The McFarland Community Garden is featured in this weeks’ McFarland Thistle…

The McFarland Community Garden is featured in this weeks’ McFarland Thistle…
We have a lovely 3-bin composting system that was built by volunteers, Billy Ceelen, Ron Dennis, Todd Hubler, Bill Stoneman, and faithful guide, Master Gardener, Ed Meechun. We were able to re-purpose 7 hardwood pallets, wire, and lengths of rebar. Bill added some newly purchased coated chicken wire (cannot see in picture below). The last thing we need to do is screw a reinforcing 2×4 across the top.
So, all we need is some good compost…
A huge THANK YOU to the folks who have donated the composted horse poop. And THANK YOU to Sarah Rowe for organizing the transfer of goods.
Last Sunday, April 7th, the McFarland Community Garden and the United Church of Christ hosted the first annual Gardener Orientation and Potluck. We had expected perhaps 50 participants, but we were pleasantly surprised by an enthusiastic turnout of OVER 75 folks!! We enjoyed a bounty of delicious food and made big plans for our community garden. All photos are courtesy of Holly Ceelen.
We are so pleased to announce the “marriage” of McFarland Community Garden and enthusiastic village gardeners. If you would like to celebrate the union by showering this new gardening family with gifts, you may check out our “Garden Registry” at our local McFarland True Value store. Ask a sales associate about the McFarland Community Garden wishlist to see all of the items that we need to get growing…
All donations are TAX-DEDUCTIBLE! You can submit your information at purchase to receive a formal receipt to file for a deduction.
McFarland True Value will have a drop box for all donations of new and gently used garden tools for the McFarland Community Garden.
If you have some gently used garden tools at your business or residence and you would like to have them picked up, please contact us at Katiegs@McFarlandCommunityGarden.com. We would be happy to arrange for pick up that is convenient for you!
Here is a partial list of the materials we are looking for:
Long Handled Shovels
Hoes
Hand Trowels
Hand Shovels
100′ lengths of 5/8″ Gardening Hose
Hard Garden Rakes
Pitch Fork (2)
Wheelbarrow (2)
Leaf Rakes
Gardening Gloves
Children’s Gardening Tools
Yard Sticks
As the Spring Rains begin to wash away the snow, hope for a McFarland Community Garden is blossoming! After months of designs, discussions, research, and negotiations, our “Day in the Sun” may soon arrive 🙂
The McFarland Village Board will be voting on the proposal for the garden this Monday, March 11th at 7pm. Make your voice heard if you value a community garden space in our village, by attending the meeting, or contacting the Village of McFarland Trustees.
The McFarland Community Garden is growing from a simple seed of an idea that was planted last summer. Even amidst this bitter, snowy winter, beautiful things can GROW!
We have high hopes that we will be able to get our hands in the dirt this Spring 2013.
Here is the plan for our first season:
21 Individual Plots (20′ x 20′)
4 Adaptive Plots (to be constructed during our first season)
Pumpkin Patch for our Harvest Festival
4-H Youth Garden Playground
As soon as we have final approval for the garden, we will be accepting applications for plots…keep checking back for updates!!
Check out the article in our local newspaper, The McFarland Thistle…
I was honored to have the opportunity to chat with a journalist from our local paper about the Community Garden plans! Read the article here.
There is one correction….The garden is slated to be situated between the McFarland United Church of Christ and The Homestead, a housing complex (NOT A CEMETERY). The rear border of the proposed garden plot is the Lower McFarland Cemetery. I am asking that the editors of The Thistle make note of that correction in the next issue.
Hello Aspiring Community Gardeners!
Progress is being made for the creation of a Village of McFarland Community Garden, and I harbor high hopes that we will be able to dig in to a beautiful space this spring! A possible site has been established at the green space on Anthony Street in downtown McFarland. This is a plot of gently rolling land that stretches between the McFarland United Church of Christ and The Homestead housing complex.
Currently, the proposal and preliminary design have been approved by the McFarland United Church of Christ (owners of property) and the Village of McFarland Parks Department. Next, the proposal will be presented to the Village Board for final approval. Then, we can start the really fun work of turning this dream into a reality!
At this point, we need to develop a committee of folks who are interested in designing, implementing and maintaining this Community Garden. I would like to schedule a meeting for people who want to contribute their ideas, skills, and talents so that we can work together to make this project as successful as possible. Please contact me if you are interested in volunteering to be a member of the committee!
There are many fabulous “perks” that made this particular plot a stellar candidate for the future home of the Community Garden including:
What I personally find most exciting about this space is the accessibility for a wide variety of residents in this community. In fact, this project has been specifically created with an emphasis on bringing a diverse group of people together to help our community to grow and thrive. Here are some ways that this garden space can serve as the catalyst for neighborhood and community enhancement:
Currently, I am working with the Village of McFarland Parks Department to address the “nuts and bolts” of the space, such as leasing, liability, and water accessibility. Once we have all of these systems addressed, we can start thinking of the really important questions, such as “How many different varieties of tomatoes do I want to grow?”