The growing of community
COURTESY PHOTOOn April 23, about 60 volunteers were at the Shared Harvest Community Garden in Coeur d’Alene to prepare plots for spring planting. The garden, which is entering its ninth season, allows residents to purchase garden plots and plant what they wish using “organic practices,” while also donating produce to local food assistance facilities.
Courtesy photo On April 23, about 60 volunteers were at the Shared Harvest Community Garden in Coeur d’Alene to prepare plots for spring planting. The garden, which is entering its ninth season, allows residents to purchase garden plots and plant what they wish using “organic practices,” while also donating produce to local food assistance facilities.
Courtesy photo Weston Gimbel, 4, takes a break from volunteering at Shared Harvest Community Garden in Coeur d’Alene. On April 23, about 60 volunteers met at the garden to prepare it for the upcoming growing season.
COEUR d’ALENE — There’s a garden, tucked between Coeur d’Alene homes, that isn’t about seeds, or even plants.
“It’s all about the growing of community,” said Kim Normand of the Shared Harvest Community Garden.
This year marks the ninth anniversary of the garden, which is located at 10th Street and Foster Avenue and has 60 garden plots available for public use. In addition to providing the community a place to learn and grow, the garden works with Community Roots to host a local food share, starting the second Tuesday in July, where fresh produce is donated to local food assistance facilities.
“This is called Shared Harvest for a reason. It’s a giving garden,” Normand said. “It’s just a happy place, even on a cold and rainy day.”
Those who purchase garden plots can plant whatever they want, and Normand said Shared Harvest has a free library and instructs people with plots on how to properly use “organic practices.”
“Every plot has a story,” Normand added. “Each and every plot, those people are walking a different path. When people are dealing with hardships, this is a great place to come — even to heal.”
Beginning the second week of July, the garden hosts a weekly Community Food Share to distribute produce to different facilities like food banks throughout the community. Normand said the fresh produce that’s distributed doesn’t just come from the garden — different groups, from local farmers to churches with community gardens, donate.
“It’s really exciting ... we get all kinds of produce,” Normand said. “People are passionate about this and invested in the project.”
As the garden gets closer to its 10th anniversary, Normand said she often asks herself if the momentum and passion people have for it will begin to wane. However, on April 23, she said she got her answer in the form of a resounding “No” when about 60 volunteers showed up to help prepare the garden for the upcoming growing season.
“A huge percentage of our volunteers were younger people in their 20s and 30s,” Normand said. “It shows there is still an energy for it.”
According to Normand, the three unused city lots herself and other volunteers built Shared Harvest on are owned by Marshall and Dolly Mend. Normand said the couple loaned the property to the organization because “they know how important it is.”
“I just love every part of this,” Normand said. “It’s a very positive place, and that’s why people like to come here. This is a blessed place.”
Normand added there are still a limited number of garden plots available. Those plots, which are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, cost $25 per season.
For more information on how to purchase a plot, volunteer, or donate, contact Shared Harvest Community Garden at sharedharvestgarden@gmail.com, or call (208) 664-0608.