Plum Coulee is anticipating another year of strong interest and activity at its community garden.
There are two sites with 40 plots available in each with plots that are 15 by 25 feet, and they are located just south of the outdoor rink right by the CJ Dyck Arena.
“Most people will have two plots,” suggested lead organizer Nettie Kehler.
“We are definitely starting to fill up again for this year,” she noted. “We’re getting some new renters in this year, some new gardeners who haven’t been there before, so that’s exciting.
“We are asking that they are in the town of Plum Coulee because we are growing fast enough here … so right now, we are asking for residents only,” she noted.
The community garden was started in 2021, and Kehler said it has gone over well, and Kehler had a couple thoughts as to what might be spurring the interest.
“There’s some more multiple family apartments and things like that, so they don’t have space in a back yard. They don’t have that available, so we are getting some of those types of residents,” she suggested. “So a lot of the immigrants are getting in there as well, so that is great to see.
She also sees there being more interest in recent years in food that is more homegrown and healthy and natural.
“That is very much so, and I think with COVID, everybody started to get back into gardening and just realizing that homegrown vegetables and fruit is just so much better to serve on your table.”
Registration had an April 1 deadline for previous users, then it opened up to other users.
“We won’t become completely filled up, but we’re really hoping that we will be close to full,” said Kehler.
She ultimately loves seeing how it brings the community together.
“It’s been wonderful chatting with other people who you otherwise might just pass when you’re out going for walks,” said Kehler.
“We should brush up on some of our other languages … it’s been good, and it’s even about just sharing gardening tips. Everybody gardens a little different, right, and if people have something to share, I think it’s wonderful. I just really enjoy it.”
