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Sand Creek Community Gardens

The Sand Creek Community Gardens are a gathering place, a place for learning and mentoring, a place for taking care of God's creation, and a place where food can be produced and shared with others. The gardens include 32 plots each measuring 20 by 20 feet. Students from Bethel College as well as families in the community work side by side in the gardens. There are some community managed plots including a common herb garden, strawberry bed, asparagus and other perennials. There are also inter-generational plots that involve adults gardening with children in the community.

The gardens are managed by a steering group that oversees the day to day operations of the gardens. An advisory council that is made up of people from Bethel College, Bethel College Mennonite Church, North Newton City Council and members of the community sets the overall policy, rules and procedures for the gardens.

Goals

1. Nurture healthy bodies with locally grown, nutritious food; help reduce family food budgets.
2. Encourage exercise and therapeutic labor.
3. Foster community through inter-generational interaction; participate in common work days develop shared herb, perennial vegetable and native prairie flower garden; and create areas for social interaction (e.g. picnic table, benches).
4. Educate persons in good gardening practices that reflect care for God's creation (water conservation, mulching, appropriate weed control and pest management, composting, building healthy soil)

Location

Sand Creek Community Gardens are located east of Goerz Ave. and north of 24th St. (see campus map).