Gardeners will now have another destination in St. Ignace this summer, as plans are being made to establish a community garden in the fenced enclosure behind the Hope Chest resale store and St. Ignace Food Pantry. It could be open to the public as early as June.

A group of planners and volunteer gardeners are organizaing the garden, led by the Michigan State University Extension office. Boasting an area of 22,000 square feet, the proposed garden would have approximately 50 three-foot-by-16-foot plots accessible to the community. A percentage of the produce grown from the plots will be donated to the Hope Chest food pantry to supplement low-income family diets.

The garden, which will have an automatic lock for users to enter, will be open every day of the week. Gardeners will have the opportunity to grow any plants they want, and volunteer gardeners will be on site to help.

Mary Swiderski, an Extension nutrition specialist who is pioneering the effort, said she has been lobbying for a community garden in St. Ignace for years. She said the location behind Hope Chest caught her eye for two reasons: It is near the Charters Cove and Bridge View apartments, allowing easy access for people in the neighborhood, and the fence will protect the area from intruding animals and allow gardeners the ability to grow vine plants.

“It's another extension of the Hope Chest, which has been such a vital part for the community,” she said, adding that the volunteer group is still applying for grants to fund the project. “Also, the fence is great because a lot of vegetables grow on fences, so vine produce could go up and we could utilize the fence as a trellis. We can [also] lock it and keep out critters .”

Bill Peak, a St. Ignace gardener who is collecting soil samples for the project, explained that he was already planning a community garden at St. Ignace Methodist Church, so when he heard about the garden from Mrs. Swiderski, he decided to pitch in. He said he's always been fascinated by the concept of community gardens.

“Community gardens hearken back to the first and second World Wars to the victory gardens people would put in to raise food themselves and send to soldiers overseas,” he said.

The garden is especially relevant “with people thinking of the quality of food that they're getting,” Mr. Peak said. “A lot of vegetables come from China and California, which is a week a way.”

Organizers are now seeking funding to acquire soil and other supplies. Plans are being made to have Maverick Construction of St. Ignace provide soil for the garden, he said, which will be 12 to 14 inches thick to grow vegetables. The soil will be mixed with composted horse manure, provided from a farm in Rudyard.

The garden is designed to be used by everyone in the community, Mr. Swiderski pointed out, including youngsters.

“It would be nice to get the kids involved to show them that it's a good thing to give back to the community, to help those less fortunate than themselves. It's good to be able to get out, get your hands dirty, and no one will yell at you for having mud on your feet. It gives them a certain skill level, to put a seed in the ground and watch it grow.”

Volunteer Emily McCreary, who is taking a Master Gardner class in Sault Ste. Marie, said teaching people gardening skills will be an ideal way for her to share her new skills with the community.

“This is going to be a learning experience,” she said. “I'm standing by to help however in establishing the garden and to work with people who are creating gardens.”

Those who would like to help establish or maintain the garden may call Mrs. Swiderski at 643- 7307.