This will be the 166h growing season for the Waverly Community Sharing Garden and Orchard when planting day will begin on Saturday, May 9th, with a rain date the following Saturday. Located on 2nd St. SW and 5th Ave SW (one block west of Riverside Park), volunteers are needed to help plant the large plot that morning running from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Volunteers are also welcome to help any time during the growing season on Tuesday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturday mornings from 8 to 10 a.m. New and experienced gardeners are welcome. This is a great family experience and helps kids understand how food grows. Several groups, notably the Waverly Exchange Club provide valuable time and labor during the season. Some tools and gloves will be provided, but folks are welcome to bring their own if they prefer.
A partnership between the City of Waverly and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach-Bremer County, last year the project grew and donated over 12,000 pounds of fresh and healthy vegetables and fruit to area food-insecure families. Managing the project is Ron Lenth, Program Coordinator for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach-Bremer County. This produce is donated mainly to the Northeast Iowa Food Pantry, that services 16 NE Iowa counties, plus the Waverly Pantry.
The garden began in 2010 on lots ruined by the disastrous 2008 Cedar River Flood. There are now 68 raised garden beds plus number of plots on land where homes were lost in the flood. As the project grew, the partners in 2014 added a second partial block as a fruit orchard which now has 70+trees, which is located just west of the bowling alley, Since its beginning over 117,000 pounds of produce have been donated to food-insecure families. For further information about the project, please contact Ron Lenth at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach-Bremer County at 319-882-4275, or rlenth@iastate.edu.
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