With the weather warming up, the Fairfield Community Garden is thrilled to announce the opening of the 2025 growing season. Want to be part of the community garden this year? There’s still time! To reserve a plot or find out more, please visit Fairfield-Community-Garden.org.
The first membership meeting will be on Sunday, March 30, at 1:30 p.m. at O.B. Nelson Park for the Get Growing Workshop. At this orientation gathering, gardeners will meet each other and the leadership team, claim their plot, and begin preparing it for the growing season.
Plots are available for lease on a first-come, first-served basis for a $60 membership fee. Membership includes:
• A 4′ x 16′ x 8″ raised garden bed
• Access to a communal seed bank with non-GMO plant varieties
• Three communal gardens for perennials like herbs, strawberries, rhubarb, and flowers that attract pollinators
• Metal trellising for vining plants
• Organic straw for mulching
• City water
• Garden tools and equipment lending library
• Organic amendments like straw mulch, winter cover crop seeds
• Organic pest and disease management advise
• Monthly workshops, demonstrations, and member potlucks
A Look Back at Last Year
The 2024 season was a great success, with all 36 garden plots quickly adopted and over $1,000 raised to fund scholarships for individuals, families, and even local school classes. “We were proud to foster a diverse group of gardeners, from young students to retirees, college students to families, all coming together to share gardening tips and stories,” says organizer Barbara Rainbow. “The monthly workshops and demonstrations kept everyone learning from each other and focused on sustainable gardening techniques.”
Thanks to generous in-kind donations from local businesses like Bomgaars and the dedicated volunteers from RSVP and Green Iowa AmeriCorp, the garden continued to thrive.
What’s New This Year?
The Leadership Team has expanded to include seven members. Four gardeners will join
current organizers Barbara Rainbow, Faith Reeves, and Karen DeAngelis, who will continue to oversee garden operations.
A private Facebook group has been established for garden members, where they can share photos, tips, and stories. Beautiful garden photos will be posted on Instagram (@fairfieldiowacommunitygarden), showcase the harvest, and spread inspiration for more gardens to pop up in our area.
One garden plot has been set aside to grow fresh produce for local food banks. Volunteers and youth groups are invited to get involved and lend a hand.
After the first year of production, soil tests indicated some nutrient imbalances. To enhance fertility, the leadership team has chosen a soil amendment made from a composted blend of aged forest products, earthworm castings, bat guano, and soil microbes. This will be added to all the garden plots this spring.
Help the Garden Grow
Your support can help expand and enhance this valuable community green space. Funds are needed to maintain the scholarship fund, support infrastructure, and purchase gardening supplies. Whether through a garden plot, a donation, or simply volunteering, every contribution makes a difference! Email fairfieldiowacommunitygarden@gmail.com.
The Fairfield Iowa Community Garden is sponsored by the City of Fairfield and the Sustainable Living Coalition, LLC.