Community Gardens Association offers plots to gardeners

Now that spring is here a lot of people are eager to plant a garden. For those who don’t have a place to plant one, the Idaho Falls Community Gardens may be the answer.

Kristi Appelhans has been involved with the Community Gardens for 20 years.

“We have a lot of enthusiastic, engaged gardeners, but there’s always room for a few more,” Appelhans said.

There are three gardens spread around town, with gardeners getting plots for various reasons.

“It tastes better than anything you could buy in the store, especially when you pick it first thing in the morning and you have it for lunch,” Cindy Angle said.

“There’s something about being with gardeners in the community and socializing in doing something and learning from all the people around you,” Rose Holtz said.

“Oh, I just enjoy the challenge of trying to grow stuff in Idaho weather,” Wayne Wells said.

Each garden location offers water and other resources as well as classes in organic gardening. They even have a special sprouts program for children.

“I like it very much because you get to plant your own food,” 10-year-old Olivia Montiel said.

“It was really exciting plant and harvest my own food – it surprised me,” 11-year-old Adam Sanchez said.

Appelhans is excited to see some garlic and flowers sprouting up already. It’s been rewarding for her to see what these previously unused lands have become.

“And now they’re growing beautiful, bountiful gardens and people are connecting with one another, we have all ages and all different economic status growing in the same garden, getting to know each other, sharing food – it’s just a real community,” Appelhans said.

If you want to get a garden plot you can register Saturday, March 29, at 9a.m. at the Development Workshop Griffith building on Leslie Avenue in Idaho Falls.

For more information call (208) 524-0383 or email growifcga@gmail.com or go the website, ifcga.org.