Community gardens needs planting site

Published 11:16 pm Monday, February 20, 2012

Members of the Niles Community Gardens are ready to start planting seedlings but have no space to plant.

The nonprofit organization used the Niles High School greenhouse last year, but the space is no longer available.

Mark Van Til, Niles Community Gardens director, said the ideal space would be a 15- by-20-foot greenhouse, although a smaller space could work. A heated space with room for growing lights would also work. The space is needed by early March.

“If someone out there has something, we’d like to come take a look at it,” Van Til said.

Niles Community Gardens used the high school space last year to grow around 5,000 plants, which were distributed through the community gardens program.

Niles Community Gardens was founded in 2010 as a way to help people in Niles grow their own produce. Approximately 130 community gardeners participated in the organization last year.

Those interested in joining, or those willing to donate planting space should call Van Til at (269) 815-5034.