For anyone wanting to start or improve a garden I have some information that might help.

I put together a sort of 'everything you could possible want to know about community gardens' packet for our city council. It covers potential community benefits, design, management, operation, list of websites that are good examples of community gardens etc. You know, technical things governmental units might like to see.

Our community garden project page also has detailed information and examples of duties and descriptions of potential management members to help people get some sort of idea before volunteering. There is also an example of other gardens' yearly schedules that include planning spring and fall cleanup, events, assigning plots, assigning duties, etc.

Our city is wise in requiring interested citizens to come forward and volunteer to form a management group with example duties before they construct any garden. They want it managed well so it will be enjoyable to garden there.

Anyway enough babble. Here is the link.

www.cityofironmountain.com/CG

First Fruits Harvest Garden 4644 M-33 Hwy. Onaway, MI 49765

While there are many needs in other countries and hungry everywhere, the goals of First Fruits are to:

*Feed the local community with organically grown, open pollinated, local vegetables. To be distributed through the FOOD Pantry currently established on site.

*Provide a place for those who wish to grow their own produce and provide seed, etc.

*Open pollinated seeds will be saved and used/given away. No hybrids will be used. This establishes a fresh Seed Bank as well.

Current and future goals are: raised-bed gardens, grains, water supply, storage and greenhouse.

Should such a project fail, monies would be donated to the local food pantry and people would still be fed

Projected Budget-
$500 establishes the garden plot including seed.
$3600 establishes a greenhouse and storage area.
Overall projected budget of operation to start is $4100. After the initial investment maintenance follows and the budget reduces.

Project Manager, Earl Bassett