Mill City Community Gardens

The NSCEDC is proud to support this project through fiscal sponsorship. In the spring of 2008, several Mill City residents gathered to discuss the idea of starting a community garden and agreed to go forward with the idea. The city council was approached and their support of a site across the access road at the east end of Kimmel Park brought the gardens into being.

Community volunteers marked and tilled twelve plots while the deer fencing was put up and paid for by donations. Ten 15x15 foot plots were used by gardeners the first year for a fee of $10 and an agreement to keep the gardens and its pathways free of weeds. Natural gardening methods and composting are utilized.

The 2nd year six additional plots were tilled in and all eighteen plots were used by new and experienced gardeners. After planting, weeding and watering, these sowers of seed brought home corn, beans, eggplant, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, radish, pumpkin; well, you get the idea.

2010 will be the garden's 3rd year and it is anticipated that once again some folks of Mill City will be down with hoe and rake to put in the labor that brings home nourishing fresh vegetables. Chances are they will stop nurturing their plants occasionally and look east, beyond the canyon, to take in the beauty of the Cascade Range. In no other garden do bean stalks and their cultivators have such a spectacular view.

For information about the gardens and how to obtain a plot call the Garden Coordinator, Susan Chamberlin, at 503-949-5965.