By R.R. Brannstrom | Daily Press At the northeast corner of 23rd Avenue South and South Lincoln Road in Escanaba sits a community garden run by Michigan State University Extension with plots available to any Delta County resident.
ESCANABA — Near the corner of South Lincoln Road and South 23rd Street, on a piece of land surrounded by trees on two other sides, sits the Michigan State University Extension Community Garden, a 30-foot by 30-foot plot open to any Delta County resident.
Supported by a grant from the Community Foundation, the garden is divided into plots and includes an irrigation system, compost area and shaded picnic tables. Gardeners bring their own tools and hoses, but early-season garden care, watering and educational materials provided by the extension service are all included in the $40 fee gardeners pay for their 30-by-30 plot.
MSU's “smart gardening” philosophy is centered around sustainability, health and conservation. In addition to growing strong, healthy vegetables, it also values protecting pollinators, conserving water and cultivating native species. That's why no pesticides are allowed in the community gardens unless approved by the extension.
“We're also trying to improve the soil, which is why we have piles of mulch there,” says Rebecca Kranz, consumer horticulture educator and community garden coordinator at Michigan State University. “We're educating gardeners that they can take advantage of the mulch, especially on the walkways, and over time it helps build soil structure as well.”
There are donated picnic tables under the trees on the east side of the garden. Further down, along the tree line, there are three compost pits – one digesting, two ready to use – that gardeners are also welcome to use.
At the northern end of the site, quite a distance from the garden area, there is a row of beehives tended by members of the Baie de Noc Beekeeping Club.
Gardening season usually runs from May to October, and so far this year the soil has been tilled but there are still some empty plots as gardeners have not yet got in full swing.
Anyone interested in securing a plot should contact Krans via email or phone at kransr@msu.edu or 906-282-5065.
As part of the Earth-Friendly Practices campaign, a “Smart Gardening” tip sheet is available for free on the MSU Extension website.
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