Planting Manhattan's Garden... Together
Land is provided by the City of Manhattan and supervised by UFM
The Manhattan Community Garden is a cooperative gardening project located in the south part of Manhattan, Kansas. Land is provided by the City of Manhattan and supervised by UFM Community Learning Center. The Garden is located in southern Manhattan at 9th and Riley Lane. Over 150 plots are available on an annual basis. A small plot rental fee is charged to cover costs of operating the program. Rent is charged on a sliding fee scale to allow all income groups to participate. Water, mulch, tools, seeds and advice are available.
Orientation and plot rental for new gardeners occurs each year beginning in February and continues until all plots are rented. A plot rental fee is charged based on income and ranges from 2 1/2 cents to 6 cents per square foot. A $10.00 per plot deposit for cleanup is also required.
CROP Walk - Donations from the CROP Walk allow the Community Garden to offer a sliding scale for plot rental fees, It also allows us to purchase supplies and plant materials that benefit all in the Garden.
Please make a donation to the 2010 CROP Walk and plan to walk on October 10th beginning at 1:30 pm at the First Presbyterian Church. For more information or to make an on-line donation
follow this link: http://www.churchworldservice.org/goto/mcg
If you do not wish to register as a walker or make a donate on-line, stop by UFM, 1221 Thurston St.
How you can plant in the Community Garden ?
Currently all plots for the 2010 growing season are taken. However, we will maintain a waiting list at UFM so if plots become available, which they often do, you will be on the list to get one.
Email linda@tryufm.org to get on the list.
Equipment Orientation
All gardeners are required to attend an equipment orientation in order to be able to use the Garden-owned equipment. If you do not attend the orientation, you will not be given the combination to the shed lock.
Garden History
The Manhattan Community Garden began in 1974 with a mini grant from ACTION, coordinated by UFM. Basic gardening supplies were purchased. The land was purchased by Urban Renewal and was 150 ft from the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. This space was zoned as green space for the next 20 years. No change has been made since that time.
The City and many volunteers cleared the old houses and trees from the site. A local nursery provided a tractor and fertilizer to turn the soil. The city agreed to install water meters and spigots at the site. The City agreed to donate water. A local bank donated seeds for the first year.
The first year they had 60 plots planted.
A shed was donated by a developmental center and a small grant from Social Rehabilitation Services assisted during the first years. A children’s garden was added next to the main garden in 1979. A new shed was donated by D&R Construction in 2004.
The lease on the 3 acres of gardening space is held by UFM Community Learning Center and renewed by the City of Manhattan every five years.
Currently the Garden has 160 plots. A plot rental is charged on a sliding scale to cover garden expenses.
- For more information, call UFM at (785) 539-8763 or e-mail info@tryufm.org.
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