By Doug Petrowski

Community gardens in Mountlake Terrace? There aren’t any now, but there are some people that would like to see that change. “It’s an idea that has been in the back of some people’s mind for a year to a year-and-a-half now,” said Darla Lane, a Northwest Harvest volunteer and community garden expert. Lane is hosting a meeting Tuesday, April 10 at the Mountlake Terrace Library to weigh public support for starting a community garden in the area.

Lane wants to measure if there are enough people who would commit to being involved in the planning, fundraising and using of a community garden in Mountlake Terrace to make the idea a reality. “Is there enough interest in the community for this,” said Lane. “Can we move forward?”
The goal of a community garden here would be to not only give area residents access to garden patches but to grow fresh produce for the Mountlake Terrace Food Bank, explained Lane.

The idea of a community garden in Mountlake Terrace is just in its initial phases; there is no sponsor for the garden, nor a specific location yet where the garden would be located. The garden could hypothetically be placed on privately donated or purchased land, or in a city park or green space with the support of local authorities.

Typically, participating gardeners pay an annual fee for a plot in a community garden, in addition to actively working on the site. Funds are raised prior to the establishment of the garden to pay for land acquisition (if necessary), soil (to prepare the garden), water, pathways and any permanent structures (fences, sheds, raised beds for handicapped accessibility). There have already been discussions with the Snohomish County Master Gardener Foundation, which has grants of $500-$1,000 available for possible involvement with a Mountlake Terrace community garden.

The community garden organizational meeting is scheduled for Tuesday from 6-7 p.m. in the large conference room of the Mountlake Terrace Library, 23300-58th Ave. W. For more information, call Darla Lane at 425-697-3844.