The groundbreaking on the site of Pocatello’s future community garden marked the culmination of a lot of people’s work.
Brittani Hobson is the co-chair of the community garden for Portneuf Valley Partners.
“About a year ago at Partner Valley Partners, we were brainstorming ideas of things that we can do to beautify this valley,” she says. “And this community garden was brought up.”
The initial formation committee also included current Pocatello Mayor Mark Dalquist.
“We thought it was just a great way to beautify a neighborhood, bring more attention and have more of a community gathering spot,” Mayor Dahlquist, who no longer is part of Portneuf Valley Partners, says. “And then a couple of other dedicated folks picked that up.”
‘Dedicated folks’ included Portneuf Valley partners, volunteers, the City of Pocatello, and Park and Recreation director Ann Butler. Additionally, the IFFT foundation, awarded a $10,000 grant to the project.
The garden will include 50-60 individual plots, with the first thirty four completed during the first phase of construction, planned to be ready by September.
A fruit tree donated by neighborhood associations will be the start of a planned orchard by the riverside walkway, and a shed donated by NeighborWorks will hold give and take tools.
The project took inspiration from historical WWII-era Freedom Gardens in the city, along with similar modern community gardens in cities like Twin Falls and Idaho Falls.
“Although we were not the first community to have the community garden, with this wonderful setting and the people involved, we are going to be the best,” Mayor Dahlquist says. “And I’m really confident in saying that.”
A poll is being held to name the garden, with the name King Arthur’s Garden getting some attention due to the location at King Street and Arthur Avenue, adjacent to the city water department building.
“The city had just purchased this land and they told us that they would let us use an acre of it for this garden,” Hobson says.
“I think this is a perfect location,” Mayor Dahlquist said. “You’ve got the beautiful mountains and hills surrounding. This is a great spot and it’s a spot that could use a little uplift.”
But the scenic location of the garden can also present some challenges.
“We’re still trying to raise more money,” Hobson says. “We want to put a fence in to keep out the deer and all of the rock chucks and other animals that are around the river that would love to eat all of our food.”
For more information on the project and to vote on a name for the garden, you can visit Portneuf Valley Partners’ website here.
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