Community Garden Group Sets Planning Session for Third Garden

With two plots in place, the Temple Terrace Community Garden Group is ready to begin a third; this one at Greco Middle School and will have a planning meeting Saturday to outline the next steps.

The organization hopes to build a garden 100 feet by 200 feet, the same size as the one started earlier this month at Riverhills Park, said Elizabeth Leib, the group’s president.

The planning session is set for 2 p.m. at , 5731 E. Fowler Ave, and is open to the public.

Organizers intend to discuss topics such as irrigation, security and supplying power as well as support from students, parents and neighbors. There also will be a call for volunteers to take on specific tasks.

The group started its first effort in January with a at Riverhills Elementary School that measures 80 feet by 100 feet, Leib said.

The garden is open to members who pay a small fee and work the garden in return for being able to harvest what fruits and vegetables available that day. The garden includes collard greens, eggplant, tomatoes, spinach and watermelon as well as herbs.

The group began building its second garden on June 9, this one with raised beds.  Members can pay for and tend their own beds, selecting the size they want and what they want to plant.

Everything grown at the community gardens is edible, Leib said.

The group has work sessions Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings with an experienced gardener on hand for those whose thumbs are less than bright green.

In February the gave its blessing to the group’s efforts.

One reason the group tries to build near schools is to get students interested and involved.

“Mostly we want kids to understand where food comes from,” Leib said.