The second year of the Mount Ayr Community Garden located at Trinity Lutheran Church is coming to the end of the growing season. Two more 4’ X 12’ boxes were added this spring with funding from a Hy-Vee One Step Garden Grant. Students from Mount Ayr High School prepared the beds and planted the first seeds. Shirley Wallace provided her expertise as well as tomato plants. Sue Larsen helped supervise. The Wellness Coalition assisted with maintenance of the garden.
Planted this year were: radishes, lettuce, carrots, onions, cucumbers, green beans, tomatoes, green peppers, squash, watermelon and pumpkins. The second planting of green beans are now ready, and soon there will be late-planted tomatoes. Rain provided all of the moisture needed without having to use roof runoff collected in a tank.
Mount Ayr Medical Clinic Health Coach Leslie Dredge-Murphy has referred individuals she works with to the garden for fresh produce. If you are interested in some late season produce, please call Ringgold County Public Health at 641-464-0691 to inquire about availability. Contact the same number if you are interested in helping plan, plant and maintain the garden in 2016.
