The Community’s Garden Gears Up for the Growing Season

Karen Bellin and Katie Spude plant last year at The Community’s Garden. Photo by Jenny Spude.

Since 2010, the Community’s Garden in Sturgeon Bay has provided a space for families, individuals and groups to grow healthy, delicious produce.

“Our mission is to showcase the connection between a community’s well-being and nature,” says Jenny Spude, board president of the non-profit organization. “The garden offers so much. It provides access to gardening, a place for exercise, relaxation and camaraderie, and an opportunity for education and environmental stewardship.”

Spude is also excited about the upcoming “Food for Health” class series which offers families the opportunity to learn skills, including gardening, cooking and canning. Participants will cultivate their own plot in the Community’s Garden.

“We’re offering this free program for the second year in a row, in hopes of giving more people the knowledge and resources needed to bring healthy produce into their diets. It’s also just a wonderful shared activity for kids and parents,” Spude adds.

Last season, the eight-acre garden hosted 54 gardeners who grew produce in 42 plots. Growers included families, individuals and community groups.

“Our partnership with the Boys and Girls Club was outstanding,” says Spude, “and lots of other organizations got involved as well, including the Hispanic Resource Center and many local churches.”

In addition, volunteers from Ministry Door County Medical Center (MDCMC) tended six plots and produced 780 pounds of vegetables. The produce was used in the hospital café and donated to local food pantries.

The Community’s Garden, located on N. 16th Place across from MDCMC, now has water onsite and plans to build a shade structure this season. A limited number of plots are still available; for more information call 920.746.2260.