Community Garden to be expanded
The snow has fallen, the ice is in, but we’re already starting to think about spring. In three short months windowsills in Nome will be covered in recycled cups of dirt with tiny seeds just waiting to burst through the soil. As the days grow longer and the warmth of the sun heats up the south-facing windows, the little seedlings will smile as they grow.
Along comes break-up, snow melts and mud season is upon us. That is when we will invite our little seedlings to make their home in the newly expanded community garden. We will have new larger beds, a garden shed for supplies, compost and soil bins with the goal of producing enough fresh produce for families to enjoy. Consider starting seedlings in your home around Iditarod and think about helping plant, cultivate and harvest locally grown food this summer.
The expansion of the garden has been made possible through the funding of the Western Alaska Community Grant Board that paid for the lumber for the garden beds. A volunteer group with Alaska Missions began preparing the site. The Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc., (RurAL CAP) is providing the funding through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) for the remainder of the project through their Growing Rural Opportunities for Wellness (GROW) Program designed to help communities in rural Alaska with gardening projects.
If you would like to be a part of this expanding effort, please contact Nome Community Center at 907443-5259. Seeds and starting supplies will be provided. School groups, youth programs, friends and neighbors are all invited to be a part of growing fresh food in Nome. Special thanks to Myra Scholze whose gardening expertise helped with the expansion design, materials lists and timelines.