It’s one thing to look at photos, but another entirely to experience walking through the Noelridge Greenhouse in Cedar Rapids. During special events, such as this weekend’s Easter Showcase, the greenhouse is alive with people and plants, and the scent of the flowers in bloom is simply intoxicating. More than 1,000 people each day passed […]
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Category: Community Gardens
Wellington Heights Neighborhood Associat...
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. Previously, the raised beds, next to the Wellington House at 392 15th […]
Cedar Rapids man forced to remove garden...
By Cindy Hadish/Homegrown Iowan CEDAR RAPIDS —Even when Iowa’s harsh wintry weather ended the growing season for most gardens, the plot tended by Ed Thornton in southwest Cedar Rapids was thriving. Tender green lettuce, stocky carrots and deep magenta beets were among the vegetables Thornton was able to grow, even into November, giving away much […]
Garden party, solar food dehydrator demo...
IOWA CITY – Two events coming up in Iowa City in coming days offer great opportunities to expand your gardening knowledge. This Sunday, Aug. 24, New Pioneer Food Co-op is hosting a garden party at Earth Source Gardens. The following day, Aug. 25, Backyard Abundance is offering a solar food dehydrator demonstration, to put all […]
Vacant flood lot proves value as garden ...
CEDAR RAPIDS – While the city awaits its fabled casino to appear on a large swath of vacant prime real estate and threatens a nearby gardener with legal action for taking care of a smaller plot of vacant land, here is what is happening at our little Czech garden. The garden was planted this spring […]
Cedar Rapids man ordered to remove garde...
By Cindy Hadish/Homegrown Iowan CEDAR RAPIDS – In a city that touts itself as a healthy, “Blue Zones” community, Ed Thornton faces a trespassing violation. His crime? Growing vegetables. “If I’m doing something and it’s not hurting anyone, why am I being punished for it?” Thornton asked of his garden, which he started 4 years […]
Garden contest brings community together...
By Cindy Hadish/For the Corridor Business Journal CEDAR RAPIDS – A team effort with diverse players is blossoming at Noelridge Park. The 100-acre park, at Council Street and Collins Road in northeast Cedar Rapids, has long been known for its lush garden beds, but volunteers this year are taking the landscape a step further. A […]
Community food forest taking root in the...
Chris Rice points to a community food forest growing near Monmouth, Ill., as evidence of an idea that works. The forest, with shagbark hickory, hazelnuts, walnuts, pawpaws, American persimmons and more, was planted in 1967. As the concept finally spreads across the United States, the time is now to see a similar idea take root […]
Hands-on gardening classes scheduled at ...
ELY – This small town between Iowa City and Cedar Rapids is doing big things when it comes to gardening. I’ve mentioned that Ely already has its own farmers markets – both outdoor and indoor – as well as community gardens and a seed lending library within its public library. Now the town is tackling […]
Edible forest being planned for Wetherby...
Iowa City is fortunate to have such a progressive-thinking group in Backyard Abundance. The nonprofit, led by director Fred Meyer, is looking into creating an edible forest with fruit trees and more in Wetherby Park. The idea is for the orchard to serve as a gathering site for neighbors and to provide free nutritional food. […]