The Wellington Heights Neighborhood Association is making a change in its community garden, shown here March 20, 2015, on 15th Street SE. The raised beds can now be used by individuals for a donation. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

The Wellington Heights Neighborhood Association is making a change in its community garden, shown here March 20, 2015, on 15th Street SE. The raised beds can now be reserved by individuals on a donation basis. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

CEDAR RAPIDS – After offering community gardens in the neighborhood for years, the Wellington Heights Neighborhood Association has something new this spring.

Residents of the neighborhood, and beyond, can stake their claim this season to one of 14  4-by-8-foot raised beds for gardening.

These raised beds in Wellington Heights, shown in the off-season, will soon be lush with plants chosen by residents who reserve a spot. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

These raised beds in Wellington Heights, shown in the off-season, will soon be lush with plants chosen by residents who reserve a spot. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Previously, the raised beds, next to the Wellington House at 392 15th St. SE, were a group effort, but the Wellington Heights gardening committee is concentrating on a new community garden this year and wanted volunteer time to focus on the new site.

The raised beds will give gardeners the option to have their own space to choose what they’d like to grow. Already, some of the plots have been spoken for. The new garden, at a different location, will still offer those group efforts.

Gardeners don’t have to live in the neighborhood to reserve a raised bed, though the site is convenient for apartment dwellers and others who don’t have space for their own home garden.

For a donation of $25, gardeners will have access to free seeds, water and key to an on-site tool shed, as well as their own raised bed for the season in the fenced-in area.

To reserve a spot, call (319) 558-7721 or email: vp@wellingtonheightscr.com

The 14 raised beds in the Wellington Heights Community Garden have been cleaned out for the upcoming growing season. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

The 14 raised beds in the Wellington Heights Community Garden have been cleaned out for the upcoming growing season. (photo/Cindy Hadish)