Church offers garden plots

The Veradale United Church of Christ garden has donated thousands of pounds of produce to the Spokane Valley Partners Food Bank since it was first planted six years ago, but things are changing this year.

The core group of volunteers that planted, weeded and watered the garden are elderly, and fewer people are volunteering. This year the church-managed portion of the garden is much smaller and the rest is being offered to the public as community garden plots.

Several community members have already signed up, along with a Girl Scout troop, said the Rev. Linda Crowe. There are still a few plots available.

“It still fulfills the goal of feeding people in the community good, nutritious food,” she said. The items grown in the church’s section will still be donated to the food bank, she said. “That’s an important outreach ministry for our congregation.”

People who sign up for a bed will be responsible for planting, weeding and harvesting. The church will provide water, compost and some seeds. The annual fee is $25, but Crowe said the church will work with someone if they can’t afford that amount. If gardeners clean up their plot at the end of the year, some of the fee will be refunded, she said.

Anyone interested in having a plot at the church should call (509) 926-7173.