Two community gardens, are ready to start growing

Some groups who have signed on to "Adopt A Crop" at the McCook Community Garden include, from left, Amanda Adams, Kaitlyn Adams, Coleton Lentz and Barbara Mazur. Back, Virginia Grafton, Dave Winder and Kerri Long. (Lorri Sughroue/McCook Gazette)

McCOOK, Neb. -- Two McCook churches are hoping they will reap more than they sow, to benefit others in the community.

That's because both are offering the use of property for community gardens, one for those who don't have garden space to grow their own produce and the other for groups and organizations to "Adopt a Crop."

Wayne Vogel, minister at the Church of Christ, is offering apartment dwellers or others who don't have a yard the use of property at the church for their tomatoes, green beans or other produce they would like to grow. Each garden plot will be 25 by 25 feet, with two city lots available at the church property, on East Seventh and G. Gardeners will provide their own seeds or plants and the church will supply the water, Vogel said, with watering allowed one hour per plot every other day. Gardeners will be responsible for weeding their plots.

Wayne Vogel tries out his garden tiller on property at Church of Christ. He and the church are offering garden plots for apartment dwellers who would like to grow their own vegetables this year. (Lorri Sughroue/McCook Gazette)

All produce harvested will go to the those who tend their plots, with any extra taken to the McCook Food Pantry.

Vogel has named the garden, "God's Place Garden Space."

"We want to make good use of the land that God has blessed us with," Vogel said, who will till up the plots on an as-needed basis.

Vogel hopes there are plenty of gardeners who can't wait to get their hands in the dirt. But even it there isn't, it's quality, not quantity.

"Even if it's only one gardener, that doesn't matter, we'll still till up a plot for them," he said. Those interested in cultivating a plot can call him at 345-2907 or (308) 737-7837.

The other community garden is on West Q, between West Seventh and West Eighth, on property donated by a local group of investors, HCC Leasing.

Called McCook Community Garden, it was started several years ago by Dave Winder and the McCook United Methodist Church, but has since changed it's approach. Initially, Winder planted all the vegetables and fruit and relied on volunteers to help weed, maintain and harvest the produce. But lack of volunteers and overzealous bindweed made that difficult, he said.

Now, at its new location, individual groups and organizations have signed on to "Adopt a Crop."

Each group who participates must provide their own seed or plants, although one volunteer who has signed up, Virginia Grafton, owns a greenhouse and has vegetables she will donate. Those adopting a crop can harvest the produce, with any extra going to the McCook Pantry or to the community meals the church sponsors Thursday nights in McCook.

Those "adopting" have done so for various reasons. Amanda Adams, of the Dirty Hands 4-H group, hopes the kids will discover the joy of growing what you eat. Barbara Mazur needs the volunteer hours to complete her Master gardener certificate. And Kerri Long wants her kids to know the importance of volunteering.

About 10 groups have signed up so far, Long said, who is helping Winder organize the groups this year. Each group will be responsible for weeding and maintaining a crop or crops of their choice.

Winder, who will take care of watering the garden, said containers will also be used for gardening as way to cut down on weeds.

The response to McCook Community Garden has been good so far, Long said, but cucumbers and potatoes still need to be "adopted." If a group, business or organization would like to be included, call Long at (308) 737-5776.