Council Bluffs garden flourishes

Excitement seems to be growing at the new Council Bluffs community garden, according to Sandy Hull, director of Keep Council Bluffs Beautiful.

“I feel we’re off to a good start,” she said this week.

Since the public garden at North 12th Street and Avenue B was opened in May, 32 plots have been purchased, Hull said.

“What we’ve got is a nice start,” she said, compared with other cities with similar gardens. “You see people there at different times of the day. I see people there at 4 p.m. or 5 p.m., or later when it’s not so hot.”

Individuals and organizations and schools, including the Boys & Girls Club, the teen program at the local Y, Ameriserve and Kanesville School, have purchased 8-foot by 4-foot plots, she said. Some have purchased more than one plot, she said.

“Last week, we planted nine fruit trees to start our orchard,” Hull said. “Hy-Vee Food Stores donated the trees. And, we also put in a brick path a month ago. We used recycled brick, and the sand that is the under layer is crushed glass from the Council Bluffs Recycling Center.”

Single plots sell for $20 or $35 for two, she said.

But, the money isn’t really the main focus, she said.

“It’s a chance to learn gardening, to grow healthy foods that aren’t transported in, and it’s a social thing,” Hull said.

Tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, even corn, have been planted there, she said.

The whole area has room for up to 90 plots, she said, and promoting next year’s growing season might begin earlier in the year.

“We’ve had no problems,” Hull said.

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