ISU Extension and Outreach want community inspiration garden to be an ‘open classroom’

Within the next two to three years, Jasper County ISU Extension and Outreach will unveil its newest “interactive educational experience Newton has to offer.”

Carol Camp, program coordinator for horticulture, Master Gardener and local foods at ISU Extension and Outreach, told members of the Newton City Council on June 20 that a new garden will be constructed along the north side of North Second Avenue West, near the donation garden of DMACC Newton Campus.

“It’s very accessible to downtown Newton,” Camp said. “It’s going to encourage people to come to this area located near all the shops and restaurants. So they’re going to come for the garden and stay for the shopping and the food. There’s already a lot of activity done over at Legacy Plaza.”

The community inspiration garden will be for anyone living in Jasper County, Camp said. It was an idea created by the Master Gardeners. Currently, there are about 20 Master Gardener volunteers willing to grow and tend to the garden. Camp said they are dedicated to what the project holds for the community.

Master Gardeners participate in a 10-week education course. At the end of the class, they pledge to volunteer their time giving back to the community for improvement and educational projects. Camp said Jasper County’s Master Gardeners are very enthusiastic and passionate about what they do.

The project is also being facilitated with the help of ISU’s “Rising Star” interns who work under the supervision of extension and outreach regional directors and staff throughout the summer. Interns are “immersed” in their Iowa communities and apply their academic skills to community needs.

“They are assisting our Master Gardeners on this project to help provide a new perspective,” Camp said, noting they will bring skills the gardeners may not have. Interns have also taken the ideas brainstormed by the Master Gardeners and combined them into a more cohesive plan.

Much of the community inspiration garden will be made up of smaller, differently themed gardens. The children’s exploratory garden, for instance, will have more sensory and interactive elements. Camp said a section like this will allow kids to just let loose and engage with nature.

“Think of the entire garden as an open classroom,” Camp said. “We want this to be a place of learning and inspiration for everyone: school groups, homeschoolers, families visiting town. It doesn’t matter who they are, we want them to be able to walk away from this garden with something.”

Similarly to the donation garden — which has raised about 3,000 pounds of produce for hungry families in Jasper County — Camp expects the community garden will be full of greenery. Camp envisions the new garden to be accessible to “anybody of any ability” or age.

All paths will be wheelchair and stroller accessible, and Camp promises the community inspiration garden will have something for everyone. And the best part? No wi-fi required. Camp suggests the garden will be a place where people can disconnect from the virtual world and get in touch with the real world.

“So imagine, if you will, a garden, a space where people of all ages, abilities and different backgrounds can come and engage their senses with nature,” Camp said. “They’re going to be inspired by the plants that we have and just get connected to that garden.”

ISU Extension and Outreach want the community to get involved in this project. Camp said there have already been community members who have stepped up and committed to helping with certain things, whether it be volunteer hours or a monetary donation.

DMACC is already onboard for providing the land, electricity and water access for the gardens. Camp said the campus fully supports the creation of the garden and its ongoing sustainability. ISU Extension and Outreach is serving as the fiscal agent for the project and provided the Rising Star interns.

Camp estimates the project will cost around $50,000 to complete.

“We have already started raising funds for this,” Camp said. “We’re doing pretty good. We’ve only been at it just a couple months, but it’s going to take a lot more. We are looking for the community and you to help us inspire people to come to this garden. We want to get it completed and make it something for the future.”

Master Gardeners are especially looking forward to the community inspiration garden. While tending to the donation garden, Master Gardeners Judy Bailey, Sondra Carnahan, Pam St John, Susan Townsend and Robert Wadzinski all expressed how thrilled they are to volunteer their time to the new garden.

They say being a Master Gardener is a humbling and rewarding experience whenever they get to help the community and educate younger generations.

“I really like teaching people how to make healthy choices,” Bailey said.

“It’s good to teach the kids so they know how to garden,” Wadzinski added.

Council members are also excited about the project. Council member Evelyn George called the project ambitious and loved the idea of an activity that brings multiple generations together. Council member Vicki Wade had very positive comments about the ISU Extension and Outreach office in Jasper County.

“I’ve said it several times, I’ll say it again: Extension and the resources you offer are a hidden gem,” Wade said. “People don’t realize everything you do within a county or a community. This is incredible for the Master Gardener program.”

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com