New York Mills, MN

Thanks to Kevin Cederstrom for submitting this information.

The Community Garden project continues to move forward. The City Council approved the land-use request on Tuesday, giving the go-ahead to proceed with the project. With the approval the group now needs to produce a waiver form get a rider on the city’s insurance.

If and when the snow clears and digging begins, we will find out exactly what kind of soil we are dealing with. The plan is to till up a 100-foot by 50-foot area. Depending on what we find when we break ground black dirt will be hauled in to establish a good working soil.

A water delivery system will need to be established and possibly install a fence to keep the critters out.

In addition, the plan calls for a shared tomato and squash plot, children’s garden, herb garden and small storage shed. There will be no cost to individuals for the plot, seed or starter plants, as long as they are within a pre-determined seed list.

We’ll get word out soon to find interested growers and get them signed up for 10-foot by 10-foot individual plots. Signed agreements will be required committing to shared maintenance, involvement in classes, rules and regulations and initial garden preparation.

I want to thank everyone who came to our Round Table discussion last week.  I think we had about 20 participants to discuss leadership, volunteerism, and youth involvement.  It was a great discussion with the ultimate goal of deciding on an action item for the Volunteer and Leadership Future Squads to work on.  We needed something tangible (like a Community Garden or Farmer’s Market).  After some awesome brainstorming, it was decided to form a youth council.  I don’t have all of the specifics (Victoria gathered all of the sheets from that night and I’m sure will be adding an entry here soon) but the Youth Council will plan activities for kids to participate in.

 Again, thanks to everyone who participated in the Round Table discussion.  It was a very energizing night!

In this period of economic turmoil, where we are seeing record pricing in everything from gasoline to cheese, it is good to know that we are doing something constructive to address the issue of safe, affordable food for people in poverty!  This article in the NYTimes disusses the record breaking number of people who are receiving foodstamps and WIC vouchers!

Way to go Horizons for thinking ahead of the curve and moving forward with the Farmers Market and the Community Garden!  These two ventures will go a long way towards ensuring that people can afford to eat fresh produce in this troubling economic cycle!