is located on the strip near the soccer fields in Mandan. Plots are 20-feet by 20-feet. A deposit of $25 and rental fee of $25 is required to hold your spot. Remaining spots will be given on a first-come first-serve basis. The community garden is a cooperative project of the Mandan Park District, the Mandan Fire Department, the City of Mandan, Morton County and NDSU Extension Morton County.
What is a community garden?
A communtiy garden is a collaborative green space in which the participants share in both the maintenane and the rewards of growing vegetables and herbs in their own rented plots.
Why a community garden?
Mandan has previously enjoyed the benefits of community gardening. As Mandan grows its multi-family neighborhoods, such as Library Square complex, more and more rural residents are moving to the city. They are leaving behind their gardens. Community garden space could offer that population a place to gather, grow fresh vegetables, share their extensive gardening knowledge and receive the benefits of fresh air and sunshine.
Who could be involved in a community garden?
Children and teens could be involved in a community garden through Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, FFA, 4-H, school and after school activity programs.
There are opportunities for area church groups to participate in a community project and grow food to supply the local food bank, in Mandan that would be AIS, Inc.
Other groups we have been in contact with are Centre Inc. and HIT Inc., as a way for people to work off community service hours or as therapy. There's also a local gardening club and several Master Garderner's program graduates that have to return hours to the community as in=kind paymaent for their classes.
Reasons for being involved in a community garden project are many...
- Increase self-esteem, bolster confidence and encourage learning in children
- Create beauty
- Provide positive work experiences for at=risk youth
- Grow fresh produce
- Improve nutrition and fitness
- Share the joys and wonders of gardening
- Promote healthier communities
- Be meighborly
- Reduce stress
- Reduce crime
- Have fun
Another huge factor in the revival of community gardens is the global local foods movement. There is a grassroots movement in the United States to learn more about gardening, cooking and canning. Current trends indicate an increased desire by consumers to eat and grow more fresh vegetables for their health and the economy of the state. There is a local farmers market group in Mandan that could benefit from more residents growing food for sale.
If you have questions, please contact either Jackie Buckley at Jackie.buckley@ndsu.edu or Sue Balcom at suebalcom@nd.gov |