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New Northwoods Community Garden Currently Under Construction, Plot Rentals to Start in Spring

Dublin Core

Title

New Northwoods Community Garden Currently Under Construction, Plot Rentals to Start in Spring

Identifier

PR2021KT0034

Subject

Description

Press Release Text:

Construction is underway of a new community garden just south of Rhinelander where individuals will be able to grow their own healthy food and learn about a wide variety of gardening techniques and sustainable practices. The Northwoods Community Garden, located in the field at Nicolet College, will consist of 48 plots, each measuring 10 feet by 20 feet. “We saw a significant need and desire in the area from people who wanted to grow their own food but have been unable to do so for any number of reasons,” said Pete Zambon, president of the newly-formed Northwoods Community Garden Board, which will run the garden. “Maybe they don’t have the space or the right conditions on their property. The new garden will give them the opportunity to experience the satisfaction of increased self-sufficiency by growing and harvesting their own abundance of healthy, natural food.” Plot rentals are expected to start next spring and cost $40 annually. The garden will also be ADA accessible. This fall the garden construction crew will starting building the garden. Initial work will include removing the sod, preparing each garden bed which will get a fresh layer of high-grade compost, and constructing an eight-foot fence around the approximately one-acre site. “Along with a place for people to grow food, we also envision it to being a teaching and learning garden,” said Mike Haasl, vice president of the Northwoods Community Garden and the garden manager. “We’ll be putting together a number of different classes and presentations about gardening itself and also expanding that into teaching aspects of permaculture, which focuses on any number of sustainable practices that people can bring to their own properties.” Classes will be offered through Nicolet College’s Outdoor Adventure program. The Northwoods Community Garden differs from the existing Rhinelander Area Community Garden in that gardeners will grow food for themselves. All food grown in the Rhinelander Area Community Garden goes to the Rhinelander Area Food Pantry. Haasl first broached his idea for a community garden in the field to Nicolet in March and since then has been bringing in other interested individuals, which culminated in forming the board of directors. Board members then approached area community organizations and businesses to become involved with the project with numerous entities and individuals signing on to provide assistance. Partners at this point include ArtStart, which agreed to be the fiscal sponsor so the garden could open a checking account and get insurance, Nicolet College, UW-Extension-Oneida County, Rhinelander Kiwanis and Rotary, GFWC Rhinelander Women’s Club, Jelinek Well Drilling, Musson Brothers, Hansen’s Garden Village, the City of Rhinelander, and several private individuals. As a group the partners have agreed to provide construction assistance including labor and materials, donate money to buy other materials, and provide organizational assistance. “We can’t thank these individuals enough for helping with this project because without them the Northwoods Community Garden would not be possible,” stressed Zambon. Anyone interested donating to the effort or volunteer to help with garden construction is invited to contact Mike Haasl at northwoodscommunitygarden@gmail.com. Gardeners interested in renting a plot for 2021 can contact Michelle McDonald, garden board treasurer and membership coordinator, at the same email address, northwoodscommunitygarden@gmail.com. Photo cutline: Northwoods Community Garden Manager Mike Haasl, right, begins cutting sod in the field at Nicolet College as Brent Hansen, of Hansen’s Garden Village, left, and Pete Zambon, president of the Northwoods Community Garden Board, center, prepare to remove the sod strips. Anyone interested in helping construct the garden, provide a donation, or rent a plot can send an email to northwoodscommunitygarden@gmail.com.

Creator

Source

Rutlin, Terry

Publisher

Nicolet College

Date

Rights

All Rights Belong to Nicolet College.

Format

image/JPEG

Language

English

Type

Coverage

Nicolet College, Rhinelander, WI

Still Image Item Type Metadata

Original Format

Digital photograph

Physical Dimensions

133KB

Collection

Press Release (Photographs and Text)

Citation

Rutlin, Terry, “New Northwoods Community Garden Currently Under Construction, Plot Rentals to Start in Spring,” Nicolet College Archives - Press Releases, accessed May 18, 2024, https://nicoletcollegearchives.omeka.net/items/show/36.

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